Mullingar Shamrocks Club Notes: 28 August 2017

Senior Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 0-9 Tyrrellspass 0-13.

So that's it then, the end of our 2017 senior championship campaign following this 0-13 to 0-9 loss to Tyrrellspass, a loss that brought with it an additional prize of demotion from Group 1 of the championship. The demotion marks the end of an era in Westmeath football as we are accompanied in the drop by Garrycastle.

The facts behind this latest defeat are easily outlined. Micheál Curley galloped through the Tyrrellspass defence at the start to score a point and three minutes later Seanie Daly added a second from a move that began deep in the Shamrocks defence following an Eddie Moore interception and Killian Daly added a third with a great long-range effort. After seven minutes Shamrocks were 0-3 to 0-0 ahead. Denis Glennon made a miraculous recovery from injury to open the scoring for Tyrrellspass but a move that involved Darragh Daly, Efi Siode and Dean Moore ended with a Denis Corroon special with the outside of the boot to restore Shamrocks three points advantage. Four points in the opening eleven minutes was an impressive start but inexplicably that proved to be the end of our first-half scoring. Our best scoring effort was when Kieran Gavin now playing at full-forward beat Darren Quinn to the punch but the ball rolled wide. Goalkeeper Darren Quinn pointed a '45', Ben Gavin and Conor Slevin pointed from play to level matters after 21 minutes before Dean McNicholas had the final point of the half to send Tyrrellspass to the dressing rooms at half-time with an 0-5 to 0-4 ahead.

Mullingar Shamrocks replicated their first-half start when play resumed after the interval. This time it was Seanie Daly who raced away to score a point and level matters. The next ten minutes effectively sealed our fate as Shamrocks dominated but failed to register another score during this period of control. In the eight-minute Darren Quinn stepped out of his goal to score his second '45' and shortly afterwards Shamrocks suffered a major setback when Micheál Curley, received a second yellow card and as a result Shamrocks best and most combative player on the night departed the scene. Dean McNicholas pointed the resultant free, Denis Glennon hit a superb long-range free as Tyrrellspass hit a rich vein of form that also saw Cathal Dunne kick a superb score in the 44th minute. A Denis Corroon point created by an Eddie Moore surge from defence offered brief hopes of a recovery (0-9 to 0-6) but unanswered points by Dean McNicholas, Ben Gavin, David Glennon and Ray Sheridan established a match winning lead for Tyrrellspass by the sixtieth minute. Successive points by Paddy Joyce and Denis Corroon (0-2) took some of the bad look off the scoreboard but that was our only consolation on the night. Prior to these scores, Mullingar Shamrocks had scored two points in the previous forty-eight minutes on a night when five of the six starting forwards were replaced and of the original forwards only Denis Corroon registered a score. When Brendan Keena blew his final whistle, Mullingar Shamrocks were out and down.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Philly Shaw; David Coyne, Eddie Moore, Efi Siode; Micheál Curley (0-1), Killian Daly (0-1), Seanie Daly (0-2); Kieran Gavin (Brendan O'Reilly) and Darragh Daly; Patrick Fagan (Ciarán Curley), Denis Corroon (0-4), Billy Flynn (Paddy Joyce 0-1); Dylan McDermott (David Gavin), Dean Moore (Darren Keena) and Tye Adamson (Simon Quinn).

Mullingar Town Under-12 Tournament

The final blitz of the season co-hosted by ourselves and St Loman's ended with a great victory for Mullingar Shamrocks who defeated Millmore Gaels (2-8 to 0-9) in a final of top-class football in Lakepoint Park. The sides were level at the interval (1-2 to 0-5) but some great points by John Ryan added to Conor Heffernan's great first-half scores and Ryan Kelly's second goal secured the victory for Shamrocks. The fitness levels of both teams were exemplary. In the Cup semi-finals Millmore Gaels defeated St Loman's and Shamrocks just edged-out Celbridge (2-5 to 0-9) with Ryan Kelly and Alex Sheerin the goal poachers. In their group games, Mullingar Shamrocks defeated Kilmacud Crokes (1-12 to 0-3) and were never headed after Shane Ormsby raced through for a great goal with Tullamore beaten in the opening game (9-9 to 0-2). The Mullingar Shamrocks lads played great football throughout tackling and defending with determination (no goal was conceded in four matches) and with their combination play in attack kicked some great scores.

Apart from those teams already mentioned, Ramor (Cavan), Rhode, Athlone, Killoe and Moate competed in the Blitz with a format designed to ensure that every child has the 'opportunity to play meaningful games in an informal, safe and enjoyable environment, have fun and experience a sense of enjoyment and fulfilment and be treated with respect dignity and sensitivity'. The semi-finals and finals are designed to enable teams of the same standard to play each other.

Shamrocks legendary hospitality was at its usual high standard and an army of volunteers were busy from Saturday preparing the goodies for those who travelled and the lunch boxes for the teams. Many thanks to all those who volunteered on the day, serving the teas, umpiring, refereeing, keeping track of scores, preparing the pitches and dealing with the numerous other tasks so essential to hosting a successful tournament. A special word of thanks to all the coaches who contributed so much to looking after their players and teams over the season. Our mentors were Tom Ormsby, Derek Sheridan and David Cornally.

Our eighteen footballers on duty were Eóin Doran, Nathan Cornally, Killian Kelly, Peter Finch, Karl Mulhern, Tadhg Sheridan, Dylan Carey, Shane Ormsby, Matt Ryan, John Ryan, Ryan Kelly, Conor Heffernan, Alex Sheerin, Gavin Pierce, Matt Shaw, Hugh Sullivan Sexton, Donnacha Maguire, Charlie Kennedy.

 

Senior Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 1-9 Garrycastle 1-8

There was a darkness on the edge of Ballymore town as the referee began this vital senior football championship match between the two former heavyweight giants of Westmeath football. Mercifully the threatened downpour waited until the final whistle but the Ballymore lights were activated for the first time for a championship match.

Garrycastle gained the initial advantage when Davy Coyne under pressure from Cathal Mannion deflected a difficult diagonal ball past Philly Shaw for the opening score of the match. Denis Corroon had Shamrocks opening point from a free; Sean Brennan's resultant short kick restart was intercepted by Killian Daly who was immediately dragged to the ground, Denis Corroon converted the free and reduced the deficit to the minimum. Two points from a single attack is always welcome, especially on a night when scores were hard earned.

The Garrycastle response was immediate and a bout of combined play initiated by Eóin Monaghan was finished by Tom O' Halloran for a point in the eleventh minute (1-1 to 0-2). Alex Gardiner then evaded Kieran Gavin and kicked a great point from close to the sideline and following a foul on Gardiner, Conor Cosgrove added a third Garrycastle point. The loss of Kieran Gavin through injury at this stage further dented Shamrocks chances. This was followed by one of the major turning points of the match when Philly Shaw brilliantly saved an Alex Gardiner shot after the Shamrocks defence had been carved open. A second goal at this stage would have pushed Garrycastle into a seven-point lead that might well have been insurmountable. Later in the half, Philly also moved smartly from his line to prevent another possible Garrycastle goal.

An interception by Denis Corroon released Micheál Curley who burst up the field scattering Garrycastle men along the way to score a great point (1-3 to 0-3). Curley has been a long-time warrior for Shamrocks and this quality was on full display in Ballymore especially in the second-half as several Garrycastle attacks were halted by Curley's intervention. Billy Flynn too in his first senior start in twelve months was superb in his sweeper role. A Denis Corroon pointed free completed Shamrocks scoring before Cathal Mannion (the most influential player on the field in the opening half) landed a spectacular beauty to restore Garrycastle's 0-3 advantage.

Trailing by 1-4 to 0-4 at the interval Shamrocks looked to be in trouble as Garrycastle were more systematic and direct in their play and moved the ball to much greater purpose as Shamrocks attempt at creative play was more deliberate and lateral. Garrycastle introduced Dessie Dolan at the interval but on this occasion Dessie was not responsible for any Shamrocks heartbreak as he was well marshalled by Eddie Moore. Garrycastle extended their lead to four points when Tom O'Halloran pointed after a great run by James Dolan. Shamrocks were defending superbly at this stage and in the tenth minute Tye Adamson pointed from long-range and almost immediately Seanie Daly followed with another fine point. A Conor Cosgrove pointed free in the fifteenth minute re-established Garrycastle's 0-3 lead. The advantage was short-lived. Almost immediately Denis Corroon now playing at full-forward and combining superbly with Patrick Fagan, out-fielded the Garrycastle full-back, and remained composed to shoot to the Garrycastle net. After forty-six minutes, the sides were level and in the mini-match that followed Shamrocks defended brilliantly and outscored Garrycastle 0-3 to 0-2 to secure the championship points on the night that a former Garrycastle footballer, Jennifer Byrne, was selected as the Rose of Tralee. Denis Corroon scored twice, the first from a free which was balanced by a similar effort by Conor Cosgrove and the second a fine effort from play; Seanie Daly displayed great patience to create his own scoring opportunity and landed Shamrocks final point of the evening and although Garrycastle had chances, a pointed free in the last minute was their only score in the final 14 minutes.

Mullingar Shamrocks now face Tyrrellspass on Sunday evening with a great morale boosting win to build-on and depending on the results of the Tyrrellspass-Athlone and St Loman's-Killucan matches a place in the semi-final may even be at stake at Cusack Park. Although it is too early to say that rumors of Shamrocks demise were greatly exaggerated, we live in hope!

Mullingar Shamrocks: Philly Shaw; Efi Siode, Kieran Gavin (Brendan O'Reilly), Davy Coyne; Micheál Curley (0-1), Killian Daly; Eddie Moore; Daragh Daly and Denis Corroon (1-5); Tye Adamson (0-1) [Darren Keena], Dónal O'Donoghue (Ciarán Curley), Patrick Fagan; Billy Flynn, Dean Moore (Paddy Joyce), Seanie Daly (0-2).

 

The Trip to Abbotstown

The visit of our under-13 footballers to Abbotstown to play St Jude's provided a depressing insight in to how 'the other half lives' to use a cliché. The GAA's National Games Development Centre is part of the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus in Abbotstown. The GAA complex is a suite of floodlit, impeccably manicured pitches and AstroTurf surfaces maintained to the highest possible standards, a state of the art gym and numerous dressing rooms and meeting rooms. It's a GAA Royal Palace. Although the complex is a national one there is no doubt that the main beneficiaries will be Dublin and Dublin clubs and more luck to them. Last night it was busy with young players from Dublin clubs playing hurling, football, camogie and Ladies Gaelic Football. One thing is patently clear: the gap between Dublin and the rest of the counties in Leinster is only going to get wider. The Westmeath's of this world have no chance.

The match between our footballers and St Jude's provided more evidence of the gulf in class between Dublin football and the weaker counites as our lads were outplayed and outmuscled in every aspect of the game. It was a valuable lesson for the lads and indicated the amount of work that is needed to compete with the best. It's where we intend to be but the road ahead is going to be long and difficult.

Our team was: Michael McDonagh; Nathan McLoughlin, Rory Hickey, Conor Kelly, Óisin Sheridan, Rían Adamson, Conor Fagan; Shane Ormsby, Matthew Clinton; Aaron Russell, Tom Hickey; Ben Meredith, Jamie Rooney, Adam Boyle, Óisin Garry; Ciarán Kiernan, Tadgh Sheridan, Caoilainn Walsh.

Junior Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 1-15 Shandonagh 2-17

Mullingar Shamrocks chances of qualifying for the play-off stages of the junior championship suffered a setback as a result of this high scoring 2-17 to 1-15 defeat to Shandonagh in Springfield. Shandonagh provided an early statement of intent when Alan Hughes skipped unhindered through the Shamrocks defence to goal. Wind assisted Shamrocks responded with points from Ross Corroon, Kenneth O'Reilly and Alan Cashman to level matters. Both sides exchanged points for the remainder of the half with Conor Moore, Alan Cashman and Ross Corroon (0-3) scoring for Shamrocks. The contribution of Ross included two fine 45s. The second came on the stroke of half-time to level matters (1-5 to 0-8) after the Shandonagh goalkeeper had saved well from Conor Moore.

Jordan Ward put Shamrocks ahead on resumption but almost immediately Mickey Boyle, the most influential player on the field, levelled matters. The next five minutes were Shamrocks finest and began with a Conor Moore pointed free. Conor then scored an absolute beauty of a goal when he finished a great move that began with a Conor Twomey knock-down to James Grogan who quickly moved the ball to Kenneth O'Reilly who delivered the final pass to Conor Moore. The finish was exquisite, a passable imitation of Joe Brolly, the footballer, without blowing any kisses. James Grogan added a point to establish an 0-5 lead for Shamrocks (1-11 to 1-6). Unfortunately, Shamrocks were unable to maintain the momentum (the loss through injury of Conor Twomey was important) and were outscored by 1-11 to 0-4 for the remainder of the match. Shandonagh with five minors and inspired by Mickey Boyle scored six points to regain their lead before Conor Moore pointed a free to level matters (1-12 to 1-12). Luke Lenihan raced through from mid-field to point and only a great save from Dj prevented a second Alan Hughes goal. Mickey Boyle added a point and a goal from Cormac Coyne practically sealed Shamrocks fate especially when an excellent save from the Shandonagh goalkeeper Conor Smyth prevented Conor Moore from scoring his second goal. Shamrocks had to be content with points from Conor Moore, Kenneth O'Reilly and Ross Corroon as Mickey Boyle tagged on points to secure the championship points for Shandonagh, a result which almost certainly means that a play-off will now be needed to decide the qualifier from this division.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Dj Fedronas; Robert Ryan, Paul Christie, Cormac Murphy; James Grogan (0-1), Keith Moore (Neil Hannigan), Alan Cashman (0-2); Franklin Nwokeiwu (Jordan Ward 0-1) and Conor Twomey (Conor McEntee); Paul Hickey Michael Ayiebiowu), Ross Corroon (0-5), Mickey McKnight (Mark Irwin). Kenneth O'Reilly (0-2), Conor Bracken (Robbie Ryland), Conor Moore (1-4).

Under-12 Ladies Gaelic Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 4-3 The Downs 3-4.

Mullingar Shamrocks Under-12 girls had their last outing of phase 2 of the championship on Thursday night. The girls played with the wind in the first half and limited The downs to 0-2 for the first twenty minutes.  Scores from Ellie Sullivan (1-1), Sophie Russell (2-0), Emily Flynn (0-1) and Megan Scally (1-0) gave Shamrocks a very comfortable lead heading into the second-half. The Downs responded in typical fashion and came into the second half like a different team and put the Shamrocks backs under real pressure. They scored 3-2 and pushed Shamrocks to the limit. Sophie Russell scored the only point for Shamrock in the second half and full back Jodi Aherne prevented a near certain goal for The Downs in the last minute and Shamrocks secured a great victory on a score line of 4-3 to 3-4.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Alishia McLoughlin, Eve Byrne, Jodi Aherne, Phoebe Cadwalader, Emily Moore, Katie Starr, Jasmine McFarland Ginnel, Ellie Sullivan (1-1), Ciara Moore, Emily Clark, Emily Flynn (0-1), Megan Scally (1-0), Erin Murray, Sophie Russell (2-1), Linda Raeside, Alessia Hassett, Roisin Lafferty, Sara Ford and Ella Moore. 

Under-14 Ladies Gaelic Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 3-6 Shandonagh 6-7.

Shamrocks travelled to near neighbours Shandonagh for this match in the Ladies Gaelic Football under-14 championship. Shamrocks started well with two early points, one of them a long-range point from Sadbh O'Brien. After a relatively even high scoring first-half Shandonagh held a four-point interval lead (2-3 to 3-4). The second half continued with great scores from both sides. Defences were busy with some great tackling on both sides. Ex-Shamrocks senior men's captain, Michael Conlon's daughter Katie was very strong in the middle of the field for Shandonagh. Shamrocks girls dominated much of the play but on too many occasions the ball ended on the wrong side of the posts. Goals win games and in the end Shandonagh found the net more often and were worthy winners. Shamrocks goal scores were Robin Wrafter, Sadbh O'Brien and Molly Byrne.

Mullingar Shamrock: Chloe Flood McCormack, Judith Uyi, Annemarie O'Reilly, Elyse Byrne, Niamh Raeside (Capt.), Nelly Nwokeiwu, Eve Hynes, Mairead Newman, Jenny Kellly, Mia Gilligan, Sadbh O'Brien, Abby Smith, Molly Byrne, Robin Wrafter, Tamara Molloy. Subs used Kayla Munnelly, Leah Glynn, Ellie Barr.

 

 

Fixtures

Under-16 Football Championship, Quarter-Final: Mullingar Shamrocks v Millmoore Gaels, Monday, 28 August, Springfield, 6.45 pm.

Under-12 Football League: Mullingar Shamrocks v Shandonagh, Wednesday, 30 August, Springfield, 7.00pm.

Under 8 Blitz hosted by St. Mary's Rochfortbridge: Saturday, 2 September, 11am concluding at 12.30pm. Participating Clubs: St. Mary's Rochfortbridge, Mullingar Shamrocks, Inny Gaels and Killucan.

 

Under-14 Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks v Tyrrellspass, Saturday, 2 September, Tyrrellspass, 5.00pm.

 

 

 

 

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