Coolera/ Strandhill’s big victory
bercurry, Coolaney/Mullinabreena and Eastern Harps.
The opening half was one which saw periods of impressive play from both sides.
When it seemed like David Caffrey’s St Mary’s were pulling away towards the end of the half, a brilliant finish from Coolera/ Strandhill’s half-back Aaron O’Boyle to the back of the Mary’s net brought John McPartland’s men right back on level terms.
Nothing could separate the sides at the interval and although Kyle Cawley once again brought it back all square early in the second half Coolera/Strandhill’s Gary Cadden, influential throughout, scored his side’s third goal which seemed to put the game out of St Mary’s reach.
The 2015 champions were outscored 2-6 to 0-3 in the second half as Coolera/ Strandhill exuded control on the game and emerged victorious on an 11-point margin.
It was Mark Breheny who got the game’s first score in the first minute after midfielder Barry Doyle was fouled, Breheny neatly tapping over the free. Down the other end moments later and the ball was in the back of the St Mary’s net after a pacy move from Coolera/Strandhill saw Colm Parke find Niall Murphy whose excellent finish wasn’t going to be stopped by Fintan Ruddy in the St Mary’s goal. Breheny again responded for St Mary’s which was followed by 2 fine points from play from Paul Kilcoyne and Cian Breheny who overturned a Coolera/Strandhill move as they lead by one. A foul on Gary Cawley was converted by Murphy to bring it level again before Mark Breheny got his third point from a free after Cian Breheny was fouled on the attack. Ruddy then left his goals to send a free between the posts on 16 minutes as St Mary’s were ahead by 2 midway through the first half.
A great move from Coolera/Strandhill’s Cadden saw the corner forward point from play on 17 minutes while a minute later teammate Barry O’Mahony was lurking dangerously near the St Mary’s goal after Murphy lobbed in a high ball which was dealt with by Ruddy. Breheny pointed another free from a very difficult angle on 21 minutes and he added another 2 minutes later, his 5th point, when dual star Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch was fouled, St Mary’s ahead by 3 points at this stage.
Cian Breheny saw his attempt go narrowly wide moments before Murphy had his eyes on goal again for Coolera/ Strandhill but St Mary’s stood strong, Ruddy with a great save. Coolera/Strandhill were looking threatening upfront and it was half-back Aaron O’Boyle whose run caught St Mary’s defence off guard and the half back slammed the ball into the net as the halftime score read St Mary’s 0-8 Coolera/Strandhil 2-2.
The second half saw Coolera/Strandhill prove themselves worthy semi-finalists with some clinical football that left St Mary’s with no way back. Murphy added to his tally with 2 quick frees shortly after the resumption which were quickly responded to by St Mary’s, Kilcoyne and Cawley on target with 2 fine scores from play to bring it all square once again.
Then on 36 minutes Coolera/Strandhill got their third goal through an excellent move, O’Mahony off loading to Cadden who finished to the back of the net on 36 minutes. O’Mahony did well moments later to point from play as the momentum was all with Coolera/Strandhill.
O’Mahony had another goal chance which went wide before full back Gary Cawley saw his effort sail between the posts and he punched the air with delight as the seasiders were leading by 5 points with 19 minutes to go.
St Mary’s did have their own goal chances, Johnny Martyn saw his attempt saved by Kevin Kelly in the Coolera/ Strandhill goal while O’Kelly-Lynch saw his effort rebound off the side netting.
Cian Breheny had to leave the field of play after receiving a second yellow card following a high challenge on Keelan Cawley as St Mary’s needed a goal. A good ball from Martyn found Kyle Cawley with a chance but he hit the outside of the post. Substitute Nathan Rooney pointed a fine score to bring it back to a 5 point game as down the other end, O’Mahony saw his goal chance saved and he slotted over the resulting ‘45 with 4 minutes remaining.
Coolera/Strandhill’s Shay Doherty was brought down heavily by Conor Darcy leaving referee Michael Duffy with no option but to signal a penalty. Up stepped Murphy who slotted to the back of the net, which he followed with another free as Coolera/Strandhill’s Adrian McPartland pointed the last score of the game as the seasiders now look forward to a semi-final meeting with the winners of this weekend’s quarter final between holders Tourlestrane and St Molaise Gaels.
COOLERA/STRANDHILL: K Kelly, E Mitchell, G Calwey (C), M Comerford, S Murphy, C McDonagh, A O’Boyle, K Banks, B Doyle, C Parke, K Cawley, P Laffey, G Cadden, B O’Mahony, N Murphy (C). Subs used: S Doherty, K O’Neill, S McCallion, A McPartland C McCahey.
Scorers: N Murphy 2-4 (pen, 4f), G Cadden (1-2), A O’Boyle (1-0), B O’Mahony (0-2, ‘45), G Cawley (0-1), A McPartland (0-1).
ST MARY’S: F Ruddy, C O’Grady, L Nicholson, C Darcy, J Martyn, P Kilcoyne, G O’Kelly-Lynch, C Breheny, N McManus, M McGoldrick, L Henry, J Lynch, K Cawley, J Davey, M Breheny. Subs used: N Rooney, S Henry, D Kilgallon, D O’Connor.
Scorers: M Breheny (0-5 4f), P Kilcoyne (0-2), C Breheny (0-1), F Ruddy (0-1 1f), K Cawley (0-1), N Rooney (0-1).
REFEREE: M Duffy.
Belfy Senior Football Championship Quarter finals Saturday: Coolaney/M v Calry/St Joseph’s Bunninadden, 5:30pm. Sunday: Tourlestrane v St Molaise Gaels