TOGHER CELTIC 1
CLONAKILTY SOCCER CLUB 3
GER McCARTHY REPORTS
TWO James Calnan goals – plus a milestone moment for Chris Collins – helped Clonakilty Soccer Club maintain their perfect start to the new PremierHiSpecCars.com Premier Division campaign.
Something had to give at Droumleena Lawn on Sunday afternoon when the Premier Division’s joint-leaders met, both boasting 100 per cent records.
A flat first half gave way to a much sharper second period, with some excellent goals. James Calnan cancelled out Niall Hurley’s headed opener before edging Clonakilty ahead with his second strike of an impressive display. Then the league leaders’ top scorer, Chris Collins, racked up his 100th club goal, converting from the penalty spot.
‘A great squad performance – we had James (Calnan) scoring twice and Charlie McShane coming into the team after last week’s poor performance,’ Clonakilty manager John Leahy commented.
‘Fair play to Togher for putting it up to us but this is a great result. I know they were missing a few, but no matter when you play them, you never get anything easy off Togher Celtic.
‘James Calnan with two goals and the man himself, Chris (Collins), scoring his 100th goal for the club – fair play to him, it’s a great achievement.’
An understrength Togher Celtic began without a host of first-team starters. No surprise then it was the defending champions who settled quicker, Odhran Bancroft crossing for Charlie McShane to flick wide after five minutes.
Having weathered a difficult start, Niall Hurley, Cathal Daly and Patrick Collins helped the hosts enjoy a positive spell. Eoin Murray fired a free-kick wide before a Chris Collins set-piece cleared the crossbar by inches at the other end.
With goalmouth action scarce, both sets of defenders dominated. Ian Crowley and Kevin Cotter proved as effective as Clon’s Ethan Draper and Reuben Henry during a tight first 45 minutes.
The opener was scrappy. Clonakilty failed to clear Brian Horgan’s free-kick, and Niall Hurley reacted quickest in a crowded six-yard box to head Togher in front.
After a quiet opening half hour, Clonakilty finally lifted the tempo. Ciarán Murray prevented another Hartnett long-range effort from hitting the net before Chris Collins’ shot crashed down off the crossbar and was judged not to have fully crossed the line.
Just when it seemed Togher would change ends a goal ahead, Clonakilty produced a moment of quality. James Calnan raced onto Eoin Hartnett’s pass and brilliantly slid the ball under the advancing Ciarán Murray. One-all was a fair score at the break.
Charlie McShane had the second period’s first sight of goal, but again Ciarán Murray was equal to it. The visitors didn’t have to wait long to strike again, though, as Chris Collins’ run and cross ended with James Calnan firing home after 48 minutes.
Only the width of an upright denied Mark Irwin a third soon after. An overworked Togher back four struggled to contain a Clon team growing in confidence, and the pressure told when a 59th-minute penalty was awarded.
Chris Collins stepped up to slot home his 100th Clonakilty goal and wrap up the points with half an hour still to play.
Togher defended to the end but had no complaints with the outcome as league leaders Clonakilty Soccer Club racked up their third consecutive win.
Togher Celtic: Ciarán Murray, Eoin Murray, Kevin Cotter, Ian Crowley, Conor Horgan, Cathal Daly, Patrick Collins, Danny Horgan, Niall Hurley, Johnny Collins, Brian Horgan.
Subs: Euan Lehane, Kevin Hurley.
Clonakilty Soccer Club: Adam O’Regan, Eoin Hartnett, Reuben Henry, Robert Downey, Charlie McShane, James Calnan, Chris Collins, Odhran Bancroft, Ethan Draper, Mark Irwin, Alan Murphy.
Subs: Evan Corcoran, Cal O’Mahony, Tomás Batterberry, John Deegan, Alan Ward, James O’Donovan, Ben McCarthy-Shields.
Referee: Conor McCarthy.
