Coolaney Mullinabreena capitalise on early goals to secure first win

Back 07/09/2022 @ 00:46 | mainnews | Coolaney Mullinabreena capitalise on early goals to secure first win

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