League

Coolbaun
Spectators: 6768 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1768, VIP seats: 0) Cootehall's Donncha McPaul 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. 5 minutes into the game, Donavon McOliver was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Cootehall's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Coolbaun AFC the free kick. Rory Coyle sent away a hard shot on goal in the 6th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 7th minute, Barde O'Neill left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Cootehall fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. 10 minutes into the match, Coolbaun AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Barde O'Neill came free, but Berkley Lavine reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Barde O'Neill sent away a hard shot on goal in the 12th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Daniel Kelly hit a great freekick 13 minutes into the match. In the 18th minute of the match Hickey McPhilip sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Berkley Lavine skillfully saved the ball. If Eamonn Holt had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 29th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The supporters of Coolbaun AFC booed when Cootehall was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 36 match minutes in a wonderful position. Donavon McOliver didn't get a good kick on the ball. A hard shot by Duff Rogers from long distance, 37 minutes into the match, got Samuel Costello's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. Samuel Costello was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Bret McNamee showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-1 in the 39 minute of play. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Bret McNamee made a kick off. Samuel Costello showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rory Coyle in the 52nd minute of the match. Rory Coyle recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 54th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Barde O'Neill received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 57th minute. Berkley Lavine tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 60 minutes into the match, Barde O'Neill notched a goal, 1-2, to the right of Coolbaun AFC's Berkley Lavine. Berkley Lavine was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. After 67 minutes of play, Cootehall's Barde O'Neill made it 1-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Berkley Lavine was left in no man's land by his defense there! After 73 minutes, Barde O'Neill mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Cootehall and the Coolbaun AFC players grew even worse after the yellow card. Barde O'Neill kicked well hit freekick during the 73rd minute of the match. When Barde O'Neill, who was free, got the in front of the goal in the 76 minute he wasn't focused and tipped the ball just over the goal. The Berkley Lavine was delighted since the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. Rory Coyle blasted a shot towards the goal in the 80th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Samuel Costello having to make a save. Samuel Costello showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Bret McNamee, who was totally free with the ball in the 86th minute. 87 minutes into the game, Donncha McPaul was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Cootehall's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Coolbaun AFC the free kick. If Bret McNamee had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 92nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Donahue McCready charged in rather forcefully in the 93rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Donahue McCready the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Barde O'Neill received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 96th minute. Berkley Lavine tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Cootehall eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.