U17 Boys Div1/2 Cup: Colemanstown 6 – 1 St Bernard’s They say that in sport, on any given Sunday, anything can happen. Today, in the quarter-final of the Division 1/Division 2 Cup, Colemanstown United proved just that. Facing off against St. Bernard’s, the unbeaten joint leaders of Division 1 along with Bearna Na Forbacha, the odds were stacked against Colemanstown. But football isn’t just about stats or league positions; it’s about heart, determination, and the sheer will to win. And today, Colemanstown United had all of that in abundance, producing a phenomenal performance to claim a stunning 6-1 victory. Kick-off at 3 p.m. in Colemastown was met with gale-force winds, which made playing conditions incredibly difficult. Colemanstown, against the wind in the first half, knew they had to battle not just their opponents but also the elements. St. Bernard’s, as expected, started strong. Dominating possession in the opening 15 minutes, they applied immense pressure on Colemanstown’s defense, forcing multiple corners. One such corner, delivered from the left, curled all the way into the back of the net, putting St. Bernard’s 1-0 up. But Colemanstown, undeterred, refused to let their heads drop. They responded swiftly with attacking play down the left, resulting in a penalty after Darren Moran’s persistence forced a handball in the box. Moran stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty into the bottom left corner: 1 – 1. Despite relentless attacks from St. Bernard’s, goalkeeper Sean Cooke kept Colemanstown in the game with two superb fingertip saves from long-range efforts. The defense, marshalled by Eibhear Colleran, Josh Buckley, Tyler Collins, and Cathal Keane, held firm. Collins stepped into a new role and slotted in very comfortably alongside the towering Buckley. Ryan Gavin could have put Colemastown ahead twice after the 20th minute when Rogerson slipped a through ball to Gavin whose shot was brilliantly saved by the St. Bernard’s keeper. A minute later Moran’s cross found Gavin in the box again who controlled superbly but his shot went high and over the bar. Then, in the 35th minute, Colemanstown struck again. A brilliantly worked team goal, started from the back and worked through midfield, saw Matthew Keane feed Tomas Rogerson, who sold a dummy to his defender before he curled a perfectly placed left-footed shot into the bottom corner: 2- 1 to Colemanstown. St. Bernard’s pushed for an equaliser, but Colemanstown’s defensive resilience was epitomized by Cathal Keane, who headed a dangerous corner off the line. Just before halftime, another set-piece from Matthew Keane found Josh Buckley, who smashed the ball into the roof of the net for his second goal in two games. Colemanstown went into the break leading 3-1. In the second half, Colemanstown picked up where they left off. Just six minutes in, a St. Bernard’s attack was gathered by goalkeeper Cooke whose quick thinking launched a long ball forward to Rogerson, who beat the keeper to the bounce and finished brilliantly 4-1. A crucial game deciding goal! Shane Quirke continued to dictate play in midfield, and at some points he was leaving St Bernards players dizzy. Colemanstown’s passing, movement, and relentless pressing overwhelmed St. Bernard’s, who struggled to cope with the energy and aggression of their opponents. In the 66th minute, a quick interchange between Jack Muldowney, Quirke, and Rogerson set Muldowney through on goal, and he made no mistake, calmly slotting home to make it 5-1. Ryan Gavin went down after his never ending work rate which led to cramp and was substituted for Joshua McDonnell. With 15 minutes left, Colemanstown continued their relentless attack. Substitutes Ronan Screen for Rogerson, Dylan King for Matthew Keane, and Niall Grady for Eibhear Colleran added fresh energy. After great pressure from Grady on the wing, Captain Adam Doyle, who led by example, dispossessed a St. Bernard’s midfielder and played a perfect through ball to Dylan King, who turned and fired a clinical shot into the bottom corner to seal the emphatic 6-1 victory. This was not just a win, it was a statement. Colemanstown, the underdogs today, outplayed, outworked, and outclassed the top team in Division 1. They proved that in football, on any given Sunday, anything is possible. With this unforgettable performance, Colemanstown march on to the semi-finals, brimming with confidence and belief. Who knows what awaits them next? One thing is for sure, never count out this team. Match Report: Kara Mullins
Squad: Sean Cooke, Eibhear Colleran, Josh Buckley, Tyler Collins, Cathal Keane, Matthew Keane, Adam Doyle (Cpt), Ryan Gavin, Darren Moran, Shane Quirke, Tomas Rogerson, Ronan Screene, Dylan King, Jack Muldowney, Jamie Lally, Joshua McDonnell, Conor Walsh, Nathan Mannion.
Management: Orla McCaffrey, Damien Mannion & Kara Mullins.