U12s League game against Kiltullagh
Our U12 boys started their 4th game of the league on Saturday, on Kiltulla’s fine astro sod surface, by far the strongest with a couple of early chances but it was Kiltullagh who scored first with a clinical strike. The theme continued for the entire game with chance after chance going wide of the post for the boys in green. In the first half alone, Colemanstown hit the post 3 times and Dermot Parker saw his header from a corner ricocheted off the bar.
The second half continued in the same vein as the Colemanstown boys discovered that if the post was to deny them, so too was the Kiltullagh keeper with save after save matching what John Parker was doing as the other end. Darren Quirke was being constantly frustrated with chance after chance and Keelyn Kirby was simply excellent in setting up one opportunity after another. At 15 minutes into the second half Adam Kenny said enough was enough and hit a pile driver from half way only for the keeper to tip it over the bar. The supporting crowd didn’t know which was the best…the strike or the save. And again, Colemanstown kept finding chances with Dermot Parker again hitting the cross bar from a brilliant whipped in corner. For a time Keelyn Kirby must have thought he was playing the game at the corner flag as he whipped in countless quality corners into the danger zone.
It was a big day for Adam Devaney at the back who took over captaincy and lead the defence through a rip roaring first half. In the second half he handed the armband to new signing Daniel Booth who came in to the side for his first game and it seemed like he was at complete ease on his defensive duties. Darragh Anderson came on in mid field in the last 15mins to bolster up a tired midfield partnership.
In the end there were lessons learned….you need to be clinical with goal chances…and Kiltullagh were masters and scored 100% of their chances. While Colemanstown will reflect on lessons to be learned, not before all players enjoyed a Christmas selection box to mark the season break and a reminder of the importance of being together as a team at this time of the year. Well done lads. A great effort although maybe not reflected truly in the result. Match report by Robbie Parker
U14As share the spoils with Cregmore
U14A last match of 2021 ended in a draw away to Cregmore/Claregalway B team on Saturday. Colemanstown started the game strongly with midfielders Daniel Lydon, Joshua Buckley, Cillian Roche and Matthew Keane putting in strong tackles while giving plenty of support up front to attackers Darren Moran and Conor Walsh. A couple of early shots from Cillian Roche were dealt with by the Cregmore keeper. Colemanstown were strong in defense with Cathal Keane, Jamie Burke, Padraic Kelly and Nathan Mannion not letting much near the Colemanstown keeper Joshua McDonnell. Colemanstown were full of running and good intent as they piled the pressure on during the first half with plenty of scoring opportunities that couldn’t be capitalised on. With 10 corners in about 10 minutes all superbly placed into the box by Conor Walsh, the shots either went wide or hit off the defenders on the line. Tomas Rogerson was introduced in the first half and joined the midfield attack. It remained 0-0 at the break.
Both teams came out of the blocks in the second half, again a couple of early shots from Colemanstown hitting the post or just going wide. Stephen Raftery and Ronan Screene were introduced up front and battled to try to get that elusive goal, while Ryan Concannon joined in defense. Deadlock was finally broken after some lovely passing play between midfield, resulting in a shot by Cillian Roche bouncing off the crossbar and while the keeper moved to deal with the dropping ball, Matthew Keane nicked in to tap it in the back of the net. Cregmore responded a few minutes later with a goal of their own. While Colemanstown had more opportunities to win the game it was one of those days where shots were going wide or saved off the line. Cregmore had two late chances which could have left the away team rueing all the missed opportunities, one of which was dealt with by a superb run and tackle from Jamie Burke and the second by a last minute excellent save by keeper Joshua McDonnell just before the final whistle. There was great cheering from the Colemanstown supporters who had ranked this one as one of the most exciting matches, particularly the last quarter as both teams fought hard to warn a winner. The game ended 1-1, with Colemanstown heading into the Christmas break joint top with Kinvara Utd. Great entertainment lads.
Managers: Orla McCaffrey and Damien Mannion.
Meanwhile our U14B team match was postponed.
Team: Joshua McDonnell, Nathan Mannion, Padraic Kelly, Jamie Burke, Cathal Keane, Daniel Lydon, Joshua Buckley, Cillian Roche, Matthew Keane, Conor Walsh, Darren Moran, Tomas Rogerson, Ronan Screene, Stephen Raftery, Ryan Concannon. Match report by Orla McCaffrey
U16s march on against Merlin Woods
It didn’t take too long for Colemanstown U16s to acclimatise to the city smoke on Saturday as they travelled to East United grounds to take on Merlin Woods/ Medtronic in the last game before the Christmas break. They started with no mercy, going on the attack from the off and were 3-0 up by 16mins. They had a stroke of good fortune early on and were gifted a goal through an OG as Merlin Woods hesitancy at the back was severely punished. Cillian Fahey linked up well for the second as new signing Michael Burke drilled home his first goal for the club in ruthless fashion in what was his 2nd only outing for the club. Hard harrying by Cilly Fahey won a free & as everyone was expecting Tommy Mellody or Jason Rabbitte to shape up for the free, who else but Cian Ruane came up from centre back & he took one look up and his strike sailed over the jumping wall and into the top left corner.
Jason Rabbitte, who had a cracking game ran straight through on goal only to be taken down on the edge of the box and up came Cian Ruane again to crack home the resultant free and his brace by 21mins. Colemanstown who were in enterprising form were dominating all positions at this stage. Cillian Fahey crossed for Rabbitte who didn’t get the power behind the nod and Luke Williams’ venomous effort sailed the wrong side of the post. Ciaran Keating at right back originated the next move as he linked up with Cilly Fahey who slipped to Tommy Mellody and as Fahey again got on the end of the move, he seen his booted effort deflect off the butt of the post. 4-1 at the break.
Merlin Woods clawed one back within 2mins of the restart as they appeared refuelled by their half time talk. However, the Colemanstown lads were having none of it as Tommy Mellody & Michael Burke linked up well but Harry Mitchell failed to connect properly to Mellody’s cross as the ball went harmlessly wide. A corner from the hosts looked threatening but great combined work from Dara Scarry, Tommy Mellody, Ciárán Keating & Cian Ruane saw the ball deflect off the body of Mellody and eventually cleared from danger. A cool calm clearance from Dara Scarry found Michael Burke whose cross found Harry but he failed to connect again in an exact replica of his earlier chance.
Dean Connaire provided the assist for Colemanstown’s 5th as he played Jayo Rabbitte who slipped a beauty to Fahey and he showed no signs of panic as he squeezed his effort inside the post 12mins after the restart to kill off any hope of a Merlin Woods comeback. Burke & Fahey combined as Fahey seen his effort destined for the top right corner but the keeper denied him with an exceptional save. The resultant corner was whipped in by Mellody but Dean Connaire’s header powered over the bar. In another show of might, again originated from the back, this time saw Ciárán Keating’s delivery find Fahey who saw his effort parried by the keeper but fell kindly for Fahey again but his effort failed to find the target as his subsequent dinky jump indicated he wasn’t too happy with his finish. A minute later Rabbitte found new signing Ciárán Mulhern who was getting a taste of his new surroundings but his low hard effort was drilled straight at the keeper. 3mins later Keating found Mulhern again who shot wide while the last taste of the action was an exceptional move where Rabbitte & Mulhern linked up nicely and the delivery saw a blistering strike by Ciárán Keating which had the sideline close to a further celebration but his volleyed effort was saved and Luke Williams hit the rebounded effort well over. 5-1 it finished as Jason Finn’s charges were well happy with their performance & more importantly all 3 points.
Squad: Fionn Flattery, Dean Connaire, Cian Ruane, Ciárán Keating, Dara Scarry, Tommy Mellody, Luke Williams, Jayo Rabbitte, Michael Burke, Cilly Fahey, Harry Michell, Jack Jordan, Jack Dillon, Ross Lally, Ciárán Mulhern.