League

Carrowntawy
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Strokestown's Desmond McLian started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. A collision led to Carrowntawy getting a freekick after 3 minutes play. Alfred Tracy hit a great ball. In the 4th minute Desmond McLian shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ciarán Hutton saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Bannan McSteve struck a weak shot in the 7th minute. Branagain Bayes didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Carrowntawy. Colm Hughes recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 8th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Branagain Bayes showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Colm Hughes, who was totally free with the ball in the 13th minute. After 19 played minutes Colm Hughes rounded Strokestown's defense and shot a beautiful shot into goal via left pole - 1-0. After 24 minutes, Harley Costello mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Strokestown and the Carrowntawy players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 24 played minutes Strokestown got a freekick which was hit by Harley Costello. Colm Hughes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 30th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 32ndth minute of the game Desmond McLian who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Carrowntawy's Ciarán Hutton was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Alan Frankson received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 37th minute. Ciarán Hutton tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Colm Hughes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 40th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Branagain Bayes having to interfere. After 44 minutes of play, Strokestown's Desmond McLian made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Ciarán Hutton was left in no man's land by his defense there!

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Colm Hughes to make the kick off. Carrowntawy's Bannan McSteve got a good chance for a goal in the 54th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The supporters of Carrowntawy booed when Strokestown was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 55 match minutes in a wonderful position. Turlough Lavine didn't get a good kick on the ball. Branagain Bayes took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Colm Hughes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 61st minute, Alan Frankson ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Ciarán Hutton was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-2. Carrowntawy's Ciarán Hutton played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Desmond McLian in the 65th minute of play. A collision led to Strokestown getting a freekick after 69 minutes play. Harley Costello hit a great ball. When Colm Hughes came up free with the goalie in the 70th minute, the Carrowntawy fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Colm Hughes couldn't finish the play. Ciarán Hutton showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Desmond McLian in the 75th minute of the match. The audience was convinced that Colm Hughes's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Branagain Bayes was relentless in the 76th minute of the game. Branagain Bayes took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Bannan McSteve, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Colm Hughes came up free with the goalie in the 81st minute, the Carrowntawy fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Colm Hughes couldn't finish the play. Alfred Tracy hit a great freekick 83 minutes into the match. In the 84th minute of the match Kieran McWillie sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Ciarán Hutton skillfully saved the ball. 86 minutes into the match, Strokestown's Desmond McLian sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Ciarán Hutton narrowly saved just below the crossbar. The audience was convinced that Bannan McSteve's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Branagain Bayes was relentless in the 89th minute of the game. In the 94th match minute, Carrowntawy was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Colm Hughes to maneuver through the defense. In the 97th minute, Strokestown's Desmond McLian dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-3. Strokestown's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.