Coa 1-10

Brookeboro 2-8

It has been a very testing year for Brookeboro as they find themselves struggling at the foot of the table with a depressing string of defeats their lot but they were to get a welcome boost in this tie with Coa as they scraped out an all too rare victory.

A win by the slimmest of margins but a tonic win nevertheless though they had to battle hard to hang on to their lead in the face of a determined Coa challenge over the second half.

As far as Coa were concerned the damage to their chances was done in the opening half. Here they coughed up two goals and those scores hoisted Brookeboro in a handsome interval lead.

It was a question of chase up for Coa after that and the O’Dywer’s did make a committed effort to recover the lost ground but Brookeboro, scenting a rare success, were to battle hard and crucially they poached a couple of points to keep them in front.

For Coa Darren McQuaid and Leon Carters were the players to provide the main scoring thrust and they in fact were the side who first found the net. The strong running Leon Carters the man to shoot home a crisp shot as he strode up in support of a fluent attack.

But Brookeboro were soon to respond and they picked up the baton with a good goal in reply, Niall Moane fisting a ball across the face of goal and Aiden Boyle was on hand to finish home. Points for them were to come from Aiden Boyle, Oisin Howell and Damian Moane and the team got a terrific fillip when they grabbed a second goal.

Conor Howell found himself in a one on one scenario with the Coa keeper and he made no mistake to slot home a score which helped jump the side into a healthy six points interval lead.

Coa certainly had left themselves lots to do over the second half but they were to make a spirited effort to recover and they had the greater share of the attacking play. In all they were to claim seven points with Darren McQuaid again a driving force for them and with Gary Lynch also chipping in.

Damian Wardman in the absence of Eoin Donnelly was delivering a solid midfield contribution and Mark Carters was marshalling the defence.

But Brookeboro with a score each from Aiden and Donal Boyle were to just survive and edge a tonic win by a single point.

For the winners, Paddy Boyle was in fine form at full back and John Mellarkey did some solid work in the middle of the park while Sean Campbell at wing half forward always looked to be an enterprising figure.

The two first half goals though crucial in Brookeboro’s success as they hung on for a much needed win.

Referee; Joe Smith ; Roslea.