A late winner from Jason Rabbitte kept the U14’s alive in their league group as they had an early morning start in Oughterard yesterday. Colemanstown raced out of the blocks with early chances for Cathal Kennedy who put wide and Harry Mitchell’s low drive was kept out by the keeper. With about 15mins played Cian Ruane went off injured as he fell awkwardly on coming to the edge of his box to gather a ball. Diarmuid Ryan stood in goal but there wasn’t a keeper’s glove to fit the big paws of the towering Ryan who had to play the remainder of the game without goalkeepers gloves. The breakthrough was made on 19mins when Davy Walsh’s delivery into the box was met by the boot of Cilly Fahey who did his best to squeeze the ball in but as the ball whizzed across the face of the goal, Killian Hughes was on hand on the back post to tap home the opener with the keeper stranded on the ground. Parity was restored on 26mins when a long free kick from Oughterard found its way past defenders & keeper Diarmuid Ryan to the net although it may have taken a deflection, on route.
On the half hour mark, Oughterard put themselves in front again as their striker latched onto a long ball from midfield, beat the offside trap, held his composure and although Diarmuid got his hand to it, the rebound was smashed home. Immediately from tip off, Colemanstown were awarded a penalty from a handball and Jonah Donnellan who had emerged from the bench to accommodate a line out reshuffle to replace the injured Cian Ruane, coolly slotted past the keeper to tie up two fairly evenly matched teams at half time. 2-2.
Colemanstown restarted the second half swiftly. The game was only seconds old when Cathal Kennedy’s snap shot went to the left of the post. David Walsh’s cross then found Cilly Fahey whose header went wide. A goal looked certain for the hosts only for a vital interception from Eanna Burke at the opportune time while the Colemanstown lads received a let off moments later when Oughterard’s striker capitalised on a defensive slip-up but his effort went across the face of goal. 13mins into the half Oughterard capitalised on another defensive boo boo, beat the offside trap and tapped into the far corner. The hosts celebrations were cut short though as Jayo Rabbitte was upended in the box and with the strong Winter sun in his eyes, Jonah Donnellan stood over the penalty take, picked his spot and found the equaliser. Harry Mitchell had a half chance after he got on the end of Jayo’s cross but the keeper was quick off his line to avert the danger. Davy Walsh drew another save while Jayo Rabbitte looked to have scored the winner when he got on the end of a delivery from Cillian Fahey, found himself one-on-one with the keeper but the keeper got a paw to it to turn around the post. The resultant corner was whipped in by Davy and Jayo Rabbitte rose highest to find a headed winner and put Colemnastown on the front foot for the last few minutes. Colemanstown played a defensive game for the last 4mins to hold out for this hard earned win. Wishing Cian Ruane a speedy recovery in his injury sustained.
Squad: Cian Ruane, Ross Lally, Luke Williams, Ciarán Keating, Harry Mitchell, Diarmuid Ryan, Cathal Kennedy, Jason rabbitte, David Walsh, Cilly Fahey, Killy Highes, Eanna Burke, Jonah Donnellan, Nathan McGuire-Greaney, Larry Murrajvos,Johnny Keane, Eoin Keague.
U16: Colemanstown 1; Cregmore 6
Fielding with only 12 players and Declan Greaney, the sole coach, our U16’s looked set for a tough day in baltic conditions in Cregmore today which was made tougher in the first few minutes when young Micháel Ryan was casualty bound with a dislocated finger. Ryan Noone took the keeper’s jerseys for the 1st half with Josh McGuire-Greaney in the 2nd period. It was a tough task as Cregmore snapped into the game fast and by half time Colemanstown were 3-0 down with few chances created in the first half apart from a half effort from Anders Diaz. Ryan Noone had a chance early in the 2nd half but it was the hosts who piled on the pressure and got two more. Conor Byron got a perfect header on Ryan Noone’s free kick but was just off target. Midway through the 2nd half, Colemanstown had a golden opportunity when Michael Flattery crossed into the box and although Didac’s effort was saved, Ryan Noone latched onto the rebound and as he made space for himself in a crowded box he failed to keep his effort under the crossbar. 5mins before the end Ryan Noone scored a great individual goal as he worked the ball up the left flank and cut in across the box to squeeze past the keeper. Straight from the kick-off, Cregmore hit back with another in an eye catching performance for them. Colemanstown had to field without a large number of players while the hand injury to Micháel Ryan didn’t help the cause nor did the fact that two of the lads were unwell before the game kicked off.
However, these lads will regroup for their next outing with just 2 league games yet played, there’s plenty of time to get back on track. We wish Micháel Ryan a speedy recovery with his finger injury.
Squad: Michael Ryan, Declan O’Brien, Luke Lally, Dara Hansberry, Conor Byron, Michael Flattery, Anders Diaz, Michael Kelly, Didac Tur, Ryan Noone, Joshua Greaney, Conor Booth, Dara Diskin.