Westmeath Senior Championship semi-final: Garrycastle 1-9 Mullingar Shamrocks 0-6

Shamrocks opened in spectacular fashion with Micheál Curley racing through the Garrycastle defence in typical fashion before parting to Dean Moore but unfortunately the Shamrocks sharp shooter was unable to convert the goal scoring opportunity. This was probably the only time in the game that Shamrocks carved opened the Garrycastle defence as a result of Curley's Eoin Murchan style run. And it was no accident that the chance was created by Micheál Curley who was at his defiant best on the night. Curley has played many great matches for Mullingar Shamrocks over the past two years but few better than on this occasion.

James Dolan opened the scoring for Garrycastle with a third minute point and Jason Nugent added to the total when he gained possession from a Shamrocks sideline kick that went astray. A long range Paddy Fagan point reduced the deficit; Dónal O'Donoghue knocked-down the resultant restart to Dean Moore and Dean split the posts to equalise in the eight minute. Justin Barrett pointed in the tenth minute and Alex Gardiner also gained possession from the resultant kick-out and added a fourth point. A Dessie Dolan free in the twelfth minute extended the lead to three points (0-5 to 0-2) Garrycastle at this stage were totally dominant in the middle third of the field but this was not reflected on the scoreboard and in fact the eventual winners managed to dominate for fifteen minutes without scoring during which good defending and poor finishing were mixed in equal measure. Shamrocks weren't to score again until Denis Corroon pointed a free in the twenty-sixth minute, a score neutralised a minute later when James Dolan pointed for the second time. A Denis Corroon pointed free proved to be the last score of the half and incredibly Mullingar entered the dressing rooms trailing by just two points (0-6 to 0-4) after a half dominated by Garrycastle. However, Shamrocks suffered a blow in the final minutes of the half when Paddy Fagan retired injured and the player who played such a key role in the 2018 title win was a severe loss. He was replaced by Simon Quinn, another of the 2018 stars, who was returning from a long period of injury induced absence.

Shamrocks began the second half impressively and Tye Adamson pointed in the fourth minute after Dónal O'Donoghue intercepted a Garrycastle kick-out. Three minutes later James Dolan scored his third point of the evening. Shamrocks were playing well at this stage and Simon Quinn was making a significant impact on the game. A great Daragh Daly block prevented a Garrycastle goal and from the resultant attack Simon Quinn found himself in a great scoring position. An apparent foul on the Shamrocks forward went unpunished and the conversation that ensued following this decision saw Denis Corroon receive a second yellow card. Denis's first yellow was delivered when Denis and the referee discussed a clothes line tackle on Billy Flynn (excellent on the night) that also went unpunished by the referee (not even a tick for a head-high tackle that the GAA has worked to eliminate) who delivered a performance that fell far short of the standard required for a match of this importance and one that puzzled players and supporters of both clubs, spectators and members of the refereeing community. An Eoin Monaghan goal half-way through the half effectively sealed Shamrocks fate and extended the Garrycastle lead to five points. A Simon Quinn point narrowed the gap (1-7 to 0-6) but this proved to be Shamrocks final score of the evening. A few route one speculative punts into the Garrycastle goalmouth in search of the all-important goal proved to be fruitless as Eoin Monaghan and Alex Gardiner added points to bring the Garrycastle total to 1-9 and sealed a six point victory margin.

Thus we surrendered our senior championship crown to the better team on the night. Garrycastle were worthy winners and we were totally outplayed for the second time in this championship season by the same opposition. The long term injuries had a serious impact on the performance as the training time lost while a player is in the repair yard has a serious negative impact on player fitness.

Despite this setback, it has been a wonderful eighteen months of championship football for this team. We acknowledge the brilliant service of players, management and backroom staff to the club highlighted by the victory in the historic all-Mullingar county final on 21 October 2018. As a club we have seldom been stronger and the revival of our fortunes at senior level has been central to this progression. There will be more great days ahead.

On the way in to the Mullingar Arts Centre on Saturday evening to the Mark Irwin concert, Doris Day was on the radio singing Que sera, será, Whatever will be, will be and then Mark stepped on to the stage singing I'm Still Standing. Not a bad epitaph for the final senior championship report.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Philly Shaw; Eddie Moore, Killian Daly, Billy Flynn; Efe Siode (Daragh Keena), Micheál Curley, Brendan O'Reilly (Aaron Purcell); Denis Corroon (0-2), Daragh Daly; Tye Adamson (0-1) [David Gavin], Dónal O’Donoghue, Alan Cashman (Marc Eivers); Kieran Gavin, Dean Moore (0-1) [Jordan Warde], Patrick Fagan (0-1) [Simon Quinn, 0-1].