Colemanstown U16s 4 – 2 Loughrea (14th April 2022)
Victory was important for both Loughrea & Colemanstown U16s on Thursday evening for either team to remain on as league title challengers. Both teams had only lost 1 league game apiece going into the game; Colemanstown’s loss in the home game to Loughrea. In this away game though, Colemanstown nearly relinquished a 2-0 lead after allowing Loughrea right back into it, moments into the 2nd half.
Within 4 mins, Harry Mitchell had the ball in the net after a good passing move but was adjudged to be offside. Tommy Mellody & Jayo Rabbitte went close early on as Colemanstown started lively. The breakthrough was made on 10mins when Ciaran Keating’s delivery sought Mellody who found Harry Mitchell and his perfectly executed lob of the keeper found the net. Mitchell had claimed his brace by 14mins after good work from Mellody down the right wing, his cross into the box was defended; the clearance picked up by Jonah Donnellan in midfield & his floated, curling cross from the right wing into the box was volleyed home by Harry for a peach of a goal. It was no more than Colemanstown deserved for the early onslaught. Mellody had another chance a minute later after a good run from Luke Williams as the keeper failed to hold Williams’ effort & Mellody was quick to pounce but the keeper reacted fast. Loughrea cut the lead on 19mins after some hesitant defending at the back to slam past Fionn Flattery.
As Colemanstown continued to press, Harry hit his free kick as he bid for his hatrick but was denied by the keeper …. for now…. while Jason Rabbitte had a strong penalty claim which fell on deaf ears. A nice speculative effort from Harry flew over the crossbar, Jayo Rabbitte’s effort from 18yards wasn’t too far off target, Tommy Mellody went close again after a probing run from Luke Williams through the centre, Ciaran Mulhern was wide with a header from a Mellody corner and Cian Ruane’s free made the keeper stretch well just before half time as Colemanstown maintained the onslaught right to the break. The half time deficit could have been much more than one. Half time 2-1.
The game was only 1 min old when Loughrea restored parity as Fionn Flattery advanced to the edge of his box, saved with his knees but was chipped from 20 yards. Mulhern then played Harry up the left wing & as he skipped by 2 defenders, was about to pull the trigger when the ball was whipped off his toe. Dean Connaire’s through ball then found Mulhern in space, was about to shoot, pulled the ball back to his other foot and his effort drew a superb tip over the crossbar by Loughrea’s custodian. Jack Jordan entered the fray at centre mid while Dean Connaire had to limp to the sideline with cramp which saw Jayo Rabbitte redeployed to left back & Jack Dillon up front. It was tit for tat for the next 20mins until Luke Williams saw another effort saved after a good passage of play involving Tommy Mellody, Jason Rabbitte & Jack Jordan. Loughrea looked dangerous as they sought an elusive winner but Fionn Flattery and a combination of defenders averted danger as Luke Williams’ through ball found Mellody who was closed down quickly for a vital Loughrea interception. Then a lovely ball from Rabbitte up the wing found Mitchell in space who skipped past 2 defenders and with Jack Dillon to assist in the box, he was taken down and the ref pointed to the spot. Immediately Harry retrieved the ball to take the resultant penalty and dispatched well past the keepers’ reach to claim his hatrick. The Loughrea stand was loud with Colemanstown delight.
With 6mins to play, a through ball from Loughrea found their striker in space. Fionn rushed out of his area and ended up in no man’s land and while the striker got the lob in , Cian Ruane was well placed to prevent it from finding the net. Loughrea had a further chance in similar fashion, when Fionn advanced to meet the ball and another lob from distance saw the in-flying Jason Rabbitte’s left boot make a vital interception as Loughrea mounted the pressure in the final stages. Jack Jordan made sure though in added time when Mulhern tapped the ball back to him in a crowded box and his powerful effort rattled the net to claim all vital 3 points and ensure a 4-2 final score.
With very little between the top 4, this win now sees Colemanstown in poll position in the league
Squad: Fionn Flattery, Dara Scarry, Cian Ruane, Ciaran Keating, Dean Connaire, Jonah Donnellan, Luke Williams, Ciaran Mulhern, Tommy Mellody, Jason Rabbitte, Harry Mitchell, Jack Jordan, Jack Dillon, Jonathan Keane, Larry Murrajvos, Eanna Burke.
Colemanstown U16s 3 – 2 Moyne Villa (18th April 2022)
A super strike midway through the 2nd half from Jason Rabbitte earned Colemanstown a place in the Divisional Cup Final at home yesterday evening. Rabbitte’s winner was a goal worthy of winning any closely fought semi-final that went down to the wire. Colemanstown had the advantage of the strong breeze in the first half and that, coupled with the passionate home support, meant they quickly took the game to Moyne Villa.
Colemanstown went close in the opening 15mins through Tommy Mellody, Ciarán Mulhern, Harry Mitchell & a Cian Ruane header. The breakthrough was made on 17mins when a speculative shot from Jonah Donnellan within his own half of the pitch stunned the whole stand as the back pedalling keeper failed to divert the goal. Jason Rabbitte had a good effort 2mins later after good work from Dara Scarry & Tommy Mellody on the right. Rabbitte made it 2-0 on 26mins after hard work under the stand by Harry Mitchell & Tommy Mellody; the ball was collected by Ciarán Mulhern who cut in towards the box and his pin-point cross to Rabbitte was drilled under the diving body of the keeper. The goal sparked Colemanstown into a further attack as a long kick out from the keeper was chested down by Rabbitte to Jack Jordan whose almighty effort drew a spectacular one handed diving save from Moyne Villa’s keeper.
Then in 60 seconds of madness and lack of concentration at the back Moyne Villa were back in the game. They clawed a goal back immediately in a well worked move when the Colemanstown defence failed to commit in the tackles & Moyne Villa finished from the edge of the box into the far corner. They equalised straight from the kick off when their striker was fouled as he ran through on goal, the ref played the advantage and as the Colemanstown defence failed to close down the striker he applied the finish in similar enough fashion to their earlier goal. The visitors had a chance to go 3-2 up as the defence looked jittery at the back but the shot went across the face of goal. Colemanstown sustained the momentary pressure and got themselves back on track. A probing run from Ciarán Mulhern found Mellody who pulled the ball back to his right foot, saw his effort fumbled by the keeper and as Harry Mitchell pounced on the rebound, he fired wide. Tommy saw his free kick sail straight at the keeper just before the break to leave it 2-2 at the break.
Colemanstown regrouped at half time & restarted strong. Harry Mitchell’s effort from the edge of the 18’ box was fumbled by the keeper who was quick to redeem himself. Further chances fell to Diarmuid Ryan & Tommy Mellody as the committed Fionn Flattery was equally as busy up the other end. The winner arrived 22mins into the half following a ball from Mulhern to Mellody who squared it across the box to the waiting Jason Rabbitte who finished superbly to a tremendous applause. Moyne Villa had a couple of long range frees towards the end of the game as they pressed hard to bring the game to extra time but there was no way past the alert Fionn Flattery. 3-2 it finished as we look forward to the upcoming Cup final in EDP. There’s a little sniff of a double on the horizon!
Squad: Fionn Flattery, Dean Connaire, Cian Ruane, Jonah Donnellan, Dara Scarry, Ciarán Mulhern, Jason Rabbitte, Eanna Burke, Jack Jordan, Harry Mitchell, Tommy Mellody, Cathal Kennedy, Diarmuid Ryan, Jack Dillon, Jonathan Keane.