Western Hygiene Supplies Men’s Championship: Dynamo Blues 4-2 Colemanstown. It was a tough day at the office for Colemanstown United on Sunday as we suffered a 4-2 defeat away to Dynamo Blues FC. Dynamo Blues got off to the perfect start and opened the scoring after just 10 minutes. A long ball from the Blues goalkeeper caused problems, with their striker getting the flick-on for their number nine. He managed to get in behind the last defender before keeping his composure to slot the ball past the keeper and make it 1-0. Colemanstown gradually began to settle into the game and started to get a foothold on proceedings. Despite Dynamo Blues’ direct approach and physicality causing us problems, our willingness to get on the ball and play football was very good to see. Our pressure eventually paid off after some excellent work from Shane Quirke, who won a free kick in a dangerous position. Tomás Flannery stepped up and produced a quality finish to level the game at 1-1 after around 15 minutes. The remainder of the first half was nip and tuck, with both sides battling hard for control. Colemanstown continued to try to play football and move the ball, while Dynamo Blues continued to look dangerous with their direct style. Unfortunately, with just three minutes remaining before half-time, we conceded a free kick in our own final third. A dangerous delivery caused havoc inside the box and, after the initial ball wasn’t dealt with, the second ball fell to the Blues striker, who was deemed to have been onside. He made no mistake with the finish to put Dynamo Blues back in front at 2-1 just before the interval.
We regrouped at half-time and started the second half brightly. Colemanstown had a decent spell and looked to get back on level terms, with David Walsh coming particularly close from a free kick which struck the crossbar. However, against the run of play, Dynamo Blues got their 3rd. A bouncing ball deceived the Colemanstown defence and the Blues attacker took full advantage, getting through and finishing past the keeper to make it 3-1. With the game now requiring a response, Matthew Keane was introduced for Shane Quirke, Martin Melody was introduced for Thomas Carr, while James Collevy came on for David Walsh as Colemanstown looked to get back into the game. Colemanstown continued to have plenty of possession and pushed Dynamo Blues deeper, with the home side increasingly looking to soak up the pressure and hit on the counter-attack. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened. With Colemanstown committed to pushing forward, Dynamo Blues broke quickly and managed to add a fourth goal on the counter to make it 4-1. To the lads’ credit, they never stopped fighting. Colemanstown continued to press and came agonisingly close to getting another goal when Kyle Madden rose highest to meet a cross, only to see his header come back off the crossbar. The pressure finally paid off with around 10 minutes remaining. Some excellent work from Matthew Keane released Collevy, who delivered a quality cross into the box. Tomas Flannery was in the right place at the right time to finish and grab his second of the afternoon, making it 4-2.
Colemanstown threw everything at Dynamo Blues in the closing stages, with the lads continuing to push forward in search of another goal. Despite the pressure and a determined effort right until the final whistle, it wasn’t to be our day. A disappointing result, but there were plenty of positives to take from the performance. The willingness to get on the ball, play football and fight until the end was evident throughout, and the lads can take that into Friday night’s game against Barna.
Starting XI: Alan Finn, Shane Duffy (C), David Walsh, Richard Lally, Sean Hardiman, Aironas Kantaukas, Thomas Carr, Tiárnán Proulx, Kyle Madden, Tomás Flannery, Shane Quirke. Subs: Matthew Keane, Martin Melody, James Collevy. Unused: Sean Cooke, Oisín Devine.
U15 Girls Championship: St. Bernard’s 0 – 2 Colemanstown. Colemanstown U15 Girls got their league campaign off to the perfect start on Sunday with a very impressive 2–0 victory over St Bernard’s in Abbeyknockmoy, producing a disciplined defensive display along with two excellent goals. The game started evenly enough, with both sides cancelling each other out and very little in the way of clear-cut chances. The first real opportunity arrived after about ten minutes when Sorcha Nic an Iomaire did well to square the ball to Siana O Grady, whose strike from around 12 yards flew just over the crossbar. St Bernard’s probably shaded things territorially for the opening 20 minutes and enjoyed plenty of possession in the Colemanstown half. However, Colemanstown looked extremely comfortable defensively and, despite the pressure, gave away very little in front of goal. The breakthrough arrived around the 25-minute mark — and it was well worth waiting for. Sorcha Nic an Iomaire beat her marker and drove directly towards goal before unleashing an absolute wonder strike with her left foot, sending the ball high into the roof of the net and leaving the St Bernard’s goalkeeper with no chance. 1–0 Colemanstown. The Colemanstown defence was excellent throughout. Caoimhe Cleary and Laoise Naughton continually snuffed out the threat through the middle, while Chloe Laffey and Laura Murphy dealt comfortably with anything St Bernard’s tried down the flanks.
There was a change in goal for the second half, with Emily Touhy taking over between the posts and Niamh Lally moved more outfield into midfield. Emily Tuohy had rushed straight from an U13 game in Colemanstown earlier that morning but showed no signs of tiredness, producing an excellent performance. She was alert to every dangerous ball played in behind the defence and quickly claimed anything loose inside her penalty area. St Bernard’s tried moving their most dangerous player around in search of an opening, switching her from the left wing to the right and then through the centre. Wherever she went, however, the Colemanstown defence dealt with the threat and never allowed her a clear sight of goal.
Midway through the second half, Colemanstown had a great opportunity to double their advantage. Siana O’Grady played a ball through to Sorcha , who was brought down by the St Bernard’s goalkeeper for a penalty. Sorcha was hurt in the challenge and was unable to take the spot kick herself. Chloe Laffey stepped forward and struck the penalty well, only to see it come crashing back off the crossbar and bounce away to safety. With the game being played in very warm conditions, fresh legs became increasingly important. Ava Forde and Kayla Maloney were introduced with around 20 minutes remaining and immediately brought renewed energy to the Colemanstown attack. Lauren O’Grady followed with approximately ten minutes to play. The subs paid off with around five minutes remaining. Sorcha Nic an Iomaire produced a lovely pass to release Ava Forde through the St Bernard’s defence. Ava showed tremendous composure, calmly advancing on goal before coolly slotting the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 2–0 and put the result beyond doubt.
It was a thoroughly deserved victory. St Bernard’s had periods of possession, but it was difficult to remember them creating a genuine shot on target, such was the quality and organisation of the Colemanstown defensive performance. There were excellent performances throughout the team. Julie Houlihan, Siana O’Grady, Kate Geary and Laura Hayes worked tirelessly from start to finish, while Niamh Lally looked extremely assured on the ball after moving outfield in the second half. Ciara Somers was her usual commanding self, playing in midfield during the opening half before dropping back to centre-half after the break, where she mopped up everything that came her way alongside Laoise Naughton. Above all, this was a very satisfying team performance. Two excellent goals, a clean sheet, a defence that gave virtually nothing away and plenty of hard work throughout the side. A great way to begin the league campaign and plenty for the girls to build on. Match Report: Garry O’Grady Full time: St Bernard’s 0–2 Colemanstown United
U13 Boys: Championship 2: Colemanstown 1- 3 Barna. Following an opening round defeat away, the Colemanstown U13 boys squad played their first home game of the season which was played on the astro pitch on Sunday. Unfortunately the U13 boys squad was depleted again, however with great support from the U12 boys and U14’s girls management groups, we were able to put a competitive team together for this match. Lining up in a 4-4-2 (old school formation). Avey Mahon started in goal behind a back four of Igor Ziolek & Matthew Kelly (centre backs), right back Martin Flemming and left back Shay Morrissey. Captain for the day was Matthew Kelly who was outstanding all game and gave a great captain’s performance from start to the finish of the game. Ava Forde & Lauren O’Grady anchored the centre of midfield, with Patrick Collins on the right and Nathan Cleary on the left. Colm Mac an Iomaire and Odhran Lynch as the two strikers. The game started positively as Colemanstown dominated possession for the first 15minutes of the game. Colemanstown had Barna pinned in their half and created plenty of half chances. Only for some resolute and last ditch Barna defensive play denied Colemanstown the opening goal. Unfortunately, the deadlock was broken by Barna in the 18th minute, in their first foray into Colemanstown’s half by a long defensive clearance from Barna’s own penalty box into the centre of midfield with a flick on by a Barna player which lead to a foot race to the Colemanstown goal with the Barna player finishing expertly. This was a real sucker punch for Colemanstown after dominating the match. However the team did not let this affect them and straight from the kick off continued to dominate the game with the relenting pressure on the Barna goal finally paid off in the 20th minute with some great inter link play between Shane Barret, Ava Forde and Odhran Lynch on the edge of the box, released Shane Barrett who scored expertly.
The equalising goal only increased Colemanstown’s dominance, with more half chances created but unfortunately none taken, which lead to heartbreak just 2 minutes before half time where similar to Barna’s first goal, a long clearance from their own penalty box into the centre of midfield led to another breakaway goal; a foot race ensued and a penalty conceded by Colemanstown, which was expertly tucked away, giving Avey Mahon no chance to save.
A positive half time talk to the players and the introduction of some subs at half time, led to Colemanstown continuing to dominate possession and created half chances throughout the 2nd half with Barna only once mid way through the 2nd half on another break away created a chance which was expertly saved by Avey Mahon in goal. Some of the football played by Colemanstown in the 2nd half was a joy to watch and just needed a bit more luck in front of goal and this result would have being a lot different. The passing out from the back into midfield and quickly onto the attackers had the Barna defence stretched all game and it was Barna’s back four that won this game for them. As Colemanstown pushed in the dying minutes for an equaliser, similar to the previous two goals conceded on the break – a long Barna clearance from their own box gave Barna the third goal.
While it marked another tough afternoon and a 1- 3 defeat, the match offered very encouraging signs for the squad. All the U12 boys introduced acquitted themselves well and none of them looked out of place playing one year up. Special mention to Odhran Lynch who battled throughout the game in attack and both full backs Shay Morrissey and Colm Mac an Iomaire who were outstanding throughout the game. As noted above special praise for Captain Matthew Kelly who led by example throughout the game. Further special mention to the two U14 girls Ava Forde and Lauren O’Grady who were outstanding throughout the game and even the Barna coaching team commented after the game, that they were the two best players on the park. Overall a positive game from the coaching team’s perspective and with the returning U13 boys available for the next game, this team will have the ability to start achieving positive results for the remainder of the season. Match Report: Ray Flaherty
Squad: Igor Ziolek, Martin Flemming, Avey Mahon, Nathan Cleary, Ryan O’Hara, Matthew Kelly, Patrick Collins, Colm Mac an Iomaire, Shane Barret, Fionn Ruane, Finn O’Grady, Odhran Lynch, Shay Morrissey, Aaron O’Connor, Ava Forde, Lauren O’Grady.