In a year when senior honours proved beyond them, Mullingar Shamrocks had the consolation of retaining their minor title and also qualifying for the junior championship final. Club stalwart Ned Moore was delighted with the progress of his young starlets. Mullingar Shamrocks may have disappointed in the senior championship, but it was by no means a poor year for the Springfield-based outfit. The highlight was once again provided by the club's minor side who not only retained the minor championship, but were also successful in the minor club competition. No fewer than 11 of the successful minor team also figured for Shamrocks in the junior championship final, providing further optimism for the future. "The minor and junior teams were basically the same," says club stalwart Ned Moore, who managed both teams along with Des Maguire. "Eight minors started the junior final against Milltown and three others - David Bell, Mark McLoughlin and Enda Monaghan - were used as substitutes. If you had taken 'Spike' Fagan out of the team, you would have been left with a team of youngsters. Even though we lost the final, I was very pleased with how they performed and it certainly bodes well for the future," he adds. Moore, who famously captained Shamrocks to a four-in-a-row of senior championship successes in the 1990s, reveals that the primary reason why he and Des Maguire decided to take charge of the juniors as well as the minor team was to ensure that the young players were given a taste of adult football. "After winning the minor championship the previous year, myself and Des had already agreed to stay with the minor team. But when the opportunity came along to manage the junior side also, we decided to take it because we felt it would allow us to blood a number of the minor players. "Down the years, we have noticed a big fall-off in players after minor level and we wanted to put a stop to that trend. Having been involved with this particular group of players for the past four years, I knew they had the potential to give the junior championship a good rattle. And they very nearly pulled it off." Moore notes that one of Shamrocks' biggest problems is to provide regular action for their large pool of players. "It's an ongoing battle for us to facilitate players with enough games. Last year, we fielded 84 players at adult level. It's a big job trying to keep everyone happy, but by fielding teams in the senior, intermediate and junior championships, everyone should be getting their game." That Shamrocks would once again be the team to beat in the minor championship became apparent after they inflicted a 3-16 to 0-4 defeat on Athlone in the final of the minor club competition in May. A brace of early goals from man of the match Peter Collins put the Mullingar side on the road to victory. Their performance was embellished by a third goal from Sean Maguire in the second half. As one of the four seeded teams, Shamrocks received a bye into the quarter-final of the championship where they easily accounted for Shannon Gaels on a 1-15 to 2-1 scoreline. In the semi-final, they overcame the challenge of Clann Braonain by 3-12 to 1-11. St. Patrick's, who had surprisingly hammered Garrycastle in the other penultimate round tie, provided the opposition for Shamrocks in the final on September 21 at Cusack Park. Played as a curtain-raiser to the drawn senior decider between The Downs and Athlone, it proved to be an exciting contest with Shamrocks overcoming the handicap of having full forward Colin Connolly sent off just before half-time to win by 1-9 to 1-6. Shamrocks started brightly with Sean Maguire and Connolly notching points inside the opening four minutes. St. Patrick's, who could call on players from the Millmore Gaels, Ballynacargy and Shandonagh clubs, replied with a point from Philip Smith before further points from Maguire and Darren Moore, and a superb goal from Cian O'Leary, extended the town side's advantage to six points. A Stephen Somers penalty reduced the deficit for St. Patrick's, but Shamrocks hit back with points from Fiachra Spellman and Darren Moore to lead by 1-6 to 1-2 at the interval. Despite their numerical advantage, St. Patrick's struggled to break down a resolute Mullingar defence in the second half. By the end of the third quarter, Shamrocks had stretched their lead to five points thanks to another brace from Maguire. But St. Patrick's then suddenly came to life and three unanswered points brought them to within two points of the champions. However, a late Spellman effort sealed Shamrocks' back-to-back triumph, which equalled the feat of Inny Gaels in 2000 and 2001. "It was a great achievement for the lads and they really deserved it," says Moore, who was a county senior selector during Barney Rock's reign. "They have been successful in every grade from under 12 upwards and they have been a pleasure to work with. I know I'm probably bias in saying this, but it baffles me how a lot of them have never got recognition at county level. "Although over half of the team won't be eligible to play this year, we intend to give the minor championship a good crack. As far as I know, no team has ever managed to win three minor championships on the trot and that will be a big incentive for us," he adds. With the minor championship safely in the bag, Shamrocks turned their attention to the concluding stages of the junior championship. Despite losing to St. Joseph's and Milltown and only drawing with Ballycomoyle and St. Paul's in the group stages, they qualified for the quarter-final where they defeated Ballycomoyle by 2-8 to 1-2. St. Joseph's, who achieved eight straight wins in the group stages, were expected to end Shamrocks' interests in the semi-final, but the town side tore the formbook to shreds by emerging as 2-10 to 0-9 winners. It was a sensational result, with Peter Collins' 53rd minute goal putting the issue beyond all doubt. Bidding for their first junior title in over 40 years, Shamrocks entered the final against Milltown on October 5 in a confident frame of mind. The dreadful conditions made good football impossible, but Shamrocks still managed to establish a 0-6 to 0-3 lead at the interval. In the second half, the Milltown attacks become more frequent and Shamrocks had to fight tooth and nail to hold onto their advantage. But when Cian O'Leary struck for the opening goal, it looked as though they would hang on. However, a 54th minute goal from Fergal Reilly gave the more experienced Milltown men the momentum to go on to secure a 1-8 to 1-6 victory. "Our lack of experience probably told in the closing minutes. Maybe if the day had been dry, it would have suited our younger and lighter players better. But we can still feel proud of our performance," says Moore, who togged out for the final along with his three sons Gary, Keith and Eddie. Under the guidance of John Mulligan, the Shamrocks senior side endured another disappointing year with the manner of their defeat to The Downs in the championship semi-final coming as a bitter blow to supporters. The Springfield outfit performed impressively in the group stages, beating Tubberclair, Castleday and St. Mary's, Rochfortbridge as well as drawing with St. Malachy's and The Downs. In a bizarre quarter-final, they dethroned reigning champions Garrycastle on a 0-10 to 1-0 scoreline, but were decisively beaten by The Downs, 0-7 to 0-13, in the semi-final. "The display against The Downs was very disappointing - I think it was a case of the hungrier side winning. Our lads didn't want it enough and that was the difference. "Sean Finnegan, who is based in the Army Barracks and has managed teams in Mayo, has taken over as senior manager this year and hopefully he will have better luck. We have the talent to win a senior championship, but it's up to the players to go out and prove it," Moore concludes. The Mullingar Shamrocks team which retained the minor 'premier' championship was: Darragh Ryan; Keith Moore, Enda Monaghan, Mark McLoughlin; David Bell, Micheál Curley, Patrick McDonnell; Sean Maguire, Simon Cashman; Joseph Healy, Cian O'Leary, Fiachra Spellman; Darren Moore, Colin Connolly, Peter Collins. Subs used: Aaron Purcell and Ciaran O'Meara. The Shamrocks team which contested the junior championship final was: Darragh Ryan; Eoin O'Meara, David Miller, Simon Cashman; Gary Moore, Micheál Curley, Patrick O'Donnell; Michael 'Spike' Fagan, Cian O'Leary; Fiachra Spellman, John Ganly, Alan Cornally; Darren Moore, Colm O'Donovan, Peter Collins. Subs used: Mark McLoughlin, David Bell and Enda Monaghan. Tweet

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