For their senior footballers it might have been a frustrating end to the year, but Mullingar Shamrocks showed they remain a powerful force in Westmeath football as they landed silverware at minor and under 14 level, while their junior footballers pushed St. Mary's, Rochfortbridge every step of the way in the championship final. The 2008 season was one of many highlights for a club with no fewer than 10 senior titles to their credit and a team laced with youth and class is sure to be in the pecking order of Flanagan Cup contenders once more in 2009. At the time of writing, Paul Ahearne is expected to assume the role of senior manager and the experience of the past two years will surely stand him in good stead. It was the achievement of the club's minor footballers which will arguably go down as most noteworthy in 2008, though. They reached the Minor Premier Championship final and produced a great display to beat group team, Clann Bhraonain. Inspired by Adam Corroon, Mullingar Shamrocks proved too strong for the fancied Tyrrellspass/Milltownpass/Rochfortbridge combination, winning by 1-9 to 1-6. Corroon scored 1-3 in a man of the match performance, with his second half goal a score to grace any occasion. John Doran's charges, who defeated defending champions, St. Pat's in the semi-final, emerged as the superior side and it was a delighted team captain, Darragh Daly, who accepted the cup from Football Board Chairman, and Shamrocks clubman, Des Maguire. When they reflect on the season, though, the 2007 finalists will feel they under achieved when failing to reach the knock-out stages of the senior football championship. Division 1 was referred to as the proverbial 'group of death' before a ball was kicked, with Mullingar Shamrocks, Tyrrellspass, Garrycastle, Castledaly and Athlone all vying for qualification places. Indeed, an emerging Bunbrosna side can count themselves very unfortunate to have been drawn in such eminent company. Ned Moore's charges had their first championship outing in May at Cusack Park, where they scored a very satisfying four-point win over eventual county champions, Castledaly. On that Saturday evening, the Mullingar men set a blistering pace and led at half time by 1-6 to 0-4, with the goal coming early on from county panellist, Fiachra Spellman. As expected, Castledaly mounted a strong comeback, but the Mullingar defence held firm and, crucially, did not concede a goal. In the end they had four points to spare and were off to the perfect start. It was much the same trend in the second round when Shamrocks took on Garrycastle, but this time they paid a heavy price for taking their foot of the gas, so to speak. Three first half goals ensured Mullingar of an eight points lead at half time (3-8 to 2-3) and things were going very much according to plan. Goal poacher supreme, Cian O'Leary swooped for two majors, while the other was scored by Brian O'Sullivan and Shamrocks appeared to be cruising. Inexplicably, though, they failed to score in the second half as they lost their way at midfield and, inspired by Dessie Dolan, Garrycastle swooped for three goals to steal a narrow victory on a 3-10 to 3-8 scoreline. Round three now took on a while new significance and it was Bunbrosna who provided the opposition. On a difficult evening for football, Shamrocks played into the teeth of a strong wind in the first half and trailed at the interval by three points (0-2 to 0-5). The second half brought about the expected revival, however, and two goals from Cian O'Leary and Fiachra Spellman were crucial as Shamrocks emerged with a five-point win (2-6 to 0-7). O'Leary was switched from defence to attack in a match-winning move and the Mullingar side were back in the race for a qualification spot. In the fourth round, old rivals Athlone provided the opposition and the game went ahead in Tang. In what proved a titanic battle, Shamrocks came out on the wrong side of a 2-11 to 2-10 scoreline. At half time, it was nicely poised as Shamrocks trailed by just two points (0-6 to 1-5), and the second half saw both teams produce a match to befit any occasion. Goals from team captain, Shane Colleary and Donal O'Donoghue gave Shamrocks every chance of claiming at least a share of the spoils, but Aonghus Smyth's late effort curled wide of the uprights and it was Athlone who were celebrating when the final whistle sounded. The final group game was, as far as Shamrocks are concerned, a forgettable occasion. They faced defending county champions, Tyrrellspass in what was a must win encounter at Cusack Park and, with normal time elapsed, held a one-point lead. However, in the fourth minute of injury time, Tyrrellspass launched one last attack from which they scored a highly controversial winning goal. Mullingar Shamrocks were fully entitled to feel aggrieved and to this day will positively contend that an excessive amount of injury time was played, but their championship campaign was over. Up to then things looked rosy for Shamrocks, who trailed by just two points at half time (0-5 to 2-1), before an early second half goal by Cian O'Leary put them in the driving seat. The disappointment of failing to reach the quarter finals of the senior was tempered somewhat by the achievement of the club's junior side, under the guidance of Pierce Corroon and Mickey Reilly. They defeated a fancied Milltown side in the championship semi-final and qualified for a showdown with St. Mary's, Rochfortbridge. In hindsight, Mullingar Shamrocks will feel they missed a golden opportunity as their five point defeat (2-8 to 1-6) could very easily have been reversed had they taken a couple of goal chances in the second half. They trailed by just two points at the break (1-5 to 2-4), following an Eddie Casey goal - the corner forward's shot from a '45 ending up in the net. But despite oodles of possession in the second half, they registered just a solitary point and were left to ponder at the final whistle. At underage level, meanwhile, Mullingar Shamrocks continue to be a strong force. They performed well at under 12, while their under 14 side stormed to victory in the Division 1 championship final against Caulry. Two goals by Ricky Donoghue and one apiece from Patrick Fagan and Ricky McCarthy ensured a comprehensive win for Shamrocks on the day (4-11 to 2-7), and joint captains Killian Daly and Neil Harrison were proud recipients of the cup on this promising team's behalf. The under 16 footballers competed well also, reaching the semi-final of the Premier Championship, where they came unstuck against St. Finian's after extra-time. They also reached the club championship final, losing to local rivals, St. Loman's. However, as previously stated, their minor footballers did the club proud on county final day by emerging victorious in the Premier Championship decider. Mullingar Shamrocks also enjoy strong participation in Scór and the club's proud tradition in all aspects of GAA ensures they will be a force for generations to come. The Mullingar shamrocks team which landed the minor football title in 2008 was: Scott Hogan, Calvin Kirwan, David Gavin, Shane Kennedy, Sean Lynch, Enda Morris, Niall Hardiman, Darragh Daly (Capt), Conor Gilsenan; Stephen Noonan, Tony Dunne, Kevin Campbell; Colm O'Leary, Stuart Flynn, Adam Corroon. Shamrocks retain under 21 crown Mullingar Shamrocks' dominance of the under 21 football championship continued on St. Patrick's Day last when they proved much too strong for The Downs in the delayed 2007 final at Springfield. Backboned by players from the senior side that almost pulled off a surprise Flanagan Cup success in 2007, Shamrocks were in a different league to their opponents who did gain some consolation in May when they claimed the under 21 'B' championship crown. This was the town club's fourth under 21 championship success in five years and but for a shock defeat to Athlone in the 2005 decider, they would have completed a fabulous five-in-a-row last year. Under the management of Ned Moore and his selectors Paddy Monaghan and Paul Ahearne, Shamrocks played just three games en route to their latest success. They enjoyed big wins over Castledaly and The Downs, with only town rivals St. Loman's providing them with a genuine test in the semi-final. The green and whites had to withstand a late rally by St. Loman's to triumph by 1-7 to 0-9. Shamrocks started slowly but a fortuitous goal turned the game in their favour and they were never headed thereafter. St. Loman's staged a comeback in the final quarter to reduce the deficit to the minimum, but the holders stood firm with David Bell, Micheal Curley, Brian Melody and county senior star Kieran Gavin being especially prominent. Shamrocks were handed home advantage for the final against The Downs but such was their superiority that it wouldn't have made any difference where the game was played. Apart from the opening 10 minutes when the less experienced black and ambers gave as good as they got, they were never really in contention. In the end, it was a stroll in the park for the young Shamrocks who ran out emphatic 3-11 to 0-6 winners and, on this evidence, it won't be too much longer before the Springfield outfit savours senior glory once again. With the wind blowing in their favour in the first half, Shamrocks opened the scoring with a third minute point from Simon Quinn. Two minutes later, top-scorer Simon Quinn doubled their lead and with the formidable midfield partnership of Denis Corroon and Ciaran Gavin making an early impact, it was already looking ominous for The Downs. However, the challengers had levelled by the seventh minute thanks to a brace of points from Luke Folan and Greg Crowley and they would have forged ahead but for three wides in quick succession. Those misses were to prove costly as Shamrocks hit back with the opening goal from Ciaran Curley. The Downs' challenge seemed to crumble after that score as Shamrocks took command all over the field and by the 20th minute, they had opened up a seven-point lead courtesy of points from Fiachra Spellman (two), Curley and Quinn. Quinn slotted over a free in the 25th minute to put further daylight between the sides and two more points from Quinn and Curley in reply to Shane Power's effort for The Downs left them sitting pretty on a 1-8 to 0-3 interval lead. Turning around with wind advantage, The Downs made a promising start to the second half when Greg Crowley pointed. However, the game was well and truly ended as a contest in the 39th minute when a fine move ended with Gavin blasting a second goal to give Shamrocks a 2-9 to 0-4 lead. Luke Folan pulled back a point for The Downs in the 45th minute, but within a minute Kieran Gavin had restored Shamrocks' 11-point advantage. Simon Quinn and substitute Alan Cashman tagged on further scores before Greg Crowley grabbed a late consolation for the losers. Mullingar Shamrocks' 2007 under 21 championship winning team was: Philip Shaw; Aaron Purcell, Mark McLoughlin, Robert Ryan; Michael Curley, David Bell, Keith Moore (captain); Denis Corroon, Ciaran Gavin; Fiachra Spellman, Simon Quinn, Brian Melody; Conor Moore, Ciaran Curley, Darren Moore. Subs used: Dara Daly, Lorcan Smyth, Alan Cashman and Kyle Maguire. Tweet

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