In a thrilling local derby played in Abbeyknockmoy yesterday morning a share of the spoils in the end was probably the fairest result for our ‘A’ team vs St. Bernards in this latest league encounter. It was a great game of energy sapping tension played in front of a sizeable contingent of both home & travelling supporters, many of whom are more than acquaintances through Monivea /Abbey football as 2 of our players took on their gaelic counterparts on the day, namely Stephen Walsh & Paddy Mullins, the 2 Brierfield boys! It was nice to see a handshake and a bit of banter between them & the Abbey lads before hostilities broke out on the pitch. Bernards played with the hill, the wind and the rain in the first half and had the best opportunities of the half but failed to score thanks in the main to Niall Gelston who made 2 top class saves, turning one around the post and a fingertip save to tip the 2nd effort over the crossbar. Colemanstown found themselves under a lot of pressure from corners & free kicks in the first half and were damn glad for the half time reprieve with the game still scoreless. Colemanstown restarted the 2nd half with Tom Flan introduced for the injured Alo Finn and recommenced the game full of purpose and with great momentum dominating the early possession. Bernards, though drew first blood, maybe a little against the run of play, when they scored a great goal following a good move on 8mins. 5mins later Flan restored parity as he lashed on a breaking ball on the edge of the box to drill a low hard shot to the net. It was no more than our 2nd half start deserved. Then 10mins later came a moment of pure brilliance in the game, as a ball broke to Squelchy 35yards out on the right side of the field. Squelchy composed himself, looked at the goal with no nose bleed! and let fly. What a goal, even Denis Farragher in the Bernard’s goal had to applaud it as it lit up all of Abbey. Fans even captured the moment with their phones and it has been spreading like wildfire on twitter since! Flan had a great chance to add to the scoreline but his effort flew over the bar. With 10mins to go, Bernards piled on the pressure as they searched for the equaliser. Colemanstown conceded a free kick 25yards out on the sideline which was swept into the danger area and as the ball broke in the box, Bernard’s pounced and their striker lashed home the equaliser, which for Colemanstown was a scrappy goal to concede. Paddy Mullins had the last say, a piledriver from 25yards which was touched around the post by Farragher. And so both teams emerged with a point a piece, in a game typical of local derby stuff – but this rivalry between Bernards & Colemanstown will go on and on……