Conlon shines in tight replay of a Junior ‘B’ showdown

Coolaney-Mullinabreena do just enough to get over the challenge of St Farnan’s in tense county final rematch

2020 Junior ‘B’ C’ship Final Replay Coolaney-M’breena St Farnan’s

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S is so often the case, the team that earns a reprieve in the drawn game ends up winning the replay. Coolaney-Mullinabreena’s late, late rescue act in last September’s Connacht Gold Junior ‘B’ Football Championship final – when goalkeeper Lorcan Callaghan landed an equalising point deep into stoppage time – was rewarded over eight months and several lockdowns later in Bank Holiday Monday’s replay at a sunny Markievicz Park.

The rematch with St Farnan’s was equally absorbing and the possibility of extra-time loomed large – as a treat to the 200 spectators allowed to attend – when St Farnan’s corner-forward Shane Feeney notched his fourth point to level matters, 1-8 each, with 54 minutes played.

But Coolaney-Mullinabreena, who led from the outset, were 0-5 to 0-3 up at half-time and never once trailed, sprang for glory with two unanswered points in the last 10 minutes of normal time.

Brian Marren’s mighty score – from

HAPPY CAPTAIN: Coolaney-Mullinabreena’s Alan Duggan and the Junior ‘B’ silverware.

an assist by substitute Daniel Davey – put the eventual champions back in front and then midfielder Conor Feely found the range to make it a two-point game, 1-10 to 1-8.

With the threat of St Farnan’s plundering a winning goal and some concerted pressure from the west Sligo outfit, Coolaney-Mullinabreena needed an insurance score. It didn’t come until the sixth minute of additional time as Matt Conlon kicked his third free of the afternoon.

Conlon, with four points in all, was later named Player of the Match. He was Coolaney-Mullinabreena’s most potent attacker during the first-half and continued to quietly influence matters in the second period.

The corner-forward and Cathal Davey combined neatly before the latter – a prolific scorer for Coolaney United – slipped a pass through for Paul Connolly to finish for a 47th minute goal that looked to have given Coolaney-Mullinabreena breathing room.

That goal put four points between the teams, 1-7 to 0-6, but St Farnan’s replied almost immediately and a patient, probing move ended with Declan Cawley netting confidently from Shane Neary’s pass.

Shane Feeney’s point tied up the scores and Feeney – Player of the Match in the original fixture – was again on target to cancel out Paul Connolly’s big point for Coolaney-Mullinabreena. This was the fourth time that the scores were level but CoolaneyMullinabreena found an extra gear to just about get over the line. Coolaney-Mullinabreena started with the intention of avoiding another

Player of the Match: Matt Conlon (Coolaney-Mullinabreena)

Cian Coolaney-Mullinabreena: Lorcan Callaghan, Keith Kirran, Shane Marren,

Feely O’Dowd, Sean Walsh, Pearse Gorman, Eamon Gorman, Sean Doyle, Conor

(0-4, 3f), (0-1), Shane Kivlehan, Paul Connolly (1-1), Brian Marren (0-1), Matt Conlon

Cathal Davey (0-3), Alan Duggan (c) (0-1)

Subs used: Michael O’Dowd, Barry Kivlehan, Daniel Davey

Mullen, Subs not used: Padraig McGourty, Oisin Ó Slattara, Kevin Gorman, Gerard

Conor Colin Marren, Jack Gormley, Ryan Matthews, Shane Touhy, Kieran Doddy,

Gorman, Daniel Mullen, Oisin McDermott, Chris Lee

Declan St Farnan’s: Simon Mullarkey, Mark Culkin, Padraic Culkin, Oisin Connolly,

(0-3, Cawley (1-0), Niall Hunt, Stephen Feeney, Kieran Kilgannon (c), Keith Lang

Andrew

1f), Evan Kilrehill, David Culkin (0-1), Shane Neary, Shane Feeney (0-4),

McMunn, Karl Hannon

Subs used: Darragh Gillen, Gary Hannon, Niall Crean

McGowan, Subs not used: Stephen Crean, Adrian Smyth, Jason McGuinness, James

Devaney, Patrick Flynn, Conor Feeney, Fergus Hargadon, Garrett Mullaney, Shane

John McNulty

Referee: Bill Carty

close encounter – Matt Conlon’s goalbound shot after a burst into space was kept out by St Farnan’s goalkeeper Simon Mullarkey.

Conlon then put two points on the board, the second of which stemmed from Brian Marren’s initiative, and St Farnan’s were suddenly playing catch-up. But the men from west Sligo kicked two points of their own – Shane Feeney and David Culkin on target – to confirm that a tit for tat game was unfolding.

Cathal Davey’s first point of the day was answered by an excellent score from Keith Lang of St Farnan’s – Lang’s effort, if lower, would have been a goal attempt.

In a contest that saw both teams guilty of turnovers, errors and wasted scoring opportunities (it is Junior ‘B’ of course), Coolaney-Mullinabreena moved two clear before half-time, 0-5 to 0-3, via points from Matt Conlon and Alan Duggan.

Having shot five first-half wides, St Farnan’s were beginning to feel that this mightn’t just be their day.

The second-half had only begun when St Farnan’s again felt misfortune’s cold touch – David Culkin’s goalbound effort was somehow deflected out for a ‘45’ after the centre-forward was found by Declan Cawley’s clever pass.

It would be Coolaney-Mullinabreena

COUNTY CHAMPIONS: Members of the Coolaney-Mullinabreena squad and management that won the 2020 Connacht Gold Junior ‘B’ Football Championship final replay with a defeat of St Farnan’s at Markievicz Park.

who would eventually triumph and before their only goal from Paul Connolly, Cathal Davey twice made St Farnan’s goalkeeper Simon Mullarkey sweat – the custodian had to bat away one shot that dropped dangerously under the crossbar and another Davey effort was pushed over by Mullarkey for Coolaney-Mullinabreena’s seventh point.

Along with Player of the Match Matt Conlon, fellow forwards Cathal Davey, Paul Connolly and Alan Duggan impressed for the winners, Conor Feely had his moments at midfield, while Cian O’Dowd and Pearse Gorman did their bit in defence.

The introduction of Daniel Davey, the performance nutritionist, was an ingredient that added to CoolaneyMullinabreena’s win.

Declan Cawley was the standout performer for St Farnan’s, with Keith Lang also doing very well for the Dromore West-Templeboy crew, along with industry from Padraic Culkin, Shane Neary and Andrew McMunn. There was a minute’s silence before throw-in to honour the memory of Achonry teenager Eoin Mulkeen, a valued and well-liked CoolaneyMullinabreena underage player who died tragically less than a month ago, with winning captain Alan Duggan also mentioning Mulkeen in his postmatch words.

PRIZE: Matt Conlon is presented with the Player of the Match award by Seamus Hannon of Aurivo.

DIVISION ‘A’ – ROUND ONE: Owenmore Gaels 2-9, Curry 3-11; St Mary’s 5-11, Coolera-Strandhill 0-6; EnniscroneKilglass-St Patrick’s 1-8, DrumcliffeRosses Point 2-13; Easkey-St Farnan’s 2-9, Shamrock Gaels 3-11

DIVISION ‘B’ – ROUND ONE: TubbercurryCloonacool 4-13, Tourlestrane

1-18; Castleconnor 6-6, BallymoteBunninadden 2-12; St John’s 1-8, Eastern Harps 4-9; Geevagh-St Michael’s 2-9, Coolaney-Mullinabreena 5-6; Calry-St Joseph’s 1-10, St Molaise Gaels 1-9

Played on Wednesday, June 9

Expert Electrical Sligo U-12 ‘A’ Football League

2020 CUP SEMI-FINALS: DrumcliffeRosses Point L Eastern Harps L; St Mary’s L Coolera-Strandhill L

2020 SHIELD SEMI-FINALS: Shamrock Gaels L St Molaise Gaels L; St John’s L Tubbercurry-Cloonacool L

Expert Electrical Sligo U-12 ‘B’ Football League

2020 CUP SEMI-FINALS: Calry-St Joseph’s L Enniscrone-Kilglass L; Castleconnor L St Mary’s L

2020 SHIELD SEMI-FINALS: Curry L Owenmore Gaels L; Geevagh L St Patrick’s

LExpert Electrical Sligo U-12 ‘C’ Football League

2020 CUP SEMI-FINALS: Eastern Harps L St Molaise Gaels L; St John’s L CooleraStrandhill L

2020 SHIELD SEMI-FINALS: DrumcliffeRosses Point L St Mary’s L; BallymoteBunninadden L Easkey-St Farnan’s L

FIXTURES

Friday, June 11

Expert Electrical Sligo U-17 Football League

DIVISION ‘B’ – ROUND TWO: BallymoteBunninadden v Tubbercurry-Cloonacool (Corran Park, 7pm) (Pat Normanly); Tourlestrane v Geevagh-St Michael’s (Tourlestrane, 7pm) (Ronan Hynes); St John’s v St Molaise Gaels (Stenson

Park, 7pm) (Mark Connell); CoolaneyMullinabreena v Calry-St Joseph’s (Nace O’Dowd Park, 7pm) (Barry Judge); Eastern Harps v Castleconnor (Fr Kevin Brehony Park, 7.30pm) (Keith Henry)

Furey’s Coaches Senior Football League

DIVISION 4A – ROUND ONE: DrumcliffeRosses

Point v St Molaise Gaels (Oxfield Park, 8pm) (Gavin Cawley)

DIVISION 4B – ROUND ONE: Owenmore Gaels v Enniscrone-Kilglass (Connolly Park, 8pm) (Cathal Martyn); St John’s v Tubbercurry (Stenson Park, 8pm) (Joe Hynes); Calry-St Joseph’s v Castleconnor (Hazelwood, main pitch, 8pm) (Seamus Hoey)

DIVISION 4C – ROUND ONE: St Patrick’s v Bunninadden (Seamie Donegan Park, 8pm) (Michael Conway); Shamrock Gaels v Cloonacool (Shamrock Gaels Park, 8pm) (Declan O’Boyle)

Saturday, June 12

Expert Electrical Sligo U-12 ‘A’ Football League

2020 PLATE FINAL: Easkey-St Farnan’s v Ballymote-Bunninadden (Sligo GAA Centre of Excellence, pitch one, 11am)

Expert Electrical Sligo U-12 ‘B’ Football League

2020 PLATE FINAL: St Michael’s v Tourlestrane (Sligo GAA Centre of Excellence, pitch one, 12.30pm)

Kiernan Cup

QUARTER-FINALS: Calry-St Joseph’s or Tourlestrane v Shamrock Gaels (Hazelwood, main pitch/Tourlestrane, 7pm); St Mary’s v Eastern Harps (Kent Park, 7pm) (Ronan Hynes); Tubbercurry v Coolera-Strandhill (Kilcoyne Park, 7pm) (John Gilmartin)

Abbott Cup

QUARTER-FINAL: St Patrick’s v St Michael’s (Seamie Donegan Park, 7pm) (Gavin Cawley)

Benson Cup

QUARTER-FINALS: St Farnan’s v Curry

(St Farnan’s Community Park, 7pm) (TJ Keaveney); Owenmore Gaels v Easkey (Connolly Park, 7pm) (Keith Henry); Ballymote v Drumcliffe-Rosses Point (Corran Park, 7pm)

Allianz Hurling League Division 3A

ROUND FOUR: Tyrone v Sligo (Healy Park, Omagh, 2pm)

FIXTURES

Sunday, June 13

Furey’s Coaches Senior Football League

DIVISION 4A – ROUND ONE: CooleraStrandhill v Eastern Harps (Ransboro Park, 12 noon) (C O’Donnell); St Farnan’s v Curry (St Farnan’s Community Park, 12 noon) (Dermot Walsh)

DIVISION 4C – ROUND ONE: Ballymote v

St Michael’s (Corran Park, 12 noon) (Tom O’Connor)

Benson Cup

QUARTER-FINAL: Castleconnor v Geevagh (St Brendan’s GAA Park, 12 noon) (Ronan Hynes)

Abbott Cup

QUARTER-FINALS: St John’s v Shamrock Gaels (Stenson Park, 12 noon) (Paul Clavin); Tourlestrane v Bunninadden (Tourlestrane, 12 noon); Cloonacool v St Mary’s (Cloonacool Community Park, 12 noon)

Kiernan Cup

QUARTER-FINAL: St Molaise Gaels v Coolaney-Mullinabreena (Oxfield Park, 12 noon) (John Griffin)

Allianz Football League Division Four

SHIELD FINAL: Sligo v Wexford (MW Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, 3pm)

FIXTURES

Monday, June 14

Expert Electrical Sligo U-15 Football League

DIVISION ‘A’ – ROUND ONE: DrumcliffeRosses Point v St Molaise Gaels (Oxfield Park, 7pm); Enniscrone-Kilglass v St Mary’s (Quigabar, 7pm)

DIVISION ‘B’ GROUP ONE – ROUND ONE: Ballymote-Bunninadden v Calry-St Joseph’s (Bunninadden Community Park, 7pm); Coolaney-Mullinabreena v CooleraStrandhill (Nace O’Dowd Park, 7pm); Castleconnor v Geevagh-St Michael’s (St Brendan’s GAA Park, 7pm)

DIVISION ‘B’ GROUP TWO – ROUND ONE: St Patrick’s v Curry (Seamie Donegan Park, 7pm); Easkey-St Farnan’s v Shamrock Gaels (St Farnan’s Community Park, 7pm); Tourlestrane v TubbercurryCloonacool (Tourlestrane, 7pm)

Táin Óg U-15 Hurling League

GROUP FIVE – ROUND ONE: Aodh Ruadh (Ballyshannon) v Easkey (Sligo GAA Centre of Excellence, 7.30pm) (M Connell) GROUP SIX – ROUND ONE: Tourlestrane v Carrick Hurling Club (Leitrim) (Tourlestrane, 7.30pm) (T Morley)

GROUP SEVEN – ROUND ONE: Western Gaels v Athleague-Tremane (Roscommon) (Connacht GAA COE, 7.30pm) (J Judge)

Tuesday, June 15

Expert Electrical Sligo U-15 Football League

DIVISION ‘A’ – ROUND ONE: Eastern Harps v St John’s (Fr Kevin Brehony Park, 7pm)