Ballygawley 0-3 Colemanstown A Team. In a crucial first outing for the new management trio of Jason Finn, Gary Broderick & Kerrill Lally, our A team travelled to take on Sligo side Ballygawley in the Connacht Cup and emerged with a convincing 3-0 victory. This result marks an important step forward as the team looks to get back to winning ways under fresh leadership. Playing against the breeze in the opening half, the first 15 minutes were a tense period as Ballygawley applied pressure and created several set-piece opportunities. However, a disciplined defensive line featuring Dylan Grady, Luke Williams, Sean Hardiman & James Collevy held firm repelling the hosts’ attacks with composure. As the game progressed, our team grew into the contest as they found rhythm and confidence. The breakthrough came courtesy of a superb effort from Geordan Kenny who cut in from the right to set up Kevin Barrett. Barrett displayed exceptional skill pulling the ball onto his left foot before finding the bottom-right corner with a precise left footed finish. The momentum continued & it wasn’t long before Harry Mitchell doubled the lead. The goal was the product of brilliant midfield play from Thady Moran, whose inch-perfect pass found Mitchell on the edge of the box. Mitchell unleashed a sensational strike into the top-left corner leaving the Ballygawley keeper with no chance. Our 3rd goal came shortly afterwards with Thady Moran once again the architect. His sublime through ball found Kevin Barrett who showed determination to hold off his marker and fire into the bottom-right corner for his second of the day. 3 goals in 20 minutes capped a fantastic spell of football as Colemanstown turned up the heat, with a commanding lead at halftime. The second half saw a touching moment as Padraig Quirke and his 16-year-old son Shane took to the field together for the first time. Unfortunately it coincided with Kevin Barrett hobbling off due to a hamstring injury. Despite this setback, the lads maintained their defensive solidity aided by the introduction of 17-year-olds Shane Duffy and Ross Lally who both made their first-team debuts. Chances were fewer in the 2nd half. Harry Mitchell & Geordan Kenny both created half chances but failed to seriously test the Ballygawley keeper. The latter stages were dominated by set-piece battles but neither side could add to the scoreline. The game ended 3-0 securing a hard-earned but richly deserved victory. Post-match celebrations were enjoyed at Kelly’s Bar whose hospitality was greatly appreciated. We await the last 16 draw. We wish to express our gratitude at this point to Andy McKelvey, whose contributions as manager in the opening half of the season helped to lay the foundation for this success. Final Score: Ballygawley 0 – 3 Colemanstown. Match report: Jason Finn
Squad: Alan Finn, Dylan Grady, Luke Williams, Sean Hardiman, James Collevy, Richie Lally, Aironas Kantauskas, Thady Moran, Geordan Kenny, Harry Mitchell, Kevin Barrett, Jason Finn, Padraig Quirke, Mossy Carr, Jack Kennedy, Shane Duffy, Shane Quirke, Ciaran Keating, Thomas Broderick.
Boys U13 Division 2. Colemanstown 1–3 McDara. McDara made the long journey from Carraroe to Colemanstown on Saturday & returned home with all 3 points after a well-fought league encounter. Despite battling hard, Colemanstown found it challenging to match the visitors’ intensity and precision on the day. Oisin Flannery was the sole scorer for the home side providing a glimmer of hope but McDara proved too strong and deserved their 3-1 victory.
Girls U13 Division 1 Colemanstown 0–4 Kilshanvey. Sunday morning saw a tough outing for our U13 Girls as they hosted a dominant Kilshanvey side. The visitors showcased their superior quality and clinical finishing, capitalising on the opportunities they created to secure a comprehensive 4-0 win. Despite the result, our girls gave their best effort and will look to regroup for their next fixture.