Colemanstown A 2 – 0 Galway Hibs Colemanstown kept any hope of survival in the Premier league alive on Saturday with a gutsy win over Galway Hibs in Colemanstown. Anything less than a win would have surely condemned Colemanstown to 1st Division Football next season. The home side were fastest off the blocks with Tomas Flannery forcing the Hibs keeper to pull off a great save with a long range effort after 2 minutes. Half chances fell to Gary Lally and Kerrill Hardiman who saw their efforts saved by a sharp Hibs keeper. Any pressure exerted by Hibs was soaked up by a determined back four of Jason Finn, Sean Hardiman, Damien Wynne and Ronan Carr. A touch of class on 20 minutes from Flannery put Colemanstown 1 nil up when he latched on to a through ball from Gary Lally and from 25 yards out Tomas spotted the oncoming keeper off his line and expertly lobbed the ball into the net. Flannery and Lally combined again shorty after with a cross from the right from Lally falling to the head of Flannery who saw his effort shave the post.
Hibs upped the intensity for the remainder of the 1st half but were outplayed especially in the middle of the park with Ritchie Lally and Padraig Quirke playing out of their skin. Dean Reilly was introduced at half time for the injured Ronan Carr with Geordan Kenny reshuffled to left full.
He immediately made an impact with plenty of running and causing the Hibs defence all sorts of trouble. A 15 minute spell of pressure by Hibs mid way through the second half was the closest they got to making any impact. With plenty of travelling supporters behind them they failed to pose any major threat to a solid Alan Finn in goals.
Colemanstown needed that 2nd goal to give them some breathing space. Dean Reilly was put through for a one on one with 15 minutes left but the Hibs defender did enough to unsettle Reilly as he was about to pull the trigger. With 10 minutes remaining Reilly again was involved to put Tomas Flannery through for a carbon copy of his own one on one. This time the ice cool Flannery made no mistake slotting it calmly passed the oncoming keeper to earn Colemanstown their 3rd win of the season which also takes us off the bottom of the table. This was a very entertaining game from start to finish. It was a performance that eluded us for most of this season and with 4 games remaining its looking like maximum points are needed from all 4 to have any chance of survival. A special mention must go to the 5 lads involved in a senior league hurling match on Friday evening. Thady Moran and Ethan Lally were introduced in the final minutes to replace very tired legs and to see out the win.
Next up is another home game next Saturday vs Maree/Oranmore 11am KO. Match report by Niall Rohan
Colemanstown U12s 3 – 3 St. Bernads
These days U12 matches are coming with high intensity, 3 games in 7 days would test the premier league top sides, but Colemanstown U12s were ready for it. In a southwesterly wind our U12 Boys took to the pitch for the local bragging rights in the league game with St.Bernards, the pre match friendliness between the two sets of players and management, was quickly overlooked by the time of kick off, albeit slightly delayed as the referee had far to travel, note on a very good referee, that guided and instructed the boys throughout the match. Colemanstown were charging from the go, in defence Robbie Lydon, Riain Donohue and Daniel Booth were in control for most of the first half and gave the away side very little breathing space. Midfield was well organised and were transitioning from defence to attack with ease, with David Barrett, Darren Quirke and Coalin O’Neill setting up the front two of Thomas Screene and Keelyn Kirby. Early chances fell to both Thomas and Keelyn going wide, one of these chances saw a deflection gave the homeside a chance from a corner. Keelyn Kirby took charge and his outswinging corner was met by a header from Darren Quirke and sent beyond the keeper’s reach. Our boys kept the pressure on and had further chances with shots from distance from Thomas Screene, David Barrett, Darren Quirke and Keelyn Kirby. Again Colemanstown were in control of both the defence and midfield, keeping St. Bernards away from their goal. Adam Devaney in goal for John Parker for the occasion, dealt with everything that came his way, little could he have done for the equaliser. In a copy of Colemanstown’s goal, St Bernards got a headed goal from a corner, 1-1 at half time.
Second half and fresh legs were brought on with Adam Kenny and Finian Walsh. After a small bit of re-organising in midfield and defence, the boys picked up where they left off and it felt like the match was heading in one direction, like the wind behind our backs. And with a great passage of play down the right, Darren unleashed a shot, that the Bernards defence were unlucky to handle, the referee had only one option and pointed to the spot. Up stood Darren, the keeper guessed right, but there was too much accuracy and power for the shot to be stopped, well deserved 2-1 for Colemanstown.
Soon after the restart, St Bernards found the equaliser with an unstoppable shot from distance, 2 all. By this time the wind started to change and one wondered if the game was about to change too, but great midfield work and a mazy run down the left flank by Darren Quirke brought the 3rd goal and his hat-trick, after a great display 3-2. Scott O’Donoghue came on for Keelyn who gave his all with great interlink play and closing down St Bernard’s restarts. At this point the game looked won and over but once more the equaliser came from distance with a thunderous shot that swung in the wind and into the goal. The Colemanstown bench was emptied, with Darragh Anderson, Joshua Lualdi and Elliot Bradley being brought on, but it was not to be this time, 3-3 at the final whistle. We gave it all and deserved more, but we are growing in confidence and as a team….the mood and the smiles were brought back quickly after the final whistle when each of our boys got an easter egg. Happy Easter to all!! Match report thanks to Luca Lualdi