Colemanstown’s U14’s had plenty of problems before the game in Tuam today on this cold frosty morning, in no small way due to injuries to Darragh Roche & Sean Hansberry and the suspension of another influential player, yet the visitors passed another test to grab all three points and help creep their way up the Division1 ladder. In the end it was a sweet hard fought 4-3 win which the players wished to dedicate to Darragh Roche who fractured his ankle against Salthill the previous week.
Colemanstown were 1-0 down early on but overturned the deficit with a sweet free kick from Sean Hansberry in the end to win blissfully 4-3. The home side were quick to celebrate with a goal on 5 mins that gave them an early lead following a corner kick that bobbled around in the box and somehow got squeezed past Jason Connolly. Tuam then missed a penalty when their striker was well off target. Sean Hansberry made it 1-1 with a smashing looping header after he connected well to a Conor Moran free kick after Michael Flattery was fouled on 11 mins to tie up the game. 2mins later & Micháel Ryan made it 2-1 when he scored his first ever goal for the club as Conor Moran fed him the ball and his low hard drill curled past the keeper to great celebration from the Colemanstown contingent. Their joy was short lived though as Tuams’s strong No 10 capitalised on a slip up in defence and his powerful stride beat him to the ball ahead of the outrushing Jason Connolly and he poked home to level up matters. Immediately, in the ensuing play we had a big let-off as Tuam’s big No. 10’s effort thankfully went right across the face of goal. Then the hard working Michael Kelly had an effort as he was put through by Sean Hansberry but his long range effort was not too far over the woodwork. In the ensuing play again, Kelly got stuck in, this time his effort was well held by Tuam’s custodian. 2-2 at the break as the energy of Michael Kelly, Conor Moran & Micháel Ryan helped to match the Tuam boys in the middle department.
5 mins into the 2nd half, Colemanstown were once again on the back foot as Tuam capitalised on a defensive error when they nipped in to put themselves 3-2 up. 3 mins later, we saw Colemanstown’s best passage of play originated in the back from Conor Moran who found Michael Flattery linked up with Conor Byron whose initial effort at goal was saved as the rebound fell to Mark Donnellan who was nicely positioned on the edge of the box, took one touch and slotted home the equaliser for the 3rd time of the morning. With 7 mins left another let-off for Colemanstown as a good move from Tuam seen the ball blasted over the crossbar. With 6mins left and the key moment came for Colemnastown as Josh McGuire-Greaney was fouled, only for Sean Hansberry to stand over the ball, looking goalwards and with a shrug of his shoulders, he unleashed the most pleasant of free kicks into the top right hand corner. From there til the end, chances were scarce and those who like their football laced with nail-biting tension were catered for in an intense final few minutes as all eyes were on the ref. The final whistle was sweet music to our ears. This was a full panel effort as substitutes Mark Donnellan, Josh McGuire-Greaney & Darragh Diskin made a telling factor with Donnellan scoring our 3rd, McGuire-Greaney winning the free kick which found the winner & Darragh Diskin also making a telling contribution. It was hard fought game in every way as Micháel Ryan limped off with stud damage to his knee as every player gave 100%. Thanks to the team management of David & Edo for their efforts on the day.
Panel: Jay Connolly, Liam Molloy, Luke Lally, Dara Hansberry, Liam Gormally, Micahel Kelly, Micháel Ryan, Michael Flattery, Conor Moran, Conor Byron, Sean Hansberry, Mark Donnellan, Darragh Diskin, Josh McGuire-Greaney.
That’s the end of the U14 soccer for 2017 as we take a break for the Christmas recess, now sitting 4th from the summit in Division 1. However, all U14 players and parents are invited to Burke’s, Colemanstown on Friday evening 16th December where a FIFA competition is being set up for the players with the eventual winners receiving the FIFA 18 game compatible with an xbox or PS.