‘It all began in Shamrocks …’

There was great excitement in Springfield on Saturday morning when Lauren, Niamh, Tara, Anna and Karen, the five Mullingar Shamrocks members of the Westmeath All-Ireland intermediate champion team, introduced the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup to the young girls and boys who were enjoying in their usual Saturday morning coaching sessions. Questions were asked and advice was dispensed. ‘Work on your skills and listen to your coaches was the advice’ delivered by the All-Ireland champion players all of whom began their careers in similar circumstances.

Photo opportunities were availed of and goodies were dispensed (don’t tell Joan!). We thank Lauren, Niamh, Tara, Anna and Karen for taking the time to bring the trophy to Springfield. The players are no strangers to Springfield as they regularly help out with the coaching sessions.  

This visit took place on what was the 10th anniversary of the last occasion Westmeath won the All-Ireland intermediate title beating Cavan in a replay played in Croke Park on 9 August 2011. Mullingar Shamrocks players Gemma Leahy, Carole Finch, Karen Hegarty and Emma Morris were involved in that campaign and we found out on Saturday morning that Tara Fagan was a Maor Uisce. It is a record we can be proud  of in the club. 

And the question was asked has Karen Hegarty played more times in Croke Park than Cusack Park?

Westmeath Fairgreen LGF Senior Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 6-15 Moate 0-9.

 

Shamrocks Ladies celebrated their first home Senior championship game with a win against Moate on Saturday. Early afternoon rain meant that the ground conditions were slippy underfoot however at throw in the sun was shining.

Shamrocks had the best of the early exchanges with good team work on display. This pressure eventually led to scores with Karen Hegarty getting the opening score of the game, a fine point. Shamrocks continued to dominate possession and an accurate Karen Hegarty pass found Susanna Buckley who lobbed the Moate keeper for the opening goal of the match. Moate then scored a point which was immediately cancelled out by a further point from Susanna Buckley. Moate’s second point was again cancelled by another point from Karen Hegarty, at the first water break the home team led by 1-3 to 0-2.

 

Shamrocks continued their dominance in the second quarter outscoring the visitors by 5 points to one, with points from play by Susanna Buckley, Emma Morris and Karen Hegarty and two trademark fine frees slotted over by Anna Jones.

 

Shamrocks started the second half with a healthy 1-8 to 0-3 lead however Moate were not conceding and put sustained pressure on the Mullingar girls. The Shamrocks defenders coped admirably with repeated Moate attacks conceding only 2 points, both from frees. Just when a Moate revival threatened however, Shamrocks took control again and with a good sequence of play from the kick out getting the ball to Emma Morris who made no mistake in slotting the ball to the net. Soon after, Clara Thornton slotted over the first of what was to be a personal tally of 2-3. At this point Shamrocks took over, starting the last quarter with a commanding lead of 2-10 to 0-6, which was rapidly extended by goals from Anna Jones, two from Clara Thornton and a final goal from Karen Hegarty. When referee Ken Daly blew the final whistle, Shamrocks were winners on a scoreline of 6-15 to 0-9.

 

This victory secures Shamrocks Senior status for next year. Next up, Shamrocks play Milltown in a refixture of the first round which will determine which of Garrycastle, Shamrocks and Milltown reach the semi-finals of the Fairgreen Senior Championship in two weeks’ time.

 

Mullingar Shamrocks Squad and scorers: Lauren McCormack, Melek Fagan, Niamh Spellman, Sophie Hegarty, Mairead Newman, Tara Fagan, Cliodhna Spellman (Chloe Swarbrigg), Laura Whitelaw, Anna Jones (1-4 (0:3F), Casey McDermott (Anne Marie Reilly), Michaela O Connor (Jasmine Haugh), Susanna Buckley (1-2), Emma Morrris (1-1), Karen Hegarty (1-4), Holly McCormack (Clara Thornton (2-4)), Katie Kelly, Liveta Lazauskaite, Orianna Quinn, Jenna Kelly, Shauna McNicholas and Teresa Connell

 

Westmeath LGF Fairgreen Senior B Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 3-13 Coralstown-Kinnegad 3-9. 

 

This hard-earned Sunday morning victory qualified Mullingar Shamrocks for the semi-final of the Westmeath LGF Senior B Championship. 

Shamrocks began in spectacular fashion and goaled in their initial attack when Holly McCormack’s shot dipped under the crossbar. Teresa Connell added a point as did Jenna Kelly after a great solo run through the Kinnegad defence. Coralstown-Kinnegad responded with points from T. Coyne and Orla Fogarty but a goal from Laura Culkin and points from Holly and Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton added to the Shamrocks lead. Coralstown-Kinnegad were gradually working their way into the game and thee unanswered points before the first water break was a just reward for their efforts (2-4 to 0-6). 

At the end of a low scoring second quarter Mullingar Shamrocks had added two points to the lead after a great Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton score and a fine Teresa Connell effort. Ellie’s point was a great team effort coming directly from the kick-out with Casey McDermott winning possession and Holly McCormack continuing the move. A great bit of defending by Annemarie O’Reilly prevented a Coralstown-Kinnegad goal before Holly McCormack and Emer Fogarty exchanged points to bring the half-time score to 2-7 to 0-7 in favour of Mullingar Shamrocks.  

 

Coralstown-Kinnegad dominated the third quarter and goals by Sarah Brannock and Emer Fogarty brough the sides level. The Shamrocks response was immediate, and a Holly McCormack point restored the lead; Jasmine Haugh responded with a similar score, a fine individual effort by the hard working Jasmine (2-9 to 2-7). 

Coralstown-Kinnegad responded in style and a brilliant Orla Fogarty goal sent them into the lead for the first time (3-7 to 2-9). It was a short lived lead and a great strike by Holly McCormack, the best forward on view, restored the Shamrocks lead and an exciting third quarter of four great goals ended with Shamrocks leading by 3-9 to 3-7. Shamrocks outscored the home team in the final quarter and points from Jasmine, Jodi Aherne, Holly and Laura sealed what was a great team victory with all nineteen players making important contributions to the victory in which all 3-13 was scored from play bring the weekend' s total from play to 9-28.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Katie Kelly; Eve Hynes, Liveta Lazauskaite (Mairead Newman) (Shona McNicholas), Annemarie Reilly; Cliodhna Spellman (Sophie Hegarty), Chloe Swarbrigg, Orianna Quinn; Casey McDermott (Jodi Aherne, 0-1), Shona McNicholas (Casey McDermott); Laura Culkin [1-1] (Michaela O’Connor), Holly McCormack (2-4), Jenna Kelly (0-1); Jasmine Haugh [0-2], Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton [0-2] (Laura Culkin) and Teresa Connell (0-2).  

 

Mullingar Shamrocks Under-13s win the Ben Murray Memorial Tournament

A significant loss to young Gaelic players during the Covid restrictions was the lack of tournaments held by various clubs. Shamrocks’ prestigious tournaments at under 10, 11 and 12 level were put into cold storage in 2020 and this year. This was certainly a factor in the top-class fare on display on Saturday morning and early afternoon in The Downs superb grounds as their Under-13 tournament was held. Approximately 120 eager youngsters took part showing huge enthusiasm and as usual the competition was smoothly run. 

Shamrocks faced Killucan in their opening match and after a sluggish opening the green and whites began to dominate proceedings. Isaac Haughey, Dylan Byrne, Conor McDonnell, Paddy Colleary, Gareth Sweeney, Zac Masterson, Padraig Regan and team captain James Davitt were prominent as the side got their campaign off to a promising start.

 Longford champions Granard were next up for the Shamrocks’ boys and this was a superbly contested game. Dillon Burke, Hugo Corroon, Zac Coyne, Declan Newman, Ryan McNamee, Harry Maguire, Rian Sheeran and newcomer Rory McCaul made significant contributions as the green and whites sealed their place in the Ben Murray trophy final with a hard-earned victory.

 The host club were our final opponents and the large crowd in attendance were treated to a brilliant game with each side enjoying periods of dominance. The influential pair of James Ryan and Ted Aherne notched vital goals in the third quarter and a crucial point from Paddy Colleary extended the lead. Sean Hickey, Oisín Gavin and Conor Walsh performed heroics defensively and Ruairi Kilmartin’s work rate was superb. There were jubilant scenes amongst Shamrocks’ supporters and players when match referee Mickey Dan Murtagh blew the final whistle with the Shamrocks’ boys winning by four points. 

This was a great win for a committed bunch of players who have suffered their fair share of disappointments this year. Their attitude and work rate on Saturday were second to none and was a testament to the work of the coaching team of Oisín Masterson, Seán Corroon, Derek Sheeran, Adrian Regan and Greg Gavin. At the presentation, a very proud team captain James Davitt stepped forward to receive the Ben Murray Memorial trophy from Ben’s parents Boris and Alma. Our thanks to The Downs club for inviting us to participate and for hosting a superbly run tournament. 

The panel of players on duty on Saturday for Mullingar Shamrocks was: Conor McDonnell, Ryan McNamee, Isaac Haughey, Dylan Byrne, Paddy Colleary, Gareth Sweeney, Dillon Burke, Hugo Corroon, Zac Coyne, Declan Newman, Ryan McNamee, Harry Maguire, Rian Sheeran, Rory McCaul, Zac Masterson, Padraig Regan, James Ryan, Ted Aherne, Sean Hickey, Oisín Gavin, Conor Walsh and Ruairi Kilmartin. 

Training for this group continues on Tuesday and Friday. 

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