Westmeath LGF Intermediate Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 7-7 Killucan 2-6.

Mullingar Shamrocks LGF intermediate girls continued their recent good form with a victory against Killucan in Killucan on Saturday afternoon in a behind closed door episode of the Covid-19 saga. Shamrocks began impressively and Karen Hegarty opened the scoring with an early goal with a shot that dipped under the crossbar giving the Killucan goalkeeper no chance of saving. Chloe Smullen added a second goal - the final instalment of this score might have been a scramble but the lead-up to the score was great and began with a fine solo run and pass to Chloe who took off on one of her trade mark solo runs. Chloe raced through the Killucan defence, unselfishly passed to Karen Hegarty and in the ensuing scramble Chloe got the final touches for the second goal. Chole added a point from another defence splitting run, Emma Morris kicked a superb long range point and a great Honor MacNamara pass sent Chloe in for her second goal. Honor then got in on the goal-scoring act when she finished a great Shamrocks move that began with Lauren McCormack and also involved Tara Fagan (who had a superb game), Susanna Buckley, a solo-run contribution from Anna Jones who released Clara Thornton who provided the final pass to Honor who finished to the net. Shamrocks led by 4-2 to 0-1 at this stage and it seemed like game over but Killucan had other ideas and goals from Amelia Shaw and Orla Quinn brought the home side playing against a strong wind right back into the game. Killucan also squandered a few good goal-scoring opportunities and there was also some great defending during this half and one really great save from Lauren McCormack that showed why she is the county number 1 since last year.

Killucan outscored Shamrocks 0-4 to 0-2 (Karen, 0-2) in the early stages of the second half before Honor MacNamara unveiled her soccer skills to sore her second goal and give Shamrocks some extra security. Karen Hegarty pointed and then turned creator when she released Honor MacNamara to complete her hat trick of goals (6-5 to 2-5). Lauren McCormack saved well at the other end, Sophie Hegarty risked life and limb to prevent another goal before Karen Hegarty added two more points and Chloe Smullen completed her hat trick of goals after good combine play by Emma and Karen to create the goal scoring opportunity. At the final whistle, the score read 7-7 to 2-5 in favour of Robbie's Girls were through to the semi-final with what was a fine team performance characterised by great work rate from all players and some excellent team work and ball retention.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Lauren McCormack; Melek Fagan, Niamh Spellman, Rachael Hannigan (Sophie Hegarty) ; Susanna Buckley, Tara Fagan, Chloe Swarbrigg; Anna Jones, Laura Whitelaw; Clara Thornton [Ally Bane], Emma Morris (0-1), Áine Melody; Chloe Smullen (0-1), Karen Hegarty (1-5) [Holly McCormack], Honor MacNamara (3-0), Chloe Smullen (3-1).

Fógra: Congratulations to Claire Fagan who lined out for our LGF team on many an occasion on her great victory in the Under-23 Athletics Ireland All-Ireland Under-23 5000 metres final today and her third place finish in the senior title race. Two All-Ireland medals in the one day is nice business.