| Cooley Kickhams secure narrow victory over Roche Emmets |
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| Sunday, 13 March 2011 19:09 |
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This game was switched from Sunday 13th to Saturday 12th at 7:30pm where a good game of football was produced with two committed teams show plenty of endeavour and no shortage of skill. The play was lively and fast with good fielding and passing. The story of this game was; ‘goals win games’ and an odd one in five won this one. Which was an unlikely outcome considering the distance between the scores at different periods of the game. Roche 2-9 (HT 0-5) Cooley 3-9 (HT 1-5) Roche started brightly and clocked up three good points in the opening four minutes from Darren McConnon, Owen O’Hare and Barry O’Hare. Sean O’hare saved well in the Roche goals as Roche held the upper hand in the game. However Cooley moved more into the game and a good registered their first point on twelve minutes from 45 metres by Gavin Long followed by a converted Cooley. A minute later Cooley were level with a Gerry Malone pointed free along the side line. O’Hare took of an excellent double save before Cooley opted for a point on 17 minutes and moved two points ahead a minute later from a good score. Barry O’Hare made the score 4-5 in the 20th minute but the first goal came for the visitors two minutes later. Roche slipped three chances wide before Sean Donnelly smashed a shot from a 25 metre drive to the net for a lightening goal on 28 minutes; Cooley were in full command of the game. Roche responded with a good David Quigley point to leave the half time score 2-5 to 0-5 for Cooley. Again Roche started the brightest with Aaron Callan racing down the field with the ball from the trough-in only to push his point attempt wide. David Quigley also ‘wided’ before Robert O’Hanlon scored a good point in the 5th minute. Mickey Rafferty put six in the difference again and added another before scoring an easy goal in the tenth minute to put Cooley cruising again. They added a further point three minutes later to show 11 point ahead with 13 minute gone. Andrew Carroll (Conor Traynor) and the Martin Carroll (Tom Quigley) entered the game for Roche. On the 16th minute Darren McConnon raced through Cooley and riffled a goal from 22 metres to lift the home crowed who braved the sharp but calm dry night. Darren pointed straight after that followed by an opening from Barry O’Hare whose rasping shot was well pushed over the bar by Quigley who had replaced Gallagher in the Cooley goals at half time. Roches tails were up and were competing for every ball. Conor Martin cane on for James Tiffney with the score standing at 1-8 to 3-8 for Cooley and they extended their lead in the 22nd minute to seven points. But Roche came back with an Enda Murphy point. David O’Connell came in for Bernard McConnon followed by the arrival of John Levins for Robert O’Hanlon. Roche kept trying and were rewarded with a second goal from the fist of Owen O’Hare from close range to close the gap to a single goal, but it was right on the stroke of full time and Cooley collected the spoils. Best for Roche were Sean O’Hare, Dermot Craven, Harry O’Connell, Darren McConnon, Enda Murphy, Barry O’Hare and Owen O’Hare. Roche: Sean O’Hare, James Tiffney, Dermot Craven, Niall Treanor, Conor Traynor, Harry O’Connell, Tom Quigley, Aaron Callan, Darren McConnon 1-2, Enda Murphy 1pt, David Quigley 1pt, Barry O’Hare, 3pts, Bernard McConnon, Owen O’Hare 1-1, Robert O’Hanlon 1pt. Subs used: Andrew Carroll, Martin Carroll, Conor Martin, David O’Connell and John Levins. Cooley scorers: Mickey Rafferty 1-2, Sean Donnelly 1-2, Conor Rafferty 0-3, Shane Marks 1-0, Gavin Long 0-1 and Gerry Malone 0-1. [Report: Eamonn Reilly] |