ACL Div.1 Mullingar Shamrocks 0-12 Garrycastle 2-12.
The scoreline suggests a comfortable victory for Garrycastle but in reality it was an even contest as a few basic mistakes proved costly for Shamrocks and determined the final result. A Conor Cosgrove point for Garrycastle opened the scoring, the Shamrocks response was immediate and Ross Corroon pointed from a free. Ross continued his good form from the Rosemount match and once again his kicking from the ground was impeccable. Seanie Daly added another point created by a superb Billy Flynn pass after Ross Corroon had secured possession. In response, Garrycastle carved open the Shamrocks defence and Alex Gardiner goaled. Ross Corroon and Gardiner exchanged points before two points in quick succession by Dean Moore levelled the match (1-2 to 0-5). Garrycastle added their second goal when Conor Cosgrove beat Philly Shaw to the punch and steered the ball to the net and an Alex Gardiner pointed free extended the home team’s lead to four points (2-3 to 0-5). Another Ross Corroon pointed free reduced the deficit but points by Conor Cosgrove, James Sheerin and Cathal Mannion punished Shamrocks. However, points by Jack Gillen (making his senior debut), Billy Flynn (another player who continued the good form displayed against Rosemount), and a fourth Ross Corroon pointed free (whose great cross-field pass created Billy’s point scoring opportunity) brought the score to 2-6 to 0-9 at the interval.
Brendan O’Reilly and Ross Corroon pointed in the third quarter but these scores sandwiched four like scores from Garrycastle who led at the second water break 2-10 to 0-11. Brendan’s point was bizarrely initially signalled wide before justice was restored. Shamrocks attacked early in the third quarter and the attack ended with a foul on Billy Flynn and a penalty award to Shamrocks. Unfortunately, Ross Corroon’s shot smashed off the crossbar and was scrambled to safety. Michael Monaghan and Patrick Fagan exchanged points before Tom O’Halloran had the last score of the night and when the final whistle was blown, the scoreboard read 2-12 to 0-12 in favour of Garrycastle.
Mullingar Shamrocks: Philly Shaw; Aaron Purcell, Padraic McKenna (Ryan Blundell), Eddie Moore (Mark Flynn); Brendan O’Reilly (0-1), Pearse Corroon, Efe Siode (John O’Reilly); Jack Gillen (0-1), Daragh Daly (Paddy Fagan, 0-1); Dillon Matthews, Seanie Daly (0-1), Billy Flynn (0-1); Dean Moore (0-2) [Lorcan Smyth], Ross Corroon (0-5) [David Gavin], Zach Aherne (Darren Keena).
