Mullingar Shamrocks Club Notes: 24 July 2017

Senior Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 3-10 St Loman's 0-19 

Mullingar Shamrocks and St Loman's played-out an exciting draw in the what was a spectacular opening match for both clubs in the Westmeath senior football championship in Cusack Park on Sunday evening. St Loman's justified their favouritism with early scores from Shane Dempsey and Ken Casey before a superb mark by Daragh Daly released Denis Corroon to score Shamrocks opening point. John Heslin's pointed free restored the two-point gap.  Another thundering run from a superb Daragh Daly ended in a foul that flirted with black card territory. Denis Corroon pointed the free but the next fifteen minutes proved to be the worst period of the game for Mullingar Shamrocks. David Gavin received a black card and was replaced by Seanie Daly; John Heslin (0-3) and David Whelan added points to establish an 0-7 to 0-2 lead for St Loman's after 20 minutes. Tye Adamson pointed to end the scoring drought, again following a great Daragh Daly pass, but John Heslin responded with a similar score. In the twenty-fifth minute Donal O'Donoghue secured the crucial score of the opening half when he finished a Shamrocks move with a punched goal that reduced the deficit to 0-2 (Donal was beginning his eighteenth championship season for Shamrocks and looked as good and fit as ever). The move involved several Shamrocks players and began with some great tackling by Micheál Curley, deep in his own defence (Curley adapted very well to his new half-forward position - remember 2012  v Tyrrellspass). St Lomans responded with four points (Ronan O' Toole 0-2, John Heslin, Kieran Kilmurray) before Denis Corroon and Micheál Curley combined to create a chance for Donal O'Donoghue who pointed before the referee called for the interval with St Loman's comfortably ahead 0-12 to 1-4 and seemingly cantering to a comfortable victory. 

Daragh Daly laid down a marker for Shamrocks immediately on resumption. He grabbed the ball from the throw in and tore straight through the heart of the St Loman's defence for a great inspiring point. John Heslin's response was equally impressive - a great long range pointed free using the left foot. Two great opening points fit to grace any occasion (0-12 to 1-6). 

Shamrocks were now playing with greater intensity and the hesitancy and caution of the first half was set aside.  Tye Adamson with a long-range effort and Denis Corroon with a free, added points within the opening five minutes and following a foul on Micheál Curley, Denis Corroon pointed again. Shane Dempsey pointed for Lomans but Killian Daly neutralised this score. All this action was packed into the opening ten minutes before the scoreboard operator was given a break for the next ten minutes.  Shamrocks again split the St Loman's defence but Tye Adamson shot wide from a great position before Paddy Joyce and Brendan O'Reilly (making his senior championship debut) combined to create a great goal chance for the latter. A penalty resulted and Seanie Daly maintained his composure to crash the ball to the net and send Mullingar Shamrocks into the lead for the first-time. A pointed free from Denis Corroon added to the lead with seven minutes remaining (2-10 to 0-14). St Loman's responded as county champions might be expected and inspired by Ronan O'Toole scored five points without a Shamrocks response. However, there was a final response and it was a big one. A free floated into the goal mouth by Killian Daly was grabbed by Kieran Gavin and the gamekeeper became the poacher and crashed the ball past Stephen Gallagher. Drawn match and Shamrocks announced that they haven't gone away you know. 

Mullingar Shamrocks: Philly Shaw; Aaron Purcell, Kieran Gavin (1-0), Eddie Moore; David Coyne (Efi Siode), Killian Daly (0-1), Brendan O'Reilly, Brendan O'Reilly; Denis Corroon (0-5) and Daragh Daly (0-1); Micheál Curley (Dylan McDermott), Dónal O'Donoghue (1-1), Patrick Fagan; Tye Adamson (0-2) [Darren Keena], David Gavin (Seanie Daly 1-0) Simon Quinn (Paddy Joyce) 

 

Under-16 Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 0-7 Coralstown-Kinnegad 2-16

This match was never going to be easy for Mullingar Shamrocks and so it proved to be as the visitors to Springfield totally dominated the opening half and established a 2-11 to 0-2 interval lead. The tempo dropped in the second half as Coralstown-Kinnegad adopted a less intensive approach to the task secure in the knowledge that the championship points were guaranteed. Mullingar Shamrocks to their credit worked hard throughout and showed considerable improvement on their previous meeting with the Kinnegad side. In addition, there was a great display from goalkeeper Seán Hynes who might well have discovered a new position with a brave display between the posts which included many one-on-one saves.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Seán Hynes; Joshua Haugh, Emmet Walshe, Daniel Chukwuemekg; Niall Ouchbakou, Eoin Kilduff, William Adzangoa (0-1); Jack Gillen (0-3), Trevor Keena (0-2); Brian Farrell, John O'Reilly, Andrew Shaw; Rory O'Sullivan Sexton, Ronan McHugh and Zak Aherne. Replacements: Mark Flynn (0-1), Dylan Roe, Tolu Onamusi, Matthew Siode, Barry Nwokeiwu. 

Nostalgia, Tradition, Con O'Callaghan and the Mullingar Connection

If you read the opening section of the Mullingar Shamrocks history on the club website you will see that the Pearse's Hurling Club was founded in November 1951 and that its first chairman was Commandant Denis O'Callaghan. He was the man chiefly responsible for reviving hurling in Mullingar as at the time there was no hurling club in the town. Incredibly, there was no football club in the town then either!

The possibility of the Pearse's club affiliating a football team was considered at the Pearse's  first AGM in November 1952. A definite decision was postponed until the January club meeting held on Friday 16 January 1953 in St Mary's Hall when it was decided to form a separate football club. Denis O' Callaghan was one of the original trustees of the Springfield pitch and was chairman of the Westmeath County Board from 1962 to 1965 and presented the Flanagan Cup to James O'Dowd when Mullingar Shamrocks won their first county senior title in 1964. 

In the Leinster senior football final, Denis O'Callaghan's grandson scored 0-12 for Dublin in his Leinster final debut. You can't beat tradition. 

Under-12 Ladies Football Championship; Mullingar Shamrocks 3-1 Moate 4-6

Mullingar Shamrocks Under-12 girls had a tough game on Thursday evening against a strong Moate team. Conditions were hard and scores were harder to get. Due to holidays and injuries Mullingar Shamrocks were short a number of regulars and fielded just 14 players. Shamrocks trailed by 0-2 at half-time and it still proved to be a tough struggle after the restart. The last 10 minutes of the game were played in an absolute downpour and both teams were happy when the final whistle brought relief from the elements with a deserved victory for Moate against our always improving Under-12 girls. 

Mullingar Shamrocks:  Sinead Sweeny, Eve Byrne, Jodi Aherne, Alisha Mcloughlin, Emily Clarke, Katie Starr (1-0), Emily Moore, Elle Sullivan (2-0), Ciara Moore (0-1), Emily Flynn, Megan Scally, Jasmine McFarline Ginnel, Erin Murry and Linda Raeside. 

Under-10 Ladies Gaelic Football Blitz

Our Under-10 girls travelled to Milltownpass on Saturday morning and enjoyed . Shamrocks girls enjoyed games with the host club, Milltownpass, Tyrrellspass, Killucan and Shandonagh. Shamrocks ladies played some great football and all present enjoyed the occasion. Well done to Arlene, Carly, Grace, Áine, Linda, Sarah, Ella, Katie, Zoe, Zara and Seoidin on a great performance. 

 

Fixtures

Underage 

Under-11 Go Games Blitz, Mullingar Shamrocks v St Loman's, Monday, 24 July 2017, Lakepoint Park, 7.15 pm. 

Minor Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks v Killucan, Wednesday, 26 July 2017, Killucan, 7.30. 

Under-8 Go Games Blitz hosted by Shandonagh and featuring Mullingar Shamrocks, Shandonagh and St Loman's.

 

Ladies Gaelic Football 

Under-12 Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks v Kilbeggan-St Josephs, Monday, 24 July 2017, 7.00pm, Springfield

Under-14 Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks v Kilbeggan-St Josephs, Tuesday, 25 July 2017, 7.00pm, Streamstown.

 

Adult Football

Junior Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks v St Loman's, Thursday, 27 July, Lakepoint Park, 7.30 pm. 

Senior Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks v Killucan, Saturday, 29 July, The Downs, 7.30 pm. 

 

 

 

 

 

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