Our O35 squad continued their recent run of form with a great away win over Glen Celtic on Wednesday evening in Glenamaddy. Colemanstown started off very sluggish with a lot of passes going astray as both teams found it difficult to acclimatise to the inclement weather conditions. The first half was scrappy enough with both teams trying to sort their leaky defences with some passes askew although it has to be said that both teams fairly stood toe-to-toe until midway through the first half when Glen Celtic took the lead through slack passing in midfield, went on the attack and with Gary Broderick half crying about the wet evening, Glen made light work of the opening goal. Gerry Grady and Colin O’Grady had chances in the opening half; one effort ricocheted off the post and Glen’s keeper pulled off a great save to keep the hosts with the 1 goal cushion. The concession of that goal kick started Colemanstown into gear and they floated the boat after that as they made their way to the break 1-0 down.
After the half-time break Colemanstown took the game by the scruff of the neck and they resumed strongly playing some excellent football on a top class surface. Colemanstown were rewarded when Andy Concannon at his tender age displayed some mighty footwork, was fouled in the process in a scoreable position. Up stepped Ronan Geraghty who relishes these kind of opportunities and he drilled his effort past the Glen keeper to give Colemnastown the lift they needed. Colemanstown bossed the game thereafter. Ronnie Geraghty & Garry O’ Grady won the midfield battle and lone striker Colin O’Grady was doing some great work up front with great support from Paul O’Connor and Gerry Grady. Colemanstown were unlucky not to score when Ronan Geraghty delivered an inch perfect cross and Colin O’Grady got his head to it, only to see it thunder off the crossbar. Kevin Sayers was called into action with an important save after the hosts had another attack. Colemanstown relieved some of the pressure with a second goal which spoiled the party for Glen Celtic. As a corner was whipped in, Glen’s keeper made a terrific save and then as the ball bounced about in the box and with hesitancy from the Glen Celtic defence, Garry O’Grady showed he has plenty of mileage still left in the tank as he hit the back of the net with a sweet strike. It might not have been his most glamorous goal but as you age, glamour goals don’t really come into it. There were plenty of hugs and kisses for him afterwards and brotherly love shown.
Colemanstown settled down for the remainder of the game and played some nice football against a very stiff wind. Eoghan Barrett called the shots in defense and with his great calls as Colemanstown snuffed out many Glen Celtic attacks. With a solid performance to the end, Colemanstown saw out the game to earn a valuable 3 points. It was a great team performance by the entire squad as they await with eager their next fixture away to Dunmore on Saturday, 8th June.
Squad: Eoghan Barrett, Paul O’Connor, Ger Grady, Gary Broderick, Andy Concannon, Kenny Duane, Tommy Kelly, Declan Curtin, Niall Rohan, Garry O’Grady, Cian O’Toole, Ronan Geraghty, Ross Sullivan, Adrian Burke, Kevin Sayers, Barry Forde, Colin O’Grady.