Younsgters help ‘A’ Team progress in Connacht Cup; Ladies league loss to dominant Ballaghderreen

Colemanstown 4 – 0 Calry Bohs ‘B’
It was Connacht Cup action for the ‘A’ team this past weekend as Calry Bohs ‘B’ travelled all the way to Colemanstown from North Sligo. The Colemanstown lads started very brightly and were quickly into a good rhythm with their passing and movement. Ronan Carr and Danny Masterson offered great options out wide and looked to get the team on the front foot early. Gary Lally forced the Calry keeper into a fine close range save and saw another effort go agonisingly close. Geordan Kenny also almost opened the scoring but saw his free kick hit the crossbar. Padraig Quirke’s effort from the edge of the box went over, after his well-timed run to get on the end of some nice work from Richie Lally and Dylan Grady.  The lads didn’t have to wait too long for the opener though as a whipped in corner by Richie Lally ended up in the back of the net following a deflection. A second quickly followed as first team debutant Jason Rabbitte’s speculative effort ended up beating the keeper. Congrats to Jason on becoming one of the youngest players in the clubs history, having only turned 16 last week. We’ll have to wait to see if his record is ever broken!

A quick turnaround at the break and the lads were back on top to start the second half. Another young gun Thomas Mellody came on to make his first team debut and immediately started to create problems for the Calry back four. Young Harry Mitchell was also introduced, with his hold up play up front and ability to link the attack really shining. Another few chances were squandered before Damien Wynne saw the keeper off his line and had the quality to score with a great strike from long range. Damien then made it 4-0, this time from just a few yards out. There was also time for another of our U17 players Dean Connaire to make his first team debut coming in at left back, teamed up with his own gaffer Jason Finn.

Overall, this was a very solid display from the team. A clean sheet for Alan Finn in goal, four goals scored and some very impressive performances. Congrats to our U17 players Jason Rabbitte, Thomas Melody and Dean Connaire on making their first team debuts, following Harry Mitchell, Ciaran Keating and Cian Ruane who had all done the same earlier in the season. Match report by David Mullins

Colemanstown Ladies 1 – 7 Ballaghderreen
Colemanstown Ladies showed up with just 12 players to take on a very tough Ballaghaderreen side away mid week last week. The ladies knew this was going to be a good test and before the ref had the whistle blown it was 1-0 to home side when Ballaghderreen’s No. 8 ran rings around our defence before finding the top corner. Colemanstown kept calm and played some good soccer and a passing move up the middle from Sarah Keane to Mary Walsh and onto a darting run from Rachel O’Brien who slotted into the bottom corner to make it 1-1 with 10 mins gone. After that though, things worsened for Colemanstown as it looked like we had awakened a sleeping giant. Ballaghaderreen came at us all guns blazing. 10 mins after the equaliser Colemanstown found themselves 3-1 down after another great run from their No.8 into the bottom corner and then a free kick just outside the box by their No.17 which Ashley Roberts in goal could do nothing about.  It got worse as Ballaghaderreen used their No.8 and No.17 to good effect scoring 3 more goals before halftime to make it 6-1 by the break. Players & coaches alike were glad to hear the half time whistle.

The 2nd half resumed and a reinvigorated team attacked the second half like lionesses and got in the face of Ballaghaderreen players and the dominant No.8 and No.17 didn’t get a look in. There was great attacking play from Colemanstown with efforts from Serena Hansberry saved by the keeper and a free kick from Rachel O’Brien destined for the top corner was saved by a very in-form Ballaghaderreen keeper. Mary Walsh on her first day back in a green jersey for a while used her speed to break through the Ballaghaderreen defence on three consecutive occasions but again the goal keeper came to the rescue with great flying saves. Ballaghaderreen broke through again to score a 7th just as time was up to end the game worthy 7-1 winners. It was a much better second half Colemanstown performance in which everyone tried their best. No upcoming game this weekend due to a backlog on Connacht Cup fixtures.  Match report by Philip Dee

Squad: Ashley Roberts, Claire Keane, Shauna Hyes, Rori Doherty, Lucy Kenny, Sarah Keane, Rachel O’Brien, Serena Hansberry, Mary Walsh, Rebecca Clancy, Laura Parker.