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Good point lad.
But it puts pressure on a defence when the ball doesnt stay up there for long and most Carmen teams can handle this from having astute defence but when players like Colm McGurk, Conor Gormley, Pearse Cunningham, Niall Loughran, James Nugent, Ciaran Fox arent available it proves difficult. We have had to pull Michael Gallagher to defence, which weakens the forwards, Finbarr Magill is only coming back from injury also.

Clonoe 2-12 Carrickmore 0-10

It was always going to be a big ask for Carmen heading to the Far East of the county without key men to come away with a result. But St Colmcilles did start well, with Michael Gallagher taking full advantage of a fair breeze to send over a well taken point from distance on the right side to take an early lead. However it was about the only advantage Carmen took of the breeze that half. Clone responded instantly, working through on the counter to find a man in space, his shot was saved but after a few deflections the ball was in the net and from then on Carrickmore were chasing the game. After 6 minutes it was 1-2 to 0-1. Doris did the most damage for Clonoe at number 14, giving Benny McLaughlin, a natural wing back, a torrid time at full back for the day scoring 1-4 (?) in the first half.
Carmen did respond well for the better part of the 1st half trading points with the O'Rahillys to go in at half time with only the early goal between them.

Carrickmore came out well in the 2nd as well with Kevin McNally scoring to make it a two point game. But that was as close as they got as Clone broke through (the number 12 again) only for Ciaran McAleer to bring him down for a penalty which they converted. Clonoe quickly followed with 2 or 3 more points, making full use of the breeze in the 2nd half to go 9 points in front. The signs of Carmen's problems up front became abundent again with Mark Donnelly being forced to come deep to win the ball and carry it forward himself. A series of wasted point scoring opportunities left Carmen looking goals from then on.

St Colmcilles did rally well with the help of a few substitutions for the latter part of the second half, but couldn't make the possession count and Clonoe easily absorbed the attacks and punished Carmen with well worked counters and availing once again of the breeze.

Clonoe's agile and fast forwards were probably the difference on the day, forcing through opportunies to create the two goals to mean the result was never really in doubt. Carmen are now left with 2 wins from 4 and will have to look again at their forward line. The long ball strategy did result in a few 1st half scores, but mostly the long ball went wasted and there was no plan B.

Carrickmore badly missed Colm McGurk and Conor Gormley. Paul Hughes, James Nugent and Niall Loughran's absence also saw them turn to inexperienced James Rafferty in midfield, who did struggle today. There was one positive sign with Conor Mullan's 2nd half return, but Pearse Cunningham also remains on the injury list.

Carrickmore: P McCallan, M Slane, B McLaughlin, J Donnelly, M Gallagher, P Daly, C McAleer, J Rafferty, G McCallan, P McNally, C McAleer, S McAleer, K McNally, M Donnelly, B Daly.
Subs used, C Mullan, F MaGill, C McGarrity, M McCallan

If anyone wants to add the Clonoe line out and attribute the score, fe


I dont agree with this report it blows Clonoe up which to me is not loyal to the club.
Conor Gormley is missed badly, how would he not be when hes 1 of the top defenders in Ireland and when he returns I would push him to the middle of the park and get Gaby up front in full forward so we can have a man to hit.  But where to play Donnelly?
Was very surprised with the subs made on Sunday, taking of Michael Gallagher and moving Michael Slane out, when it was easy to be scene that it was Slane that was getting a skinning. I wouldnt say Brendan McLaughlin got a tough time as his man didnt score 1.4 as he wasnt marking no. 14. Check the Dungannon and top scorer scored 1-1. Paul Daly was guilty of ball watching, very uncharacteristic for Paul.
Moy will be a different story with 4 county players so big game needed and hope all our injured players return to the fold.