ACL Div.1 A: Mullingar Shamrocks 1-12 Shandonagh 0-12.
In this season like no other, Mullingar Shamrocks and Shandonagh began their 2020 senior campaigns in Arctic-like conditions on a bone-dry Springfield pitch on Sunday morning 12 February. On that occasion Mullingar Shamrocks were 1-6 to 0-6 winners. The teams were back in action on Monday 21 July for their first competitive match in almost six months. Who would have believed that this would have been the situation when both clubs hit the road last winter? On this occasion Mullingar Shamrocks enjoyed the same margin of victory on a glorious summer evening. The football wasn't too bad either and the match provided a useful championship preparation game for both clubs.
Shandonagh began smartly and after twelve minutes the newly repaired Mullingar Shamrocks scoreboard read 0-5 to 0-1 in the visitors' favour. Alan Hickey (0-2), Michael Boyle, Luke Tynan and Tom Molloy had points for Shandonagh before Darren Keena pointed for Shamrocks. This was followed by the only goal of the evening, a superbly created and executed score. Philly Shaw kicked a very long restart to Daragh Daly (superb on the night) who knocked the ball down to Brendan O'Reilly on the run. Daragh took off like a train too and was on Brendan's shoulder for the return. Daragh made ground before giving the return to O'Reilly who smashed the ball to the net. A big kick out, a great tap down, great running and interchanging and a great shot. Sometimes the simple football is highly effective and beats any number of lateral passes across the middle third of the field. The perfectly created goal reduced the deficit to the minimum and this was followed by a Davy Gavin equalising point (1-2 to 0-5) Ross Corroon, Jordan Warde and Darren Keena added points before Cormac Coyne and Tom Molloy added to the Shandonagh total before the interval (1-5 to 0-7).
A Tom Molloy point levelled immediately after the restart but two points from Davy Gavin restored the Mullingar Shamrocks lead. Darren Keena pointed from a chance created by a great interception by Paddy Fagan. Cormac Gordon and Michael Boyle had points and after 40 minutes the minimum separated the sides (1-8 to 0-10). Daragh Daly and Brendan O'Reilly combined again and Daragh's perfectly timed pass created a second goal scoring opportunity for O'Reilly who was fouled at the expense of a penalty. Ross Corroon's rocket of a shot rebounded off the crossbar to safety. Ross reacted by pointing a massive free off the ground from close to the half-way line before Alan Hickey added another point to Shandonagh's total. Paddy Fagan pointed a long range free and also pointed from play to secure the league points for Shamrocks. Tom Molloy pointed to complete the Shandonagh total and when Alan Coyne blew the final whistle the scoreboard read 1-12 to 0-12 in Shamrocks favour.
Mullingar Shamrocks: Philly Shaw; Eddie Moore (Aaron Purcell), Pádraic McKenna, Davy Coyne (Efe Siode); Killian Daly, Kieran Gavin, Micheál Curley; Daragh Daly (0-1), Paddy Fagan (0-2); Ross Corroon (0-2)[Marc Eivers], Dónal O' Donoghue, Brendan O'Reilly (1-0); Jordan Warde (0-1) [Trevor Keena], David Gavin (0-3), Darren Keena (0-3) [Kenneth O'Reilly].
Fógra: The match was a special occasion for Davy Coyne who returned to competitive action after being sidelined for close to two years with a cruciate knee injury he suffered a a few weeks before the 2018 county senior final. Great to see you back Davy.
