Westmeath Minor LGF Semi-Final: Mullingar Shamrocks 3-10 Louhgnavalley 3-9.

A football epic and near classic in Ballinagore on Sunday morning on a pitch that was in immaculate condition despite the buckets of rain that fell during the week ended with Mullingar Shamrocks winning by the minimum margin and qualifying for the county final. This was a great morale boosting win for the girls and the management of Ciarán, Karen, Debbie and Kieran who operate at the less glamorous section of the GAA spectrum.

Mullingar Shamrocks were the first to score when Holly McCormack pointed with the outside of the right boot but Jessica Hennessy responded almost immediately with a like score after Isabelle Clinton saved well. Eabha Cassidy added another point for the 'Valley'. Another great save by Isabelle Clinton from a Jessica Hennessy shot prevented the opening goal before a fine Katie Kelly pass created a goal scoring opportunity for Holly McCormack The centre forward made no mistake and shot to the net. Eabhha Cassidy reduced the deficit with another point and at this stage the Mullingar Shamrocks defence were under severe pressure. However led by the excellent Carla Gibney at full back the girls defended excellently and refused to surrender. Under pressure, the Loughnavalley girls shot a number of wides. Susanna Buckley pointed but another Jessica Hennessy point neutralised this score. A great Aisling Daly save prevented a Laura Culkin goal but hard work by Mia Gilligan and Megan Reid created a goal scoring opporuntity for Chloe Smullen. Chloe got the space to swing the left boot and the net rattled to put Shamrocks into a four point lead (2-2 to 0-4). Eabhha Cassidy and Chloe exchanged points. There was more to come as Katie Kelly again turned provider and Holly McCormack volleyed to the net. The final score of the half fell to Jessica Hennessy who scored a fine long range point and at the halftime whistle Mullingar Shamrocks were ahead by 3-3 to 0-6.

Jessica Hennessy also pointed on resumption but this was balanced by a superb Chloe Smullen point after a great battling solo run. Loughnavalley responded well and Eabhha Cassidy and Lilly Quinn scored goals. In between these scores Holly McCormack again used the outside of the right boot to score the point that kept Mullingar Shamrocks ahead (3-5 to 2-7). The lead did not survive for long and an Elanor Murphy point levelled the scores after fifteen minutes. At this stage Annmarie O'Reilly, who was force off in the first half with an illness, returned to do battle and hand a great last quarter defending and attacking brilliantly. Eve Hynes too was playing her best ever game for Shamrocks. Katie Kelly restored the Shamrocks lead, Holly McCormack was through on goal but Aisling Daly made the save that deprived Holly of her hat trick, Chloe Smullen pointed a free to extend Shamrocks lead to two points and then Chloe fired in a shot that hit the post. Loughnavalley took advantage of these near misses and a Jessica Hennessy shot dipped under the bar despite the best efforts of Isabel to make the save to put her team into the lead at a critical stage of the game with just five minutes remaining. Chloe Smullen pointed a free to level one more time (3-8 each). Eabha Cassidy with a great left footed shot pointed a long range free to restore the Loughnavalley lead but the Shamrocks girls were not for turning. A great combined move was continued by Holly McCormack soloing through the Loughnavalley defence and Holly's pass to Laura Culkin created a brilliant scoring opportunity and Laura pointed via the crossbar. There was time for one more attack and this time some of the Shamrocks stars of the day Máiread Newman, Susanna Buckley, Chloe Smullen and Katie Kelly combined and once again Laura Culkin (another player who had one of her best ever games for Shamrocks) finished the move with the match winning point in what was an epic contest.

At the end of it all our chairman announced that it was 'the best game I've seen in ages' and it was; we should spare a thought for Loughnavalley who contributed to the spectacle. Unfortunately there had to be a loser and the Mullingar Shamrocks fully deserved their place in the county final. The defence led by a superb Carla Gibney never surrendered. Isabelle Clinton made the important saves and her kick outs were always good. Mairead Newman and Susanna Buckley formed a very strong midfield partnership and any day a team's forward line scores 3-9 is a good day. Overall it was a great team victory with every girl playing a part.

And we had our first victory using the blue jerseys; they may yet be saved the fate of the famous Manchester United grey jerseys used one time only against Southampton many years ago.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Isabelle Clinton, Eve Hynes, Carla Gibney, Annemarie O'Reilly (Jasmin Haugh); Ruth Keane, Catherine Tubridy, Megan Reid (Sarah Geoghegan); Susanna Buckley (0-1), Máiread Newman; Jenna Kelly, Holly McCormack (2-2), Laura Culkin (0-2); Mia Gilligan (Annemarie O'Reilly), Chloe Smullen (1-4), Katie Kelly (0-1). Also: Jodie Aherne.