Fidelma Walsh & Damien Mannion of the U12 Management team give an account of Saturdays U12 games
U12A v Cregmore/Claregalway ‘B’
Our U12A team won their second league game at home to a fiercely competitive Cregmore/Claregalway side on Saturday. Given the visitors early dominance, they started brighter and produced the opener with an ambitious shot past the Colemanstown keeper. Cregmore/ Claregalway’s’s joy was short lived though as the Colemanstown boys responded quickly with some excellent passing football with James Queeney, Fionn Donoghue and Nathan Mannion rock solid in defence. Colemanstown equalised courtesy of a super goal from Darren Moran after a lot of hard work in midfield and some lovely passing movement from Shane Quirke. At this stage Colemanstown monopolised possession and heaped on the pressure on the visitors as they asserted their dominance in all positions. The midfield partnerships of Conor Walsh, Daniel Lydon and Shane Quirke worked well together while up front Joshua Buckley and Darren Moran were searching for goals.
The second goal came when Cregmore’s keeper pulled off a massive save from a thundering Conor Walsh effort while the rebound was pounced on by Shane Quirke who made no mistake in finding the net. At this stage the passing, running off the ball and work rate of the Colemanstown lads was at full tempo and mighty rhythm. Colemanstown’s third arrived through the superb skills and running of Joshua Buckley who passed to Daniel Lydon and he slotted the 3rd with ease. 3-1 half time.
The second half brought an onslaught from the visitors. Colemanstown’s keeper Joshua McDonnell was superb in the town’s goal. Cregmore/Claregalway changed team tactics and started bombing long deliveries into the Colemanstown defense line but they stood firm. The visitors managed to pull one back when Colemanstown’s keeper Joshua McDonnell pulled off a brilliant save only for the Cregmore striker to be first to react to the rebound to dispatch to the net and set up a nervy finale. The Colemanstown lads were determined not to relinquish their lead and played out the remainder of the game with great teamwork and all the ingredients necessary to hold out with a 3-2 win which makes it 2 league wins out of 2. The new jerseys kindly sponsored by Peter Buckley of Buckley Financial Planning, Colemanstown have the luck in them!
Squad: Joshua McDonnell, Fionn Donoghue, James Queeney, Nathan Mannion, Daniel Lydon, Conor Walsh, Shane Quirke, Darren Moran, Joshua Buckley.
Meanwhile our U12B side took on Salthill Devon ‘D’ also played at home on Saturday donned in their new jerseys kindly sponsored by Michael Kenny Car Sales, Athlone. You cant beat the excitement of that … putting on a new jersey for the first time. Although missing a few regulars, they performed brilliantly winning well with some young U11’s helping out on the day. 10 year old Darren Quirke bagged himself a hat-trick while Ronan Screene was also amongst the goal scorers. Dylan King made some superb saves in goals while in front of him sat a solid defence line of Ella Carroll, Padraig Kelly & young Adam Devaney. Midfield was anchored by Niall Grady and the tenacious Ronan Screene & Kyle McDonagh. Our two up front lads, 10 year olds Joe Carroll & Darren Quirke dropped back to help out throughout the game. It must be said that the movement of the ball from one play to the next was superb and everyone had a total understanding of their role. Well done lads and particularly to the young guns Joe Carroll, Darren Quirke & Adam Devaney who came to the rescue on the day.
Squad: Dylan King, Ella Carroll, Padraig Kelly, Adam Devaney, Niall Grady, Ronan Screene, Kyle McDonagh, Joe Carroll, Darren Quirke.