ACL Div.1: Mullingar Shamrocks 2-8 Tyrrellspass 0-8
Finally, a win to savour as our senior team turned-in their best performance of the season is this 0-6 victory over Tyrrellspass in a match played at near-championship intensity in Tyrrellspass on a bitterly cold Friday evening. Assisted by a strong wind, the home side dominated the early stages and led by 0-3 to 0-0 after 10 minutes. Shamrocks did carve out a goal scoring opportunity at this stage which produced a fine save by Darren Quinn from a Darren Keena shot. The foundation for this victory was created by a great performance by all six defenders who dominated their immediate opponents, played with aggression, tackled with intensity and combined to calmly move the ball out of the danger areas. As a result, Philly Shaw had a comfortable evening and was only called on to do the routine tidying-up work. Daragh Daly also had a powerful opening half as did Alan Cashman and Darren Keena.
Efe Siode scored Shamrocks opening point and Ross Corroon added another after fifteen minutes. The next five minutes were crucial. A great Daragh Daly fetch and pass created a goal chance for Alan Cashman who was taken down by Darren Quinn and referee Brendan Keena ordered a penalty. After earning the free, Alan Cashman opted to take the kick and he duly sent Quinn to one corner of the net and nestled the ball in the opposite corner to put Shamrocks ahead (1-2 to 0-3). Minutes later Darren Keena raced through and he too was fouled by Quinn for a second penalty. This time the Tyrrellspass goalkeeper outwitted Cashman and saved his attempt at goal but the Shamrocks player stroked the rebound to the net. Ross Corroon pointed as did Dean McNicholas for Tyrrellspass to leave the interval score 2-3 to 0-4 in favour of Shamrocks.
The scoring rate dropped in the second-half and in the opening fifteen minutes an exchange of points between Dylan McDermott and McNicholas were the only flag raisers. Paddy Joyce then stamped his mark on the game with two points, the second a superb effort after he intercepted a ball in the half-back line and soloed straight through the Tyrrellspass defence to the 20-metre line before popping the ball over. Dylan McDermott kicked a great long range free to extend Shamrocks lead and Seanie Daly also pointed to complete Shamrocks scoring. Billy Flynn entered the fray for the final 10 minutes and it was great to see Billy back in action after a long absence with a serious shoulder injury. Billy has worked very hard to regain his fitness and his return at this stage is most welcome and a massive boost for Shamrocks.
Mullingar Shamrocks: Philly Shaw; Ryan Blundell, Eddie Moore, Aaron Purcell; Efe Siode (0-1). Micheál Curley, Keith Moore (Davey Coyne); Daragh Daly and Seanie Daly (0-1); Alan Cashman (2-0) [Pearse Corroon], Dylan McDermott (0-2) [Billy Flynn], Ross Corroon (0-2) [Conor Twomey]; Darren Keena, Donal O’Donoghue, Paddy Joyce (0-2) [Niall Hannigan].
