Defending champions suffer first defeat of the season

Two weeks ago, Corrib Celtic had FAI Chief Executive John Delaney visit their ever improving grounds in Annaghdown; and a week later, they pushed Mervue United hard, only for a late collapse to undo a lot of good earlier work.

On Sunday last, they caused somewhat of an upset with a 2-1 home win over defending Western Hygiene Premier Division champions, St Bernard’s. That outcome positions them as joint league leaders along with Athenry, Mervue United and West United in early-season jockeying for position.

All the scoring action was compacted into the opening half as Brian Burke and Shane Concannon provided the assists for Chris Greaney and Laurence Forde to put the home side two up, with a quick three-minute brace of goals.

It was an occasion when St Bernard’s were missing a number of regulars, but despite that, they pulled one back when Darren Finn finished off a Jason Finn free-kick before the break. The second-half saw the visitors create the greater scoring threat, but Darren Finn and Shane King could not apply the finishes required when chances presented themselves on the resumption.

Colemanstown United were hanging on to a slender advantage against Corrib Rangers as the game entered additional time, but Sean O’Boyle was to ruin the home side hopes of two home wins in succession as he scrambled a late equaliser for a 2-2 draw.

The city side were picking up their first point of the season, and had to come from behind twice in order to do so. Scoreless at the break, it was Colemanstown who sourced an early breakthrough when Tom Flannery provide the pass that picked out Kerill Hardiman, and he fired the opener past Mark Walsh.

The equaliser was somewhat fortuitous as a John O’Brien free-kick evaded both friend and foe in the box before going beyond the reach of Niall Gelston to tie up matters at 1-1.

The home side regained their advantage when Alan Finn cut in from the flank and cracked home a terrific finish; and while Rangers had some opportunities, it looked like the home side would hold on, until O’Boyle’s late intervention secured a draw for the visitors.

In the only other Premier League game played, West United were commanding 4-0 winners over a Salthill Devon side that appear to have totally lost their way this season.

Aided by the considerable elements, the home side were two up at the break, as an Aidan Coyle free-kick and a Geoffrey Power finish gave them a merited half-time advantage. The second-half should have seen Salthill Devon dominate, and while they enjoyed the majority of possession, they seldom looked like breaking down the home rearguard.

It was West United who provided the goals in the second-half, efforts by Shane Keogh and James Ryan being a fitting reward for a good performance.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.