StrongfinishfromCoolaney/ Mullinabreena
THE Belfry Senior Football Championship Round 2 clash saw Coolaney/ Mullinabreena making their debut in this year’s Championship against their Group 3 opponents Drumcliffe/ Rosses Point, who had been defeated a week earlier by holders Tourlestrane.
This game in Markievicz Park on Saturday was an extremely entertaining affair and victory could easily have swung in either team’s favour as there was very little separating them.
Both executed some fine scoring throughout the hour, Paul Logan and Sean Power hit some brilliant points for the North Sligo outfit, while Barry Gorman, Shane O’Brien and Kieran Finan were influential upfront for Anthony Brennan’s men.
The game had drama in abundance, Coolaney/ Mullinabreena had two early goal chances in the 7th and 10th minute, the former was scored, while with nine minutes to go and trailing by two points, Drumcliffe/ Rosses Point had a penalty chance which sailed over the bar by Logan. From there, Coolaney/ Mullinabreena kept advancing and although Drumcliffe/ Rosses Point kept up the fight, they couldn’t curtail their opponent’s three- point lead at the end in what was a highly entertaining game of football.
When they took on last year’s champions Tourlestrane the week prior, Fergal O’Flaherty’s side showed determination and this was again the case last Saturday against fancied Coolaney/ Mullinabreena.
Their influential midfielder Cian Lally passed to Dara Long who was fouled in the third minute and Logan got the first point of the game. The lead was shortlived as Coolaney/ Mullinabreena responded through a good move involving Aidan Coleman, Sean Gorman, and captain Raymond Connolly, with Coleman pointing from play.
Four minutes later and the south Sligo side jumped into a three point lead, a brilliant pass from Finan close to the corner went straight into the arms of Niall Connolly and he slammed the ball into the net, delighting the blue and white support.
Then in the 10th minute, Coolaney/ Mullinabreena had a great chance to score their second goal, Drumcliffe/ Rosses Point were slightly asleep when Criostóir Davey went one on one with the keeper, but Ronan McCormack saved the shot.
O’Brien converted a foul on Davey a minute later as Logan pointed the second for
Drumcliffe/ Rosses Point on 13 minutes after a neat turn around his marker.
Another foul on Raymond Connolly was scored by O’Brien which was followed by a second quick point for Coolaney/ Mullinabreena after a short kick- out fell into their possession and Barry Gorman was quick to react, they were ahead by five points on 15 minutes.
Power got his first of the evening with a fantastic score from play on 18 minutes, responded by a fine point down the other end by Daniel Davey.
It was Power again on the 20th minute who got his second for Drumcliffe/ Rosses Point, a brilliant score from distance, as the gap was reduced to four.
Drumcliffe/ Rosses Point captain Neil Ewing went on a solo run and pointed on 22 minutes as they were behind by a goal with half- time approaching.
Declan McCormack brought it back to four on 26 minutes, while the momentum swung in Drumcliffe/ Rosses Point’s favour, two frees from Logan and a fantastic point from Donal Gallagher saw only two between them at the break. The hard- working Barry Gorman with a good catch, turned and pointed despite being closely marked, as the half- time score seeing Coolaney/ Mullinabreena leading by 1- 7 to 0- 8.
It was Drumcliffe/ Rosses Point who took control early in the second half, with an early goal chance a minute after the resumption sliding wide.
Niall Canning pointed their first score of this period on 35 minutes, while they hit three more on the bounce to go into the lead for the first time since the 3rd minute.
Two quick frees from Logan in the 36th and 38th minute saw them a point in front and on 40 minutes they were two ahead, Kevin Davey on target with one of the points of the game, as their North Sligo support cheered in support.
Substitute Gavin Feely responded for Coolaney/ Mullinabreena as they were level once again on 44 minutes, O’Brien converting a free with 15 minutes to go.
Coolaney/ Mullinabreena were showing more intensity in their step at this stage, McCormack sought out Daniel Davey who put them back in front and two minutes later Finan pointed another free as they went two ahead.
It was Logan again who responded with a free with 12 minutes to go in what was a tense final ten for both sides. Coolaney were advancing on goal again through Enda Kivlehan and Niall Connolly, Power made a super interception, yet referee Barry Judge signalled a free in on Finan, which he tapped over with ten minutes remaining.
Then more drama ensued a minute later, a high ball was sent into the dangerzone, caught expertly by Brian óg Murphy who was bundled illegally to the ground, Drumcliffe/ Rosses Point given a lifeline. Up stepped Logan and his shot trailed over, still the North Sligo side were very much in it with eight minutes to go.
From here, Coolaney/ Mullinabreena began to exude their class, the excellent Barry Gorman pointed from play, followed by a Finan free and another brilliant score from O’Brien from a sharp angle had them four in front with two minutes to go.
Drumcliffe/ Rosses Point didn’t give up, Ewing was through on goal with Coolaney/ Mullinabreena’s defence standing strong. Logan slotted over a free in injury time, with Jamie Gillen adding another from play but time ran out, as Barry Gorman, with a wellstruck 45, got the last point of the game as Coolaney/ Mullinabreena advance with Drumcliffe/ Rosses Point into a relegation battle. COOLANEY/ MULLINABREENA: C Finan, S Barrett, C Gorman, N Connolly, P Gorman, A Coleman, B Gorman, D McCormack, R Connolly ( C), S Gorman, C Davey, N Mullen, D Davey, S O’Brien, K Finan. Subs: B Kivlehan for Mullen ( inj, 25), G Feely for S Gorman ( h/ t), DRUMCLIFFE/ ROSSES POINT: R McCormack, C McLoughlin, S Regan, A McCormack, D Long, N Ewing ( C), P Gallagher, B óg Murphy, C Lally, S Power, P Logan, J Harvey, D Gallagher, K Davey, N Canning. Subs: N Colleary for D Gallagher 48. REFEREE: B Judge.