Colemanstown may have conceded the Youth Championship title on Sunday with an agonising 3-2 loss at the hands of Oughterard meaning favours will be required elsewhere to swing the league title back in Colemanstown’s favour. Plagued with injuries, illness, and earlier gaelic matches for some players were all factors which contributed to a bad day on the pitch. Have they thrown away the league??….. it remains to be seen especially given that Kinvara also climbed up the ladder with a 4-1 win over Knocknacarra leaving them now joint second with Colemanstown. Colemanstown’s quick starts have been one of their hallmarks this season and they produced yet another one on Sunday when Sam Lee tapped under the keeper’s legs from the edge of the box on 20mins after an inch perfect cross from Alex Duke. Lee Murphy then had a brilliant drive from 40yards which hit the crossbar and subsequently Brian Monaghan’s chance from a rebounded free kick was turned round the post by the visiting Oughterard keeper. Oughterard, on the other hand, showed little intensity in their first half play as Keith Connell in the Colemanstown goal had a quiet first half. The visitors showed a great turnaround in spirit from the offset of the second half as Ronan O’Neill who was dominant in midfield for Colemanstown had to retire 5mins into the second half due to an injury and Colemanstown found it difficult to anchor the midfield berth thereafter. Oughterard had 4 early second half corners; the first 3 were resolutely defended and how Ronan Carr situated on the front post headed away the 3rd corner attempt was unanswerable in itself. Colemanstown faltered following the sustained pressure as the 4th corner was swung in and Oughterard somehow found the net through a crowded box to make it 1-1. The injury crisis exacerbated for Colemanstown when Lee Murphy had to retire and suddenly our midfield was stripped of its power and running threat. Oughterard won another 3 consecutive corners; making it 2-1 on their third attempt. Immediately from the kick off Kieran Dowd won a corner which was taken by Ronan Carr and bundled in over the line through a combined effort by Sam Lee & Alex Duke. At this stage the momentum was with the home side as young Conor O’Neill and Lorcan Molloy created chances and Keith Connell was making some great saves at the other end of the field. However as the game wore on Colemanstown looked physically and mentally exhausted but a draw looked imminent and they knew this would be a good result. The decisive moment came with 2 minutes remaining when Oughterard scored from the edge of the 18yard box much to the disappointment of the Colemanstown contingent. Centre backs Aidan Monaghan & young Jack Kennedy were particularly dominant in defence and played with great panache and flair. These lads are out again this weekend when they play Knocknacarra at home at 2pm in the quarter final of the shield.