U18 Boys Div1: Colemanstown United 5-2 St. Patrick’s FC. Colemanstown U18s hosted St. Patrick’s FC from Tuam on Thursday night under the floodlights in Colemanstown, with kick-off at 8:15pm. For many of the lads it was their first time playing under the lights at home, which added a bit of novelty to the occasion. The weather certainly played its part in the evening, with a bitterly cold mix of rain, hail and even snow at different stages of the game. At one point the referee even had to pause play to allow the players to take brief shelter, with some diving into the dugouts while others took cover behind the stand. Despite the conditions, it did nothing to dampen the Colemanstown spirit.
The opening 15 minutes were a little shaky from both sides as the teams tried to settle into the game. Cathal Keane at left full had his work cut out early dealing with the pace of St. Pat’s number 9, but he quickly grew into the challenge. At the back, Josh Buckley and Nathan Mannion were composed on the ball, building play confidently from defence, while Tyler Collins at right full linked up well with winger Ryan Gavin to support attacks down the right flank.
Colemanstown opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a superb individual effort from Matthew Keane. Picking up the ball on the left wing, he drove directly at the full back before cutting inside onto his right foot at the edge of the box and curling a beautiful strike into the far top corner. It was a top-class finish, one that any Premier League analyst would be praising. The lead didn’t last long, however, as St. Patrick’s responded just two minutes later. Colemanstown struggled to deal with a bouncing ball inside the box and St. Pat’s number 8 reacted quickest, blasting the ball into the back of the net to make it 1–1.
Colemanstown responded well and regained the lead on 25 minutes. A corner from Matthew Keane caused chaos in the six-yard box and after a series of blocks and ricochets, the ball fell kindly to striker Darren Moran at the back post, who rifled home a powerful finish to make it 2–1. Midfielders Adam Doyle and Paddy Gavin were excellent throughout the half, controlling the centre of the pitch and spreading the ball wide to good effect. The Gavin brothers also linked up brilliantly on the right side, almost instinctively knowing where the other was at all times.
On 31 minutes Colemanstown extended their lead again following another scramble in the St. Pat’s box. The ball broke to birthday boy Ronan Screene just outside the six-yard area and he made no mistake, firing home his third goal in three games, a perfect way to mark his 18th birthday. Screene was replaced at halftime by Jamie Lally in a straight swap.
St. Patrick’s started the second half strongly and pulled a goal back with a well-worked team move. Their winger fed the striker with his back to goal, who cleverly laid the ball off first time for the onrushing number 9 to finish brilliantly from the edge of the box. It was a quality goal and one that gave Colemanstown keeper Conor Walsh no chance.
Colemanstown responded in style on 58 minutes with a superb team goal that started from the back. Walsh’s kick-out found Buckley, who moved it on to Mannion, then to Collins. Collins drove forward through midfield before picking out an excellent run from Moran. Moran took a positive touch into the right side of the box and fired a fantastic strike across goal into the far corner to restore the two-goal cushion at 4–2.
Cathal Keane was later replaced by Tomas Rogerson, and Rogerson made an immediate impact. In the 70th minute Moran again caused havoc down the right wing and delivered a cross right across the face of goal. Rogerson controlled with his left, quickly shifted onto his right foot and blasted a brilliant finish into the top corner to make it 5–2.
Dylan King was introduced on 75 minutes for Paddy Gavin and almost got on the scoresheet himself when another dangerous Moran cross somehow got cleared off the line before King could apply the finishing touch. Niall Grady also entered the game to replace the hard-working Adam Doyle late on. Despite the freezing and wet conditions, Colemanstown produced a fiery and determined performance to secure a convincing victory.
Player of the Match: Darren Moran was outstanding throughout with two goals and an assist. His movement and energy up front caused constant problems for the St. Patrick’s defence. Colemanstown now turn their attention to next week’s fixture when they host Maree/Oranmore B at home on 22nd March at 4pm. Match report: Kara Mullins
Squad: Conor Walsh,Tyler Collins, Nathan Mannion,Josh Buckley, Cathal Keane,Ryan Gavin, Adam Doyle, Paddy Gavin, Matthew Keane, Darren Moran,Rónán Screene, Tomás Rogerson, Shane Dempsey, Dylan King, Niall Grady, Joshua McDonnell, Shane Quirke, Jamie Lally, Oisin Divine, Sean Cooke. Management: Orla McCaffrey, Damien Mannion & Kara Mullins.
U13 boys Championship 2: East Galway Utd 6-4 Colemanstown. Our U13A’s travelled to Kiltormer yesterday to take on East Galway Utd. The lads started well and were on top from the kick off with our midfield 4 of Sé Laffey, Oisin Flannery, George Costello and Evan Molloy in control while Frank Dunne and Mark Shaughnessy worked tirelessly up front. The pressure wasn’t turned into goals however and the hosts took the lead via a well taken penalty in one of their first opportunities to get into our penalty area on 15 mins. They doubled their lead shortly after as our back 4 of Eoghan O’Neill, Chris Burke, Matt Feeney and Jack Grealish took time to get to grips with the pacey forward players of the home team. Our possession, pressure and positive play eventually paid off as a poorly cleared corner fell to Sé Laffey on the edge of the box. He got the ball out of his feet and unleashed a super strike into the top corner to get us back into the game. Aaron Burke replaced Eoghan O’Neill on 25 mins. Our next goal came on the stroke of half time after a quick free from Jack Grealish released Sé out the wing. Sé clipped in a cross to the front post and Mark Shaughnessy nipped in to get a glancing header past the keeper. Half time score 3-2 and all to play for in the second half.
Our half time substitution saw Kerrill Walsh replace Phelim Flynn in goals. The second half was a very even affair as both sides had chances. The hosts capitalised on their chances and had the ball in the net on 40 minutes. On 45 minutes Kerrill Hardiman did well to push a free kick onto the crossbar but the East Galway attacker was quickest to react and finish to the net to make it 5-2. The boys reacted superbly spurred on by the introduction of fresh legs in Eoghan Burke and Ethan Monaghan who got stuck in instantly. A brilliant move involving OisinFlannery, Sé Laffey, Eoghan Burke and Frank Dunne resulted in Frank squaring the ball to Evan Molloy to finish to the net. The hosts scored again with a goal against the run of play. Colemanstown piled on the pressure for the final minutes. Evan Molloy was fouled on the edge of the area and he rifled his free kick to the roof of the net to set up a grandstand finish. Time ran out for the boys as the final score ended 6-4. Credit to the boys who never gave up all game and worked hard on and off the ball. Sometimes results just don’t go your way. Match Report: Adrian Burke
Squad: Phelim Flynn, Kerrill Walsh, Ethan Monaghan Mark Shaughnessy, Matt Feeney, George Costello, Evan Molloy, Oisin Flannery, Eoghan O’Neill, Frank Dunne, Sé Laffey, Aaron Burke, Eoghan Burke, Chris Burke, Jack Grealish
U15 Boys Div 2: Kinvara 0-3 Colemanstown. On a lovley sunny day, our U15 boys wrapped up the season in style and as they say left the best till last. With nothing but pride to play for they rocked title chasing Kinvara with a deserved 3-0 win. With the game being changed to Colemanstown due to an unplayable pitch the lads took full advantage and lead 2 – 0 at half time. The first arrived after some great play by Finian Walsh and David Barrett in the middle who set Liam O’Connor away on the wing found Owen Hillary in the box to tap in. Kinvara try as the might could not find a way past the back 4 and when they did the excellent Aidan Quinn in goals was there to keep them at bay. The action was end to end and playing into the stiff breeze Colemanstown found their 2nd goal. Dermot P Parker latched onto a ball over the top and was felled in the box for a peno. He stepped up only for the goalie to save but Liam O’Connor was there to finish it off. Caelan Noone was brought on as fresh legs and worked tirelessly to disrupt Kinvara’s play. Kinvara did come close in the first half with a free but the post came to the aid of the Colemanstown boys to keep a clean sheet
2 -0 up at the break and with the elements dying down the lads battled away again. The back four well marshalled by Oisin Nugent and Darragh Finnerty flanked either side by Daragh Blake and Odhran Madden kept Kinvara at bay. They did have an effort which rattled the crossbar in that 2nd half. Changes were made as fresh legs made the difference with the introduction of Mikey Nutley, Tim Ruane and Conor Saunders and it was the lads who had the final say as Dermot Parker scored a cracker to put the game beyond Kinvara. Finian Walsh and Owen Hillary had chances either side of Aidan Quinn making some smart saves. 3-0 it finished to the Colemanstown lads who kept a clean sheet and earned a good win to make sure the lads finished the season on a high. Match Report: Alan Walsh
Squad: Aidan Quinn, Darragh Finnerty, Oisin Nugent, Odhran Madden, Liam O Connor, Finian Walsh,David Barrett, Sean Forde, Owen Hillary, Dermot Parker, Mikey Nutley, Caelan Noone, Tim Ruane, Conor Saunders.