Everyone loves a good David & Goliath story especially in a local Connaught Cup derby. This was such a battle as 1st division side Colemanstown put in a superb away performance for a worthy win over Premier league side Athenry. There was little to shout about in the first half in a flat game which was pretty much nip and tuck as the underfoot conditions were extremely difficult to acclimatise to. It was stalemate at the break but 4 second half goals gave plenty to cheer about. Colemanstown forged ahead on 57 mins when Ray Moran capitalised on a mix up between the keeper and defence and still with some work to do calmly slotted to the right of the keeper. 7 mins later Athenry’s left footed shot took a deflection through a forest of legs for a worthy equaliser. Tom Flan made it 2-1 with 12mins left when he dived bravely for a close range header which the Athenry custodian half parried but with fierce spin on the ball was unable to hold it. This was as good a goal as you would see as Alan Finn on the left wing switched the play across the field to Damo Wynne whose pin point cross found the head of Flannery. At this stage, Colemanstown had to be impressive in their defending as veterans Garry O’Grady and Ollie Crowe were resolute, the latter showing no affects of nursing chicken pox victims late into the night as our entire rearguard stood firm under the weight of mounting pressure especially towards the latter stages of the game when Athenry searched and fought hard for the equaliser. Our patience paid off in the dying seconds as Colemanstown moved further ahead. Ray Moran’s perfect through ball to Tom Flan, whose lightening speed took him past the defender who then took him down and Flan himself duly converted the resultant penalty with a fine strike. 3-1 it finished as Colemanstown now face Mervue in the next round of the Connaught Cup in what will most definitely be another David & Goliath story. Meanwhile our u12 & B team games fell victim to a blanket cancellation of Saturday games due to the weather.