Coolaney/Mullinabreena 2-12 Owenmore Gaels 3-9

The minor boys escaped from Achonry with their unbeaten record intact after a thrilling encounter with C-M

After a half hour delay due to a referee mix up we started slow and sluggish. C-M hit the first point. Immediately after this we were dealt a blow when corner forward Stephen Fallon received a black card for a needless off the ball collision. We hit 2 wides and a shot into the keepers hands before C-M struck a goal and we knew we were in a game.

Joint captain Oisin Geraghty got us of the mark with a free in the 7th minute. C-M responded with a free. We then reeled of three in a row. Paul Mahon split the posts, set-up by Roan Conneely and Luke Middleton. Middleton found his range next, a move instigated by an excellent Vinnie Harte interception. Geraghty got the next after good approach play from Conneely to bring us within a point. However C-M responded with two points before the short whistle to leave the half time score 1-4 0-4 in the hosts favour. From a Gaels point of view it was an error strewn half, with lots of room for improvement.

We started the second half with purpose and levelled up proceedings almost immediately when Paul Mahon finished to the net after a fine move involving Joe Walsh, Evan Willis, Geraghty and Conneely. Mark Walsh got his name on the scoresheet after a strong surge down the middle to put us in the lead for the first time.

C-M responded well to level again before Middleton put us back in front. But C-M again took the initiative by quickly raising white and green flags. The game was ebbing and flowing at this stage. The teams exchanged points, ours from Geraghty after a super Mark Walsh catch. He then went one better when he fetched Diarmuid O’Gradys kick-out and headed towards goal, brushing off several challenges before finding the net. Geraghty followed up with a free to put us back in the driving seat.

To C-M’ s credit they dug in. They hit five of the next 6 points, ours from Ross Trill, to take a three point lead with minutes left. We mustered one last attack, great approach play from Aaron Walsh ended with Joe Walsh squaring for Geraghty to punch to the net to level it up at the final whistle. A draw a fair result in the end.

After convincing wins in our first two games this was a good wake up call for the lads. There are some very good teams in the championship, and the group is wide open with 2 games left to play.

Best on the day for the Gaels Vincent Harte and Evan Willis at the back.

Team: Diarmuid O’Grady, Vincent Harte, Liam Gilligan, Evan Willis, Roan Conneely, Mark Walsh (1-1), Ross Trill (0-1), Luke Middleton (0-2), Oisin Geraghty (1-4), Darragh Mahon (Diarmuid Harte), Stephen Fallon (Joe Walsh), Paul Mahon (1-1)