Coolera/Strandhill get the win
COOLERA/Strandhill made it two wins from two in the Homeland Senior Football Championship after defeating 14-man Coolaney/ Mullinabreena in a sundrenched Bunninadden on Saturday evening.
The result means Glenn Young’s Coolaney/Mullinabreena have lost all 3 of their opening games so far as they face Geevagh next on August 29th.
Just before halftime they were dealt a blow when referee John Gilmartin sent Nathan Mullen off with a straight red for a challenge as they had to play the remainder of the game with 14 men.
It was the south Sligo side who got off to a bright start scoring 3 points on the trot, two from the hardworking Gavin Gorman pointing the first two, one from a ‘45 after good work from Sean Gorman in the 3rd minute. The forward added his second 2 minutes later from a tight angle after Coolaney/ Mullinabreena overturned possession. Gorman was again involved in the third score, his initial attempt was blocked and it fell to Niall O’Dowd who sent over a fine score on 6 minutes. Coolera/Strandhill opened their scoring through Enda Lennon with 8 minutes on the clock, a good pass from Oran McDonagh.
Lennon added a second 2 minutes later after winning a mark while down the other end the impressive Gorman pointed a placed ball on 11 minutes, which would be his side’s only score for 15 minutes as Coolera/Strandhill overturned a 2 point deficit into a three point lead. Great work from Barry O’Mahony and Kevin Banks saw O’Mahony getting his first of a five point tally with Lennon equalising on 15 minutes just before the much-needed water break in the sweltering temperatures.
O’Mahony put Coolera/ Strandhill in front on 20 minutes and from here they never looked back. A brilliant move saw McDonagh finding the onrushing Leo Doherty who hit the only goal of the game on 22 minutes as they led by four. Moments later and the same duo were involved in another move with a definite goal chance on, Coolaney/Mullinabreena defending and breathing a sigh of relief.
Gorman added his fourth on 26 minutes as they trailed by a goal, while Conor McDonagh nicely set up O’Mahony who pointed from play, followed by the hardworking Banks passing to Keelan Cawley who put 5 between them on 28 minutes, ahead by 1-7 to 0-5.Then Coolaney/ Mullinabreena were reduced to 14 men as Mullen was shown a straight red while on the verge of half time, Gorman pointed a free to leave four between them,
Coolera/Strandhill ahead by 1-7 to 0-6.
Only 24 seconds after the resumption and O’Mahony pointed from play which was responded by a fine score from Niall Connolly and a well-struck O’Brien free reduced the deficit to a goal on 35 minutes.
Doherty had another goal chance shortly after with his attempt just going wide. Substitute for Coolera/ Strandhill Mark McCallion, who was only on the field of play immediately made his presence felt, pointing 2 from play sandwiched in between an O’Brien mark. Cawley then added his second for Coolera/Strandhill as they were exuding dominance, leading by five with 42 minutes played.
O’Brien added another for Coolaney/Mullinabreena who then had their own goal chance, Sean Gorman and O’Brien setting up Gavin Gorman but his fisted attempt slammed off the bar on 44 minutes.
O’Mahony rounded off Coolera/Strandhill’s scoring on 44 minutes but they had done enough, points from O’Brien (free), Stephen Connolly and Ray Connolly not enough to get anything for Coolaney/Mullinabreena.
Scorers: Coolaney/Mullinabreena; G Gorman 0-5 (2f), S O’Brien (0-4, 2f), N O’Dowd (01), N Connolly (0-1), S Connolly (0-1), R Connolly (0-1).
Coolera/Strandhill; L Doherty (1-0), B O’Mahony 0-5 (1f), E Lennon (0-3), K Cawley (0-2), M McCallion (0-2),
COOLANEY/MULLINABREENA: R McAuley, A Coleman, D Barrett, S Barrett, N Connolly, N Mullen, E Kivlehan, S Gorman, S Connolly, C McCormack, R Connolly, A Walsh, S O’Brien, G Gorman, N O’Dowd
Subs: S Gormley, K Gorman, K Finan,
COOLERA/STRANDHILL: K Harte, T Gilligan, G Cawley, A Higgins, D McGee, C McDonagh, S Murphy, B Doyle, K Banks, C Parke, K Cawley, L Doherty, E Lennon, B O’Mahony, O McDonagh.
Subs: M McCallion, A O’Boyle, J Gilligan, C Burke.
REFEREE: J Gilmartin (Curry).