COOLAFANCY RULE!
Community pride at stake in fierce St Stephen’s Day battle
BRAVE Coolboy and Coolafancy troops gathered for what promised to be a thriller of a local derby in the long-awaited rematch of the year on St Stephen’s Day at the Coolboy Community Grounds.
In what some described as a “controversial draw” last year, both sides agreed to the match in aid of the newly formed Coolboy Community Field Development Group.
This group was established with the aim of raising much needed funds to further upgrade the grounds that will benefit the community.
A ‘Stars of the Future’ match was first on the cards and saw 15 Coolboy GAA juveniles take to the field and showed how hard they have trained throughout the year and demonstrated exactly how they won their section of the All-Ireland Mini Festival in Ballinakill in September.
The future of the club is most certainty secure and bright in their capable and talented hands.
Team tactics were revised as Coolafancy and Coolboy captains John ‘Wobble’ Rawson and Tony ‘Turbo’ Donohoe lead their respective teams into battle.
Christy O’Rourke was the man in the middle, with some of the supporters describing him as the peace-keeper between the two sides as he got the game underway.
Once again the current GAA team was split down the middle in a move that served up to an even contest as legendary retirees dazzled the frozen spectators with their abilities.
Ten minutes into the first half, two Coolafancy culprits were seen taking matters into their own hands and decided to shorten the pitch and put the juvenile goalpost into place, much to the delight of Coolafancy goalie Caoimhin Rawson.
Numerous controversial tackles, kicks, trips, shoves and pushes could be seen throughout the game.
Half way into the first half, the two captains resorted to a wrestling match in the soft and mucky ground when both missed an oncoming hand pass and one blaming the other for the lost opportunity.
Christy quickly restored law and order and allowed play to continue.
As the first half drew to a close, the sides were level at 2-1 apiece and a cracker of a second half was guaranteed while the crowds hopped from foot to foot in the hope of keeping warm.
Moments after the second half started, a penalty was awarded to Coolafancy captain ‘Wobble’ after he was tripped and pushed down.
After much pleading by ‘Turbo’ to the referee and the exchanging a long list of insults with ‘Wobble’, the penalty stood.
Oozing confidence, John strolled up and scored a cracker of a goal to push his side into the lead.
The tension was palpable down at the other end as no more than five minutes after the Coolafancy penalty, the Coolboy side earned one for themselves.
This time it was ‘Turbo’ versus 15-year-old Caoimhin Rawson.
Tony studied the kick and - after what felt like an hour - finally let fly, forcing Caoimhin to make an incredible save.
Needless to say, the Coolboy players let Tony know exactly
what they thought of him as he was unable to score against the talented juvenile goalie.
In an unprecedented run of events, two more penalties were awarded to Coolafancy with John stepping up, scoring and letting his counterpart, ‘Turbo’, know that he has scored not twice but three times.
When the final whistle blew, jubilations and delight could be seen on the faces of the Coolafancy players as they ran out 5-4 to 2-5 winners.
Coolboy GAA president Christy Gregan presented the victorious ‘Wobble’ with the cup and declared that the filling of the cup would take place later that evening in the Little Moon with everyone welcome to attend.
“On behalf it Coolboy C.F.D Group, we wish to thank all the children who took part in the ‘Stars of the Future’ match in very cold conditions,” said a club spokesperson.
“Thanks also to the footballers from both teams who took part in the rematch and to Christy O’Rourke for his trojan work keeping both sides on their toes and in line.
“Finally, to the community who came out in force to support us, without your support we would be unable to maintain the grounds. Donations are still coming in and looks to be a worthwhile success! It is already looking like an annual event as Coolboy have already asked for another rematch following their defeat,” they added.
The rivalry rumbles on...