Coolkenno march on with narrow win

COOLKENNO STRATFORD-GR 1-12 0-10

COOLKENNO made it three wins in a row by overcoming Stratford-The Grangecon in a wet miserable Baltinglass in the Darcy Sand Intermediate Football Championship on Sunday evening last.

However, the west side put it up to Coolkenno for most of the game and made Coolkenno work very hard for their win. Matt Manley had a great goal chance from the throw in, when he cut clean through, but he pulled his effort over the crossbar to let Coolkenno of the hook.

Ben Jackman levelled matters moments later in Coolkenno first attack. Eoghan Doyle found Ben Jackman, who hand passed off to Conor Walker, who fired low into Paddy Cronin’s net in the next play for a great start. Diarmuid Cronin landed a long-range point with the next score for Stratford after good build up play by Eoin O’Neill.

Coolkenno were moving the ball well and were rewarded with another point from the boot of Eamon Rossiter from a free. Diarmuid Cronin replied with his second of the evening after good work by Jason Bolger.

Michael Mangan on the Coolkenno 21m line laid of a wayward pass to Jim Cushe, who fed Eoghan Dolan, who split through the Stratford rear guard and neatly put Conor Walker in for a certain goal, however Paddy Cronin at full stretch somehow turned it out for a 45. Walker pointed in the next attack for Coolkenno. Coolkenno were playing some nice football with Eoghan Dolan doing trojan work up and down the field.

Another goal chance for Coolkenno went amiss, the ball crashed back out of the upright into the big square where a defender handled on the ground. A 14m free was awarded and Eamon Rossiter slotted over.

Stratford again missed a brace of chances with some poor shot selection and were punished when Eamon Rossiter pointed at the other end.

Matt Manley kicked the closing score of the opening half, with the score reading 1-6 to 0-5 in favour of Coolkenno.

Stratford were still very much in this game and when Matt Manley again, as in the opening minute, landed another point immediately on the restart, it was very much game on.

Conor Walker settled things down with a pointed free. Coolkenno introduced a couple of fresh legs with Don Jackman entering the fray. Colin Byrne dispatched the ball between the posts from a free as Coolkenno could not shake off their opponents.

Young Ian Moore was doing a very good job throughout the game curbing Conor Walker’s usual scoring threat.

Coolkenno hit a purple patch and built up a lead of four points going into the final quarter at this crucial period of the game.Eamon Rossiter landed their 12th and final point in the 48th minute.

Things started to heat up with a couple of yellow cards dished out. Ben Jackman and Eoin O’Neill each recieved straight red cards, after the ref consulted with his umpires.

Moments later, Stratford were down to 13 players after a second yellow for Diarmuid Cronin. Colin Byrne pointed another free as the west side battled on. Colin Byrne and Alan Norton each pointed to close out the scoring for Stratford.

Scorers - Coolkenno: Eamon Rossiter 0-6 (3f), Conor Walker 1-2 (1f), Pauric Coleman 0-2, Paul Murphy 0-1, Ben Jackman 0-1.

Stratford-Grangecon: Matt Manley 0-3, Colin Byrne 0-3 (2f), Diarmuid Cronin 0-2, Mark Murphy 0-1, Alan Norton 0-1.

John Corcoran; Shane Walker, Paul Keogh, John Kavanagh; Jim Cushe, Robert Keogh, Philip Timmons; David Cole, James Gregan; Eoghan Dolan, Eamon Rossiter, Pauric Coleman; Patrick Dalton, Ben Jackman, Conor Walker. Subs: Paul Murphy, Don Jackman, Cormac Byrne, Niall Bailey.

Paddy Cronin; Ian Moore, Marcus Hanbidge, Joe O’Neill; Jason Bolger, Eoin O’Neill, Ruairi Phelan; Michael Mangan, Matt Manley; Alan Norton, Mark Murphy, Larry McGrath; Kieran Byrne, Diarmuid Cronin, Colin Byrne. Sub: Mark Caplice.

John Whyte (Donard-The

Glen)