The saying "
Goals win matches " certainly proved true in this senior championship game
on Sunday. Coolaney/ Mullinabreena with a strong breeze at their
backs had netted four times in just under half an hour.
The opening score
of the game, in the first minute, was a goal scored from the penalty spot
by Shane O' Brien. A point was added by Ray Connolly from play before
Barry Gorman got Coolaney's second goal, ably assisted by David Barrett
and Eoin Barrett.
St. Farnan's got off the mark in the seventh minute after
Patrick O'Connor was fouled in front of goal and awarded a free which he
duly converted. His brother Ciarán converted a second free shortly after wards
for a foul on Shane O'Brien.
A couple of wides followed for Coolaney/
Mullinabreena before Gavin Gorman scored two consecutive points, the
first from a free. Patrick O'Connor converted a free after Fionn Connolly was
fouled. Disaster again struck for St. Farnan's when Shane O'Brien got his
second goal of the game after good work by Barry Gorman and Criostóir
Davey. Criostóir too, could have added yet another goal but his shot was
saved by Simon Mullarkey.
It was clear that St. Farnan's back line was
struggling in the absence of regular full back Shane Molloy who was out
injured. Gavin Connolly was replaced by Mark Devaney after twenty two
minutes. Patrick O'Connor pointed from play before a link up between
Barry Gorman, Nathan Mullen and Criostóir Davey resulted in
Coolaney's fourth goal. Conor Johnson added a point to bring his side's
tally to 4-5.
St. Farnan's Conor Gordon was forced off with an injury and was
replaced by David Hallinan. Thomas Cawley of St. Farnan's received a pass
from Patrick O'Connor which could have ended up in the net but was blasted over
the bar. Thomas did, however find the net just before half time when a shot
from Martin Mulligan was blocked but Thomas sent the rebound in past Cathal
Finan in the goalmouth to leave the half time score, Coolaney/ Mullinabreena
4-5, St. Farnan's 1-5.
Thomas Cawley
was again on target after the break as St. Farnan's set about trying to reduce
the nine point deficit. A shot from Trevor Kilgannon resulted in a 45"
which was converted by Finnian Cawley. St. Farnan's also introduced Ronan
Molloy for Ciarán O'Connor. Ray Connolly and Barry Gorman continued to
keep the scoreboard ticking for Coolaney/ Mullinabreena. Patrick O'Connor
was posing a good deal of problems for Coolaney's defence and added two points
from frees to leave the score 1-10 to 4-7. Shane O'Brien of Coolaney pointed a
free before St. Farnan's added two consecutive points from play as they piled
on the pressure. Coolaney/ Mullinabreena introduced three substitutes to
help matters. Stephen Mulligan was also introduced for St.Farnan's and got a
point with his first involvement in the game. Patrick O'Connor added two more
points to leave just two points between the sides. In the closing minutes the
sides traded a point each , one from Shane O'Brien of Coolaney and the
final score from Trevor Kilgannon. Coolaney/ Mullinabreena had survived
the onslaught from St. Farnan's and picked up two valuable league points.
St. Farnan's, meanwhile search for that elusive win and face Drumcliffe/ Rosses
Point on Saturday next.
Coolaney/
Mullinabreena: Cathal Finan, David Barrett(0-1) Declan Mc Cormack,
Conor Gorman, Conor Johnston (0-1), Nathan Mullen, Kevin O'
Kennedy, Gavin Gorman (0-2(1f), Barry Gorman (1-1), Niall Connolly,
Criostóir Davey (c.)(1-0), Ray Connolly (0-2), Eoin Barrett, Shane O'Brien (2-2(1pen-1f), Enda Kivlehan
Subs used: Sean
Gorman, Niall O' Dowd, Brian Marren.
St. Farnan's: Simon
Mullarkey, Matthew Lang, Gavin Connolly, Conor Gordon, James
Weir (0-1), Eamonn Kilgannon, Shane O'Brien, Trevor Kilgannon
(0-1), Kevin Mc Gee (0-1), Martin Mulligan, Finnian Cawley (0-1(45"),
Ciarán O'Connor (0-1f), Thomas Cawley (1-2), Patrick O'Connor (0-8(6f), Fionn
Connolly.
Subs used: David
Hallinan, Mark Devaney, Ronan Molloy, Stephen Mulligan (0-1).
Referee: Gus
Chapman