Colemanstown A Team 1 – 0 Mervue B. On a crisp Friday evening under the new floodlights, Colemanstown junior side launched their league campaign with a performance that blended youthful energy and seasoned composure, edging past Mervue United B with a 1–0 win.
Jason Finn’s selection was telling: a largely youthful side peppered with experience in key areas. It gave Colemanstown a sharpness in the opening stages. Within minutes, Shane Quirke, Richie Lally and Mossy Carr had established a rhythm, their intensity pinning Mervue into their own half.
The breakthrough came midway through the first half. A loose ball in the area fell kindly for Richie Lally, who reacted quickest to drive home from close range. It was a deserved lead, reflecting Colemanstown’s early dominance. Mossy Carr and Aironas Kantauskas both tested the goalkeeper soon after, but a mixture of fine saves and narrow misses prevented the scoreline from widening.
With Ray Moran dictating play in midfield alongside Kantauskas, Colemanstown built attacks with patience and poise, yet the final touch repeatedly fell just the wrong side of the post. Still, they carried a one-goal advantage into the interval, the only frustration being that their superiority wasn’t reflected more clearly on the scoreboard.
After the restart, the contest shifted. Mervue, emboldened by our new floodlights and the urgency of chasing the game, began to carve out opportunities of their own. Colemanstown’s back line, however, stood tall. Veterans Sean Hardiman and Kevin Barrett were commanding presences, their experience evident in the way they organised those around them. Alongside the pairing of this seasons youthful captain Shane Duffy and Alan Finn, they provided a defensive shield that Mervue struggled to breach. On the rare occasions they did, goalkeeper Damien Wynne proved unflappable, gathering cleanly and instilling calm.
The game’s defining moment of drama came with just eight minutes remaining. Awarded a free kick 25 yards out, Ray Moran stepped up and unleashed a strike that was destined for the top corner until the Mervue keeper intervened with a spectacular, acrobatic save. It denied Colemanstown the cushion they sought, but underlined Moran’s influence throughout.
As the final whistle blew, the single goal was enough. Colemanstown had been the sharper side when it mattered and, crucially, resilient when required. It was a performance that hinted at a side capable of marrying youthful exuberance with the authority of experience — and a promising platform on which to build their new season. Match Report: Neil Ryan
Colemanstown U18 3 – 2 West Utd. Our U18 Boys played their opening league game on a miserable wet and windy Sunday last. Colemanstown started strongly as they created the first scoring opportunity when left back Cathal Keane showed fine footwork before releasing Darren Moran down the left wing. Moran’s driving run ended with a well struck effort that was well saved by the West keeper.
West had opportunities also but centre backs Conor Walsh and Tyler Collins were quick to intercept and clear their lines alongside Tommie Muldoon in right back who provided vital interceptions at opportune moments and his pin-point passing skills linked up well with Ryan Gavin on the right. Rónán Screene split the defence with a fine ball to Ryan Gavin on the right, whose cross into the box found Shane Quirke, but his effort drifted wide of the post. West again went on the attack but Sean Cooke was quick to advance off his goal line to cut out the danger.
The swirling wind and driving rain made conditions difficult as many high balls went astray, so Colemanstown adapted by keeping it on the deck, sticking to their trademark passing game. Another solid clearance from Conor Walsh led to good link up play in midfield between Matthew Keane, Adam Doyle and Rónán Screene which culminated in a Shane Quirke touch to bring the ball towards the goal & around the keeper. Somehow it seemed like it might stop just before the goal line but the West Utd defender couldn’t get the angle for the clearance and in it went to put Colemanstown 1-0 up. Darren Moran kept the visiting keeper busy with a couple of shots after that – again following some strong defensive work by our 4 defenders and lovely midfield passing play but the keeper stood strong and made some excellent saves. Meanwhile West Utd created their own chances with speedy wingers – a shot over the crossbar and some well taken corners that swirled dangerously in the box but were cleared.
Our second goal arrived when Matthew Keane astutely rounded the West defender before his delivery from the left found Shane Quirke who finished well from close range to make it 2-0 going into the break.
Tomás Rogerson was introduced up front at half time and made an immediate impact though his first attempt cleared the crossbar. The rain intensified after the break, creating dreadful playing conditions, while supporters from both camps were grateful for the shelter of the stand, where the sound of the rain pelting off the roof echoed throughout.
West pulled a goal back about 20 minutes into the second half after they created some good opportunities to make it 2-1. Rogie, Darren Moran and Shane Quirke all went close thereafter, but their efforts were either off target or dealt with by the keeper.
West struck again a few minutes later to bring the game to 2-2 & sparked an exciting finale. Tommie Muldoon was substituted through injury after he put in a massive shift at right back. He was replaced by Paddy Gavin who joined his brother Ryan on the right side & immediately got stuck in looking for the ball. The brothers linked up immediately, with Paddy winning possession & released Ryan on a driving run down the wing. His delivery into the box caused a scramble, but the danger was eventually cleared. Then in a move which originated from solid defending, the ball was worked through midfield before it reached Shane Quirke who fired from distance to beat the in-form keeper & make it 3–2 & Shane’s hat-trick was complete!
The last few minutes saw West Utd on the attack but they had to contend with Colemanstown’s strong defending with great assistance from midfield players including Adam Doyle who made a couple of timely vital tackles in the closing stages. Sean Cooke was also in form in goal, quick to advance and cut out possible threats and made a couple of important quality saves towards the end. The game finished 3-2 with the first points on the board for our U18’s.
Squad: Sean Cooke, Tyler Collins, Conor Walsh, Tommie Muldoon, Cathal Keane, Ryan Gavin, Matthew Keane, Adam Doyle, Darren Moran, Rónán Screene, Shane Quirke, Tomás Rogerson, Dylan King, Joshua McDonnell, Paddy Gavin, Niall Grady. Management: Orla McCaffrey & Sandra King.