Under-15 County (Div.1) Football Final: Mullingar Shamrocks 2-5 Tubberlcaire 1-10. 

A last-minute goal by wing forward Daire O’Connor snatched victory for Tubberlaire at Ballynacargy on Friday evening when it seemed that Mullingar Shamrocks had done enough to secure the title. The Tubberclaire boys had other ideas and in their final two attacks scored 1-1 to overturn the Shamrocks 0-2 lead as the gave moved into injury time. 

Shamrocks began well and Gavin Pierce pointed with a great left footed free from close to the sideline .  Gavin also scored Shamrocks second score of this quarter when he sent a rocket of a shot to the Tubberclaire net to  finish a great move that began with a Matthew Shaw mark and also involved contributions from Conor Heffernan and Ryan Kelly. Points by Paul Keegan (0-2), Daire O’Connor and Thomas Farrell matched the Shamrocks total and at the end of the first quarter the sides were level (1-1 to0-4). 

Paul Keegan added a fifth point to the Tubberclaire total as Tubberclaire dominance was not reflected on the scoreboard as their forwards were guilty of shooting several bad wides. The move of Ryan Kelly to midfield reversed the trend and midway through the half Kelly’s long rage short dipped under the bar for a vital Shamrocks goal. A sharp turn gave Donnacha Maguire the space to shoot Shamrocks second point of the evening and establish an interval lead of 2-2 to 0-5. Tubberclaire dominated the third quarter and outscored Shamrocks 0-4 to 0-0 in great ten minutes spell. Matas saved well; Adam Glynn, Gary Brannigan and Hugh O’Sullivan-Sexton defended heroically before the excellent Callum Rigney pointed to level matters (2-3 to 0-9).

Ryan Kelly’s return to midfield was significant in the final quarter and it was now Shamrocks turn to create scoring chances. Unfortunately, the failure to convert these opportunities proved costly in the end and a return of just 0-3 in the second half was a very poor return for the number of chances created. A fine left footed point by Conor Heffernan put Shamrocks ahead; a great solo run by Callum Rigney drew a foul and a close in free which unfortunately was missed. Shamrocks continued to press and another Callum Rigney point extended Shamrocks lead as the game drifted into injury time. Kealan Connell pointed a free and in their final attack Tubberclaire scored the clinching goal when Daire O’Connor worked his way through the Shamrocks defence and shot to the net. 

These Shamrocks lads have been unlucky over the years at both Under-12, Under-13 and Under-14 level but they continue to show improvement. There will be better days.  There was lots of good football played, some great tackling and defending, several instances of great combination play and some fine high fielding. This was a very good Tubberclaire team, physically stronger and with some fine footballers in the key positions. Both sides have reason to be unhappy with their finishing which on the night was not in keeping with the overall quality of the football on offer.

It is important that the work of Tom Ormsby, Barry Kelly, Matthew Ledwith, Tony Sheerin and Barry Maguire is acknowledged. Tom, Tony, Matthew and the two Barry’s have worked long hours with this panel of players and their input is reflected in the way this group of lads have improved over the summer months.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Matas Puida; Hugh O’Sullivan-Sexton, Gary Brannigan, Adam Glynn; Ben McNamee), Peter Finch, Matthew Shaw; Criostóir  Ormsby,  Callum Rigney Clyne (0-2); Conor Heffernan(0-1), Luke Raeside , Donnacha Maguire (0-1); Paul Keating (Alex Sheerin), Gavin Pierce (1-1), Ryan Kelly (1-0).

 

Under-17 Division II Minor Football Semi-Final: Mullingar Shamrocks 2-18 Millmore Gaels 0-6.

Mullingar Shamrocks qualified for the Div. 11 Minor final on Monday evening with a great victory over Millmore Gaels.

The early exchanges were even as four points were shared with John Ryan and Rian Adamson pointing for Shamrocks. Points from Rian Adamson (0-2), Conor Fagen (0-3), Shane Ormsby (0-1) and the point of the half scored by Cian McGrath secured Shamrocks an interval lead of 0-9 to 0-4 with Conor Lynn adding to the Millmore total. Conor Fagan pointed a great free on the restart, John Ryan kicked one from play before Rian Adamson kicked two lovely points from play. Shane Ormsby added the final point before the second water break to give Shamrocks a lead of 0—14 to 0-5.

Shamrocks continued to dominate in the final quarter; Shane Ormsby’s high catch followed by a solo run and point was one of the game’s highlights. Conor Fagan, Ciaran Kiernan and Caoilín Walshe added points, Conor Hughes and Adam Boyle scored the goals that eased Shamrocks into the county final. 

Mullingar Shamrocks: Eoin Doran; Enda Keating, Conor Kelly, Rory Hickey; Ben White (Tadhg Sheridan), Ben Egan, Cian McGrath (0-1); Shane Ormsby (0-3), Tom Hickey; John Ryan (0-2), Rian Adamson (0-5) [Caoilín Walsh, 0-1], Ciarán Kiernan (0-1); Luke McCabe (Robin Habimaa), Daragh Hughes (1-0) [Adam Boyle, 1-0], Conor Fagan (0-5) [Nathan Cornally]. 

Note: It is great to see so many parents present in Springfield supporting their young men in their football careers. 

Lotto Results

This week’s Lotto numbers were 14, 15, 17 25. There was no winner of the Jackpot. Sally Ann O’Donnell was the winner of the Lucky Dip €50. 

The next draw takes place on 15 September with the Jackpot of €3600 available. 

Under-13 Shield (Div.1) Final: Coralstown-Kinnegad 4-8 Mullingar Shamrocks 1-9

There was no joy in the result in Kinnegad for our Under-13 (Greens) boys in the final against the home team but there was plenty of good football played by both teams which all the players involved should be very happy about. 

Coralstown-Kinnegad went into an early lead when Sean McCann goaled but Shamrocks recovered and two points from James Ryan and another by Dillon Burke brough the score to 1-1 to 0-3 at the first water break. Two pointed frees by Ted Aherne after the restart sent Shamrocks ahead. Ted showed his versatility by kicking one from the hand and the more difficult one from the ground. Kinnegad added two points from play before Dillon Burke kicked his second point of the evening to level the match one more time.  Kinnegad had the final score of the half and at the interval led by the minimum (1-4 to 0-6). 

Shamrocks dominated the third quarter, but poor finishing proved to be costly. Ted Aherne pointed from play but a breakaway goal superbly finished by Jack Duignan was a killer blow. Ted Aherne pointed two frees and the quarter ended with a wonderful save by Kinnegad goalkeeper Sachin Govender from a Dillon Burke shot. This was Sachin’s second super save of the evening; his restarts were also top class. A player to watch out for in the future.  Coralstown-Kinnegad had extended their half-time lead by one point as the score in the excellent referee’s notebook now read 2-5 to 0-9. 

Tommy Malone’s goal early in the final quarter virtually secured the Shield title. The  Shamrocks boys battled back and Dillon Burke scored the goal he threatened to get all evening  there was a chance of a recovery. It wasn’t to be however and when Paddy Geraghty’s long range free dipped under the crossbar there was time for no more. 

The Mullingar Shamrocks lads played some great skilful football on the evening with lots of good combination play displayed. There was also some great tackling and one by Zak Coyne could feature in any coaching manual on how to dispossess a player by tackling the ball. 

These elements of good play don’t happen by accident: it is a result of the long h ours of dedicated coaching delivered by Oisín Masterson, Seán Corroon, Greg Gavin, Derek Sheeran and Adrian Regan. Well done to all involved. 

Mullingar Shamrocks: Isaac Haughey, Seán Hickey,  Liam Heffernan, James Davitt, Zak Coyne, Oisín Gavin, Ted Aherne (0-5), James Ryan (0-2),  Aodhán Sandison, Hugo Corroon, Declan Newman,  Conor McDonnell,  Dillon Burke (1-2), Ruairi Kilmartin, Dylan Byrne,  Paddy Colleary, Harry Maguire, Gareth Sweeney, Jack Conlon, John Gilbride, Luke Kelly, Padraig Regan, Zak Masterson, Ryan McNamee, Ben Murtagh, Charlie Murtagh, Nathan O’Reilly, Darragh Ryan, Rian Sheeran, Harry Tilson, Conor Walsh. 

Under-14 (Div.3) semi-final:  Delvin/St Paul’s 4-8 Mullingar Shamrocks 2-8

Mullingar Shamrocks’ division 3 team travelled to Clonmellon on Thursday evening to face Delvin/St. Paul’s in the Division 3 semi-final.

A closely contested encounter was played between two good sides with the home side emerging victorious on a 4-6 to 2-8 final scoreline. Lady Luck certainly deserted the green and whites on the evening with a number of goal line clearances denying our lads goals at crucial junctures. We fielded a side with nine players underage next year and four subs who played under 13 on Wednesday evening. This team has played six championship matches in 2021, winning four and losing two and the players have benefitted greatly from regular game time. Matthew Doyle was solid in goals with Brian Wycherly and John Shaw razor sharp in the corner back slots, two players whose commitment to training has seen huge improvement on the field of play. John Shaw took over from his cousin Matthew as captain for the second half and led by example.  Hugh O’ Sullivan Sexton and Matthew Shaw were influential in defence and Shane Egan and Andrew Gavigan competed very well in the wing back positions. Ty Masterson covered a huge amount of ground from his midfield berth, supporting his defence and marauding forward in attack while Justin Haugh proved a solid midfield partner.

Tommy Daly’s increased confidence resulted in him shooting three superb points from play with James Flynn a tireless worker at wing forward. Padraig Casey led the attack in his own style, winning possession, using it cleverly, converting frees and his brilliantly taken free from 15 metres took everyone by surprise as it flew into the top corner. Adam Buckley was an excellent target man at full forward with Ronan Byrne and Stephen Battle causing problems for the opposition rearguard. On another evening the two corner forwards’ efforts would have resulted in a couple of goals. The young substitutes, Ted Aherne, Zak Coyne, James Ryan and Dillon Burke showed no ill effects from their excellent endeavours 24 hours earlier and made significant contributions as Shamrocks dominated the second half. The highlight of the game was in the closing minutes when Hugh Carey superbly and adroitly back fisted a dropping ball past the Delvin/St. Paul’s keeper to score a magnificent goal.

The squad on duty was: Matthew Doyle, John Shaw, Hugh O’ Sullivan Sexton, Brian Wycherly, Andrew Gavigan, Shane Egan, Matthew Shaw, (captain), Ty Masterson, Justin Haugh, Tommy Daly, Padraig Casey, James Flynn, Stephen Battle, Adam Buckley, Ronan Byrne, Ted Aherne, Dillon Burke, James Ryan, Hugh Carey and Zak Coyne. 

 

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