U13 Boys Div2: Colemanstown 0- 5 Athenry. We welcomed Athenry to Colemanstown on Saturday for this latest league encounter. Fielding with only 12 players available, this was always going to be a tough outing. Both teams started on a par but Athenry got the upper hand on 10mins when they scored from a corner kick. Immediately though Colemanstown had a chance through Timmy Ruane but the Athenry defence snuffed out the attack. There were no further clear cut chances to either side in the 1st half as the teams parted for the break with Athenry 1-0 up. In the 2nd half, Athenry re-emerged with all guns blazing and scored soon after tip off with a long range effort. Soon after they scored again with a similar long range effort to their earlier one. Colemanstown though never gave up & fought tirelessly for every 50/50 ball. Oisin Flannery had a chance but the Athenry custodian stood tall. Thomas Kennedy delivered some quality crosses into the box but there was no one to finish. Athenry finished strong with 2 further goals to finish emphatic winners. That said Colemanstown showed great attitude & commitment throughout the game, given the mammoth task on hand & the depleted team due to injuries & players unavailable. Match Report: Barry Forde.
Squad: Iarlaith Griffin, Conor Saunders, George Costello, Oisin Flannery, Caelan Noone, Thomas Kennedy, Sean Forde, Tommy Gooney, Mark Shaughnessy, Tim Ruane, Marc Scarry, Se Laffey.
Junior Men’s Championship: St Bernards 1- 0 Colemanstown. Our A team lost to local rivals St Bernard’s 1-0 in this local derby league match played in Abbeyknockmoy on Sunday. Having beaten Bernard’s the last time both sides met in the league, there was always going to be a bit of a sting to this game. Colemanstown started a little nervy with sticky underfoot conditions adding to the battle ahead. Both teams played a high line, therefore the game was played in a very compact middle third for long spells with few chances going forward for either side. Thady Moran had the best chance of the half but the ball scuffed off some part of his upper anatomy. The hosts scored what proved to be the match winner & a solitary goal of the game with 15mins to go in the 1st half. They broke through & although Junior in goal managed to close the angle well, their striker fired past him from a difficult enough angle. But despite the setback Colemanstown got back into it, although failed to create anything meaningful for the remainder of the half. The 2nd half saw the introduction of Richie Lally & Callum McKelvey up front. However, our lads failed to ignite & lacked movement & imagination up front. Best showings on the day were Sean Hardiman, Luke Williams, Kerrill Hardiman, Padraig Quirke in the first half. The hosts had a few 2nd half chances but the back 4 were solid all through & Junior in goal was just perfect in his decision making. Bernards eventually held out, condemning us to our 4th loss in the league. Our fortunes should surely change soon. Match Report: Andy McKelvey.
Squad: Alan Junior Finn, Dylan Grady, Sean Hardiman, Luke Williams, Geordan Kenny, Kerrill Hardiman, Padraig Quirke, Kevin Barrett, Keith Mannion, Jamsie Colleavy, Thady Moran, Callum McKelvey, Harry Mitchell, Jack Kennedy, Richie Lally, Cathal Kitt.
Colemanstown U17 Boys: Colemanstown 6- 3 MacDara F.C. Colemanstown United U17s secured their first win of the season in a thrilling encounter against MacDara F.C., earning a vital 3 points to climb off the bottom of the league table. The match began with MacDara seizing the initiative, scoring a spectacular long-range strike in the opening five minutes. Colemanstown’s goalkeeper, Sean Cooke, had no chance against the top-corner effort. However, Colemanstown maintained their composure and responded 20 minutes later. A long ball found Shane Quirke in a 1v1 situation, and he coolly rounded the keeper to slot home the equalizer. Both teams went into halftime level at 1-1. The second half saw Colemanstown dominate possession, controlling 70% of the ball. The back four of Tyler Collins, Nathan Mannion, Josh Buckley, and Eibhear Colleran displayed exceptional teamwork and discipline, keeping MacDara’s forwards at bay. Colemanstown took the lead when Darren Moran capitalized on a goalmouth scramble to make it 2-1. Midfielder Ryan Gavin doubled the lead shortly after, converting a low cross from Quirke with a precise first-time finish into the bottom left corner. Quirke then showcased individual brilliance, curling a stunning effort into the far corner to give Colemanstown a 4-1 advantage. MacDara pulled one back with a contentious goal that appeared offside, narrowing the score to 4-2. Undeterred, Colemanstown pushed forward, and captain Adam Doyle added his name to the scoresheet with a powerful low strike from 18 yards. Quirke completed his hat trick with another clinical finish, using the instep of his right foot to seal an emphatic 6-3 victory. Sean Cooke was outstanding in goal, making crucial saves when called upon. Substitutes Tomas Rogerson, Cathal Keane and Conor Walsh made valuable contributions off the bench, with Walsh replacing the injured Mannion. Standout performances came from Josh Buckley, Eibhear Colleran, Sean Cooke, Darren Moran, and hat-trick hero Shane Quirke. The win lifts Colemanstown to 6th place in the league, marking a turning point in their season. Final Score: Colemanstown United 6-3 MacDara F.C. Match Report: Kara Mullins.
Starting XI: Sean Cooke,Tyler Collins, Nathan Mannion, Josh Buckley, Eibhear Colleran, Matthew Keane, Ryan Gavin, Adam Doyle, Darren Moran and Shane Quirke. Subs: Conor Walsh, Tomas Rogerson, Cathal Keane, Tommy Muldoon, Niall Grady. Management: Orla McCaffrey, Damien Mannion, Kara Mullins and Kerrill Lally.