League

Drumkeerin
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Aron Duggan kicked off to start the match. Gerard Colwell recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 3rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Gerard Colwell sent away a hard shot on goal in the 4th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Gerard Colwell blasted a shot towards the goal in the 7th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Iarla McDonald having to make a save. Iarla McDonald showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gerard Colwell, who was totally free with the ball in the 7th minute. In the 9th match minute, Drumkeerin was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Barhan Tierney to maneuver through the defense. Donall Dempsey took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Aron Duggan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Gerard Colwell had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 17th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 21st minute Aron Duggan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Donall Dempsey saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of Coolbanagher booed when Drumkeerin was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 26 match minutes in a wonderful position. Torey Murphy didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Gerald Kirby came up free with the goalie in the 30th minute, the Coolbanagher 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 Gerald Kirby couldn't finish the play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gerald Kirby in the 33rd minute of play forced Drumkeerin's goalkeeper Donall Dempsey to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Donall Dempsey made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gerald Kirby in the 38th minute of play. In the 41st minute Gerald Kirby shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Donall Dempsey saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Barhan Tierney hit a great freekick 41 minutes into the match. Donall Dempsey showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gerald Kirby in the 43rd minute of the match. Iarla McDonald was out of position in the 44 minute of play, and Gerard Colwell capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Gerard Colwell really showed his touch with that goal: 1-0. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Gerard Colwell stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Gerald Kirby received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 55th minute. Donall Dempsey tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 58th minute, Gerard Colwell hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Iarla McDonald made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gerard Colwell in the 60th minute of play. 63 minutes into the match, Drumkeerin's goalkeeper Donall Dempsey had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Gerald Kirby. Gerald Kirby was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 65th minute. Coolbanagher's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. After a defensive mix-up in Coolbanagher's zone, Comhghall Brennan stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Iarla McDonald came out of the goal and Comhghall Brennan tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. When Eamonn Cassin fell near the penalty area in the 74th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Drumkeerin's protests and gave Eamonn Cassin a yellow card for diving instead. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gerald Kirby got free with Donall Dempsey in the 75th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Gilian McNamara charged in rather forcefully in the 77th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Gilian McNamara the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Gerald Kirby struck a weak shot in the 78th minute. Donall Dempsey didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Coolbanagher. In the 85th match minute, Drumkeerin was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Finbar McStephen to maneuver through the defense. 85 minutes into the game, Gerald Kirby recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Donall Dempsey. Gerald Kirby showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-1. After 93 minutes, Gerald Kirby mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Coolbanagher and the Drumkeerin players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 97th minute, Barhan Tierney hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The Coolbanagher players were the happier at the end of the match as they had prevented Drumkeerin from taking control. The game ends in a draw.