Match report-Coolera/Strandhill v Drumcliffe/RP

Back 12/08/2018 @ 18:45 | mainnews | Match report-Coolera/Strandhill v Drumcliffe/RP

Belfry Senior Football Championship Group 2 Result

Coolera/Strandhill 2-8

Drumcliffe/Rosses Point 0-7

A dominant second-half display from Coolera/Strandhill gave them their second win in Group 2 to assure themselves of a place in the quarter-finals of this year’s Belfry SFC. 

They were full value for their win. Two second-half goals from Peter Laffey and corner back Mark Comerford proved to be the decisive scores against a Drumcliffe/Rosses Point side which began the game well, but faded in the second half hour.

In wet conditions, DRP established a 0-4 to 0-0 lead after the opening quarter, thanks to a fine point from play from team captain Neil Ewing and a couple of excellent long range frees from Paul Logan. But in truth, Coolera/Strandhill created the bulk of the scoring opportunities over the course of the hour - and they might have won this match by more but for some wayward shooting. The exception to that was team captain Niall Murphy. He scored all of Coolera’s first half points to leave just the minimum between the sides by the interval with Drumcliffe/Rosses Point leading by 0-5 to 0-4. 

The second-half belonged to Coolera/Strandhill as they dominated in most sectors. Keelan Cawley’s introduction as a sub against St Molaise Gaels last weekend had helped turn that particular contest. Here, he was in from the start, and his point from play on 44 minutes gave Coolera/Strandhill the lead for the first time in this game.

Once in front, John McPartland’s side never looked back and with 11 minutes remaining, Peter Laffey’s goal put real daylight between the teams as they established a 1-7 to 0-6 advantage.

DRP had had a goal chance of their own earlier in the second-half with John Harvey’s shot, following good approach play, flashing wide of Kevin Kelly’s goal. But those opportunities were fleeting for the North Sligo side and the fact that they managed to add just two second-half points to their final tally tells its own story.

Coolera continued to amass the wides in the second half but they never really looked to be in danger. In the closing moments, up popped corner-back Mark Comerford, who soccer-style chipped DRP goalkeeper Ronan McCormack with aplomb to find the net, a finish which produced the biggest cheer of the evening from the winners’ supporters. 

There was a black card late on for full forward Barry O’Mahony but it mattered little.

The win ensures that Coolera/Strandhill will finish top of Group 2 and they can now start planning for the knockout stages.

For Drumcliffe/Rosses Point, there is still a route to the quarter-finals. They now face a winner-takes-all contest with neighbours St Molaise Gaels, again at Kent Park, in two weeks time. 

Teams:

Coolera/Strandhill
Kevin Kelly, Enda Mitchell, Gary Cawley (Joint Capt), Mark Comerford 1-0, Sean Murphy, Conor McDonagh, Aaron O’Boyle, Keelan Cawley 0-1, Kevin Banks 0-1, Barry Doyle, Colm Parke, David McGee, Peter Laffey 1-0, Gary Cadden, Barry O’Mahony, Niall Murphy (Joint Capt) 0-5.

Subs used: Shay Doherty 0-1 for Colm Parke, Karol O’Neill for Gary Cadden, Shane McCallion for Barry Doyle, James Hampson for Barry O’Mahony (BC)

Other panel members: Cillian McCahey, Kevin Harte, Adrian McPartland,Aaron O’Donnell, Frankie O’Flynn, Fionn Morrisey, Aaron Breslin.

Manager: John McPartland (Jnr). 

Drumcliffe/Rosses Point
Ronan McCormack, Aaron McCormack, John McGowan, Ciaran McLoughlin, John Harvey, Dara Long, Seán Power, Brian Monaghan 0-1, Cian Lally, Neil Ewing (Capt) 0-1, Paul Logan 0-4 (3f), Niall Canning, Jamie Gillen, Niall Collery, Kevin Davey. Subs used: Oisín O’Reilly for Kevin Davey, Eoin Gaughan for Niall Collery, Brian Óg Murphy 0-1 for John Harvey.

Other panel members: Justin Lyons, Tommy Finnegan, David Collins, Hugh Kisby, Alan O'Dowd, Joseph Keyes, Tom Armstong, Lorcan Long, John Hester, David Kerrigan. 

Manager: Fergal O’Flaherty.

Referee: John Griffin.