Classy Coleman makes it comfortable for Milltown on Astini News
By Ger McNally
JFC QUARTER FINAL
MILLTOWN 1-13 CASTLEMITCHELL 0-9
MILLTOWN remain on course for an immediate return to intermediate football following this comfortable seven point win over Castlemitchell at St Conleth's Park on Sunday.
Ray Coleman was superb for the 2008 winners of this competition and the result eases them into a mouth watering semi final against Robertstown. Coleman finished with 1-7 and added that bit of quality Castlemitchell just could not compete with, especially when their own talisman, Tadhg Fennin, was forced out of the action with a serious looking ankle injury on the stroke of half-time.
It was cruel luck on the Laois border side. They needed everything to go their way on the day if they were to get past one of the favourites but Fennin's injury, coupled with a missed penalty in the second half by Mark Fennelly meant there was only going to be one winner.
Coleman started the game like a house on fire and scored both Milltown points as the sides were tied at 0-2 apiece after six minutes. The former Sarsfields man's lightning start continued when he rocketed a shot into the top corner of Stephen Foley's net in the eighth minute. Eoin O'Sullivan and Thomas Kealy then added points as Castlemitchell found it increasingly difficult to live with the pace that Milltown were setting.
Trevor Griffin and Coleman swapped points but Castlemitchell then saw a couple of decent goal chances slip through their fingers when Kieran Harris' effort was saved and then Griffin fisted wide of the post after connecting with Fennin's left wing cross.
Following those let offs, Milltown stretched their lead by the half-time break, 1-8 to 0-4.
Right on the stroke of that half-time whistle, Castlemitchell's hopes suffered a hammer blow when Tadhg Fennin was brought to hospital after injuring his ankle.
Despite that, they started the second half brightly and were awarded a penalty five minutes in when Kieran Harris had his jersey tugged inside the square by Eoin Dowling. Mark Fennelly stepped up to take the kick but his effort was at a nice height for the goalkeeper and Derek Moore made the save. What was more impressive was that Moore was straight back on his feet and kept out Fennelly's effort from the rebound.
That moment was the killer blow for Castlemitchell and although they never stopped trying, any belief that they could get back into the game evaporated.
Fennelly did go someway to making up for his miss by converting the 45 that resulted from it but a slick move at the other end, involving Coleman and Colin Dunne, ended with an Emmet Mulhall point.
Coleman then landed another point into the dressing room end and although Castlemitchell rallied to score three points in a row, Milltown never panicked and finished strongly.
Myles O'Reilly pointed a free in the 60th minute and then that man Coleman saved his best for last when sending over a delightful curling shot on the last attack of the game. All in all, Milltown will be quite pleased with this display against a spirited Castlemitchell side who must now resign themselves to another year in the junior grade.
MILLTOWN: Derek Moore; Michael Colleton, Eddie Owens, Eoin Dowling; Thomas Kealy .-., Colin O'Shea, Wayne Dignam; Emmet Mulahll .-., Eoghan O'Toole; John O'Reilly, Colin Dunne .-., Ray Coleman .-. (.fs); Billy Scully, Eoin O'Sullivan .-., Kevin Dowling. Subs: Ian Fitzgerald for Scully, h/ t; Omar Dunne for Kealy, ..; Paul Mulhall for K Dowling, ..; Myles O'Reilly .-. for O'Sullivan, ...
CASTLEMITCHELL: Stephen Foley; Brian Kavanagh, Fionn O'Rourke, Ray Fitzgerald; Joe Maher .-.f, John O'Connor, Brendan Harris; Karol Harris, Emmet Hyland; Trevor Griffin .-., Mark Fennelly .-. (. ..), John Fennelly; Tadhg Fennin .-. (.f), Brendan Maher . Kieran Harris. Subs: Matthew Moore for Kavanagh, ..; Tomás Fitzgerald .-. for Fennin, h/ t; Michael Kelly for K Harris, ..; Kieran O'Toole for J Fennelly, ...
REF: Paddy Moore.
