Our U14A Boys were away to Corofin in the Connacht Shield on a cold and windy morning last Saturday. The whistle had only gone to start the game when an almighty hail shower and fierce wind came down, making conditions almost impossible for the players on the pitch, for fear the day wasn’t cold enough. The defensive line up Cathal Keane, Cillian Roche, Paraic Kelly and Nathan Mannion were straight into the action with Corofin on the attack. The centre midfield pairing of Joshua Buckley and Tomas Rogerson were rock solid with superb tackling and pin point passing throughout the game. Daniel Lydon and Adam Doyle were up and down the wings causing all sorts of bother. Colemanstown went ahead early on and Darren Moran and Ronan Screene continued to press on the Corofin defense. Conor Walsh in goals for the first half pulled off a lovely double save and Alex Kelly and Ryan Concannon were introduced making immediate impacts with their strong tackling and speed. Colemanstown were ahead at the break thanks to lovely goals from Cillian Roche and Darren Moran. Stephen Raftery made his Colemanstown debut and played superbly. Joshua McDonnell took command of the goals for the second half and while he didnt see a huge amount of action he dealt very well with all that came his way, while Conor Walsh was introduced outfield. Goals from Tomas Rogerson, Daniel Lydon, Ronan Screene and Conor Walsh in the second half secured a convincing win, but it was the teamwork, pressing and excellent passing that shone on the day. The team now advance to Round 3 of the Shield. Match report by Orla McCaffrey
Meanwhile our U14B boys had a tough day at the office when they were beaten by a much stronger Kinvara outfit in their Connacht Shield clash played at home on Saturday morning. The 2 Divisions between the sides was obvious from the word go as Kinvara were devastating in many positions. Thanks to Marty Hart & Zoe Kennedy for stepping up to managerial role at last minute and to & Marcus Malone who hadn’t much time to wipe away the sleepy slumber from his eyes having come straight from work. Dylan King in the first half & Jack Muldowney in the 2nd made some super saves between them and the score could have been much more only for their bravery. Debutant Tommie Muldoon put in a strong performance at right back with some inch perfect crosses and certainly wasn’t afraid to get stuck into tackles either while Lucy Roberts has almost surely nailed down the centre back position for the remainder of the season rarely putting a foot wrong. Tiernan Malone & Sean Keating made up a busy rearguard. Caolean Caulfied worked hard at centre mid getting on plenty of ball with plenty of help offered from Niamh Kennedy, Aaron Lyndsey-Bane, Niall Grady & Libby Kennedy. The ever reliable Tadhg Hart was super in his tracking back to help out the defence on numerous occasions. Francis Weldon had a few attempts to put Colemanstown on the score sheet but was met by an equally competitive Kinvara keeper.
Our U12 Boys team had started out on their long journey to Coolaney Utd (Sligo) when they received word that the pitch was unplayable. At least Ita Kenny got to say a few rosarys in Knock for all her friends on route!
Our U16 Boys looked good against Athenry ‘B’ in Round 3 of the Connacht Cup played in Athenry on Saturday morning. Their passing was crisp and they looked much the better side from the off with Dara Scarry, Ciarán Keating, Cian Ruane & Dean Connaire in commanding form at the back. Tommy Mellody opened the scoring with a good effort from the right on 5mins followed by a Cilly Fahey lob of the keeper 10mins later after a through ball judged to perfection from Jack Jordan. No. 3 arrived following another great delivery from Eanna Burke for Tommy Mellody but the keeper saved well while the assassin Cillian Fahey was on hand to squeeze the ball over the line in the goalmouth scramble which ensued. Mellody had 2 further attempts after great work by Jack Jordan in the engine room. The 4th arrived on 33 mins on the 4th attempt after Cilly Fahey, Mellody & Jason Rabbitte saw their attempts well saved by the keeper but Rabbitte hammered home on the 4th ask. Rabbitte was inches wide moments later through a header. 4-0 at the break
A reshuffle of the team at half time showed what a cohesive unit of quality players can achieve. Debutant Michael Burke was introduced on the right wing, Jack Dillon in the centre, Ross Lally at left centre mid, Johnny Keane at right centre mid and David Walsh on the left wing with all five flying into the game. 3mins after the restart Michael Burke had a good chance after a beautiful delivery from Luke Williams at the back but Burke took a little too much out of the ball. David Walsh & Jack Dillon had 2 good chances; Walsh drilling his effort low and hard across the face of the goal while Dillon saw his effort saved by the keeper. Further chances fell to David Walsh & Jack Dillon after super work by Michael Burke, Johnny Keane & Ross Lally in the centre of the park. Michael Burke scored on his debut when he maintained his cool after latching on to Johnny Keane’s through ball to drill past the keeper. Jack Dillon scored his first for the club after he made it look easy dispatching easily to the net after he got on the end of David Walsh’s cross from the left. Jack Dillon had another effort which he saw the keeper parry but did well to grab on the 2nd attempt, Luke Williams the originator of the move on the right flank, added to by Michael Burke. Further powerful work by Burke won a corner which was whipped in by David Walsh and Luke Williams had to stoop low to get his head to the bouncing ball which Athenry’s custodian was equal to.
Luke Williams provided the assist for the next goal which arrived through David Walsh as he switched play across to the left and from 25 yards David drilled a low hard effort into the far corner. Jason Rabbitte & Luke Williams can argue over the next goal which arrived through a setpiece. A corner delivered again by David & it might have found the net from Rabbitte’s boot but Williams made sure as his grandfather on the sideline muttered ‘Me sick cow has to be fed yet’. The match was prioritised ahead of the poor cow in that house!. Minutes later Williams saw his powerful header in the box sail over the bar after a lovely cross from the right from Burke. Athenry got one back late in the game as Fionn Flattery took a bit too much out of it and Athenry nipped in to find the net. You couldn’t blame Fionn who saw little of the action and was trying his best to keep warm!. Immediately from the kick off, Ciarán Keating saw his effort go outside the left post. Jack Dillon had another half chance which Athenry defended well and as they worked the ball up the field, a vital interception from Cian Ruane halted any further progress towards goal. Michael Burke raised the final cheer when he gathered Johnny Keane’s pass and with super pace dribbled half the length of the field before dispatching calmly under the keepers legs. At this stage, the ref felt compelled to stop the fight as he blew up with 10mins to go. A super all-round display from the Colemanstown lads on this occasion which sees them advance to Round 4 in the Connacht Cup.
Our A Team took on West Utd at home on Saturday in the league. Colemanstown started well with a good opening quarter which saw Geordan Kenny miss a sitter early on and had a goal disallowed when he was adjudged to be offside. West broke the deadlock on 19mins when they headed home a free kick. Up the other end Gary Lally had a half chance which was saved. West then carved open the Colemanstown defence when their striker ran on to a through ball but fell at the opportune time allowing Niall Gelston time to avert the danger. On 28mins Gelston had to back pedal at speed to make a fetch in an attempted lob. Damien Wynne restored parity on 32mins when he latched onto a breaking ball and lobbed the keeper from 35yards. Just before the break Gelston made another fine stop from a left footed effort to ensure the teams broke for half time with a goal apiece.
The 2nd half saw a few changes as Ethan Lally was called ashore due to injury with the introduction of Mossy Carr up front & Conal Docherty at the back with Conor Callaghan moving into the right back position. The half was only 4mins old when a foul in the box resulted in a penalty which the West striker dispatched to Gelston’s left just inside the post. Further misery was piled on the lads sporting their new alternate jerseys, kindly sponsored by Galway Water, Cormacoo, Colemanstown when a defensive slip up saw the West striker one-on-one with the keeper and he placed the ball well inside the left post. Colemanstown got stuck in though & great work from Thady Moran on the right wing played Damien Wynne whose effort from the edge of the box dragged over the bar. Then 21 mins into the half, Colemanstown received a killer blow when Sean Hardy received a 2nd yellow and his marching orders and with 10men it looked an improbable comeback.
West finished strong after that as they found a 4th on the half hour mark as Conor Callaghan & Jayo Finn were stretched at the back. Thady Moran saw his free kick saved while Geordan Kenny’s corner curled goalwards but the keeper was alert to parry it away. Right on the refs final whistle, West scored a 5th when they finished a corner on the back post. 5-1 it finished and a score we don’t like to see but these lads will recover.
The weather conditions were not as bad as the day before for our U15 Girls home game against Barna/ Furbo’B’ on Sunday as the rain & strong wind had abated somewhat. The girls stormed into the game and within 2mins Libby Kennedy scored after an inch perfect through ball from Eva Molloy. Minutes later Ailish Molloy fed Libby again but her left footed effort this time went wide. Right on 10mins Aoife Jordans’ woeful defensive clearance found Libby Kennedy in space and as she advanced on goal, the keeper sprung off her line to meet her but Libby maintained her momentum & tapped home her 2nd with the outside of her boot into the bottom corner. At this stage, Colemanstown were firing on all cylinders executing some lovely crisp passes and kept on attacking as they weren’t going to settle for 2 goals. A huge clearance from defence by Lucy Roberts found the strike force but the visitors attempted clearance only fell to Aoife Jordan who wasted no time and with goal on her mind she blasted to the net. 3-0 at the break.
10mins after the restart Aoife Jordan this time, provided the assist as her cross found Saoirse Cooley whose effort deflected off a defender but fell kindly at the feet of Grace Mitchell who doesn’t miss from close range. Then the score of the game came in a lovely smooth movement as Orna McNama found Grace again who made light work of finding the net. Orna McNama had a great chance to score her first for the club as Libby Kennedy’s curling cross from near the corner flag thundered off the far post where it landed at Orna’s feet but the defender was quickest to react to clear any impending danger. Saoirse Cooley was as good as a football ninja as she wowed the crowd with some deadly footwork as she flicked the ball over the head of her opponent and booted the ball down the pitch before it even hit the ground. Some skill! Eva Molloy, the Jordan twins Aoife & Clodagh & Sinead Rohan always looked in control while Keva Hynes has most certainly secured her defensive position after a solid, energetic performance. Niamh Kennedy may also have found herself a new berth after this game with endless tackles, super deliveries up front & vital interceptions. Saoirse Moran competently cleared everything & put in a powerful performance while Edel Egan hadn’t a whole pile to do between the posts. Libby Kennedy had the final say for Colemanstown as she achieved the feat of her first ever hat trick. Saoirse Cooley originated the move finding Orna McNama while Libby was perfectly positioned to volley home her cross. Barna scored from the penalty spot late on to great cheer by both home & visiting supporters.
Blistering, rapid & relentless are 3 words that spring to mind in this most energetic all- round team performance. Well done ladies & hats off to Libby who’s delighted with her trio of unstoppable shots, all superbly taken.