U14 Boys Div. 3/4 Cup: Cregmore 1–0 Colemanstown. Colemanstown’s involvement in the U14 Boys Division 3/4 Cup came to a narrow end on Saturday following a hard-fought encounter with Cregmore, where a single early goal proved decisive in a tightly contested match. Cregmore struck within the opening 5mins, a goal that ultimately separated the sides. From that point on, Colemanstown battled tirelessly to get back into the game, with both teams working hard for control in a competitive & evenly balanced contest. Colemanstown were particularly impressive at the back. The defensive unit of Conor Saunders, Ritchie O’Connor & Tim Ruane stood firm throughout as they limited the opportunities of Cregmore’s lively attack. Tim Ruane was especially outstanding as he made a number of excellent interceptions & did superb work to keep Cregmore’s main striker relatively quiet. Linking defence & attack were George Costello, Caelan Noone, Niall Mason, Sean Forde & Sé Laffey, who worked diligently across the pitch. In midfield, Caelan Noone was a standout performer, displaying excellent footwork while creating space & driving the team forward with intelligent movement & crisp touches. Sean Forde also delivered an impressive display as he showed great determination & competed strongly in difficult challenges as Colemanstown looked to gain a foothold in midfield. Up front, Adam Mitchell & Mark Shaughnessy led the attack & were well supported by their teammates as Colemanstown pushed for an equaliser. Keeper Iarlaith Griffin had a relatively quiet afternoon apart from the early goal conceded, thanks largely to the strong defensive performances in front of him. Trevor Harlowe & Tommy Gooney brought fresh energy when introduced & worked hard in the closing stages as Colemanstown pushed to restore parity, but despite their efforts the equaliser proved elusive in a fiercely competitive Cup tie. While the result brings Colemanstown’s Cup campaign to a close, the team can now turn their full attention to the league for the remainder of the season. Match Report: Ann Forde
Squad: Iarlaith Griffin, Conor Saunders, Ritchie O’Connor, George Costello, Tim Ruane, Caelan Noone, Niall Mason, Sean Forde, Adam Mitchell, Mark Shaughnessy, Sé Laffey, Trevor Harlowe, Tommy Gooney.
U12 Girls: Div 2 Kinvara 0 – 2 Colemanstown. On a day celebrating women across the world, our Colemanstown U12 girls showed exactly what the future of the game looks like. Travelling away to table-toppers Kinvara on a windy Sunday morning, the girls in green produced a superb display of brave, possession-based football — playing with creativity, confidence and pride. It was a performance that perfectly captured The Colemanstown Way. From the first whistle Colemanstown pressed relentlessly, giving Kinvara no time on the ball. Despite the tough conditions and biting wind, the girls stayed true to their passing game. Midway through the first half, Elise Rohan finished a superb team move to give Colemanstown a deserved lead.
The second half saw the pressure continue with fantastic teamwork, determination and support across the pitch. Every player worked tirelessly for one another. Then, with just two minutes remaining, a dangerous corner from Lucy Burke Hardiman caused chaos in the Kinvara box and Elise Rohan reacted quickest to finish and seal a brilliant 2–0 victory. It was an outstanding team performance against the league leaders, moving Colemanstown joint top of the table. Match report: Marie Mitchell – Ryan.
Squad: Emily Tuohy, Eve Corcoran, Ella Kavanagh, Elise Rohan, Grace Reddington, Ciara Maybin, Chloe Burke, Realtin Saunders, Sadie Devaney, Faye Ryan
FAI Women’s Amateur Cup: Ballyglass 2 – 1 Colemanstown (AET) . Colemanstown Ladies’ run in the FAI Women’s Amateur Cup came to an end on Sunday after a fiercely contested preliminary round clash away to Ballyglass FC, a match that required extra time to separate two evenly matched sides. From the opening whistle, the contest was played at an intense pace. Both teams committed fully, pressing high and challenging for every ball in a match that rarely allowed either side to settle for long periods. It was the hosts who found the breakthrough during the first half, capitalising on one of the few clear opportunities that came their way to take a 1–0 lead into the interval. For Colemanstown, the task became one of patience and persistence.
The second half brought an early setback when Shelly Finnerty was forced off with a calf injury. Yet the disruption did little to blunt Colemanstown’s resolve. Gradually, they began to gain a foothold in the game, building momentum and pushing Ballyglass deeper into their own half. The equaliser eventually arrived through Catherine Burke, who showed great composure to slot the ball neatly into the corner of the net after sustained pressure. With the game level again, Colemanstown continued to search for a winner, forcing the Ballyglass goalkeeper into several important saves. When the final whistle brought the score to 1–1, the tie moved into extra time. It was Ballyglass who found the decisive moment, crafting a well-worked goal to edge ahead. Colemanstown refused to accept defeat easily, continuing to press and create chances, but the finishing touch eluded them as the clock wound down. Though the result brings their FAI Cup campaign to a close, there was plenty of pride in the performance. Colemanstown now move into the Shield competition, carrying forward the same spirit and determination that defined this hard-fought encounter. We’d also like to extend our thanks to Ballyglass FC for their warm hospitality and post-match refreshments, and wish them the very best in the next round. Match Report: Neil Ryan