Under 15 Division 1 quarter final: Coralstown-Kinnegad 3-15 Mullingar Shamrocks 2-7 (after extra time).

If ever a scoreline does an injustice to a side then it was surely in Kinnegad on Wednesday evening when our 15s squad came within a whisker of securing a semi final berth after a great encounter with the home side. It was hard to believe that 13 points separated the same two teams only a week previously as the green and whites executed a well thought out game plan from the first whistle.

The benefits of Mullingar Athletic’s coaching were on display twice in the opening quarter with Hugo Corroon utilising his soccer skills twice to find the net. Coralstown-Kinnegad held their nerve as a shock result seemed likely and the sides couldn’t be separated by the time Paul McCaughey signalled an end to proceedings after 60 minutes. The home team’s first goal in the 67th minute proved decisive and they ran out comfortable winners after a great battle.

Our lads now turn their attention to the Shield competition and this season has already been a resounding success for our 15s group. Two years ago we laboured in the lower echelons of the second tier but a combination of excellent coaching and relentless practice by the players have ensured a memorable 2023 campaign. Reaching the Feile Div 1 final was a great boost in April and winning Division 2 of the league further boosted confidence in the ranks. Championship victories in the top tier away to one of the competition’s favourites, Shandonagh and at home to Moate were fully deserved and Wednesday’s performance in a knockout game revealed great team work, an excellent attitude and admirable resilience. Attendances at training have been impressively good, a tribute to the work of Seamus Wallace, Barry Maguire, Derek Sheeran, Adrian Regan and Oliver Keating who deserve plaudits for their coaching efforts and the bigger picture with this group is very promising.

The squad on duty in Kinnegad was: Oisin Gavin, Padraig Regan, Harry Tilson, Ryan McNamee, Ruairi Kelly, Ruairi Kilmartin, Rory McCaul, Isaac Haughey, Dylan Byrne, Luke Kelly, Aaron Conroy, Gareth Sweeney, Conor Walsh, Charlie Murtagh, Zac Masterson, Zac Coyne, James Ryan, Sean Hickey, Paddy Colleary, Liam Heffernan, Darragh Ryan, Nathan O’ Reilly and Rian Sheerin.