In the end St Loman’s survived to take the title but not before a great fight from the Shamrocks lads who recovered from a slow start but thundered into the game in the final quarter. 

St Loman’s dominated the early stages and pointed twice in the opening two minutes courtesy of Shane Canning and Billy Lambden. Canning added a second point before Michael Brennan goaled to send St Loman’s into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead after 10 minutes. It was one-way traffic at this stage.  However, two points within 30 seconds by Colm Clinton began the Shamrocks recovery. Unfortunately, the value  of these scores was undone  when St Loman’s were gifted a second goal scored by Sam Geoghegan. Colm Clinton responded with a third point and a brilliant save by Tom McCaul prevented a third goal for the neighbours.  His opposite number James McHugh also saved brilliantly from Darragh Daly  after Marius Buividavicius  and Darragh  combined to split the Loman’s defence. Marius  followed up and with the sweetest of volleys smashed the ball to the net; a minute later Theo Kelly’s shot dipped under the crossbar and without warning the sides were level at 2-3 each. There was just time for  one more play and St Loman’s made maximum use of the opportunity  as Killian Raleigh goaled with what was the final play of the first half with St Loman’s leading by 3-3 to 2-3.

St Loman’s outscored Shamrocks 0-3 (Cathal KIlmurray 0-1 & Shane Canning 0-2) to 0-1 (Colm Clinton) during the third quarter. After 15 minutes, great work by Scott Farrelly and Oliver Keane ended with the latter kicking a great long-range point in the best Kerry tradition. This point began a long phase of Shamrocks dominance during which the St Loman’s lead was reduced to the minimum. Shay Leavy, Scott Farrelly, Oliver Keane and Colm Clinton dominated during this phase. Darragh Daly pointed after working a short free with Colm Clinton. Cathal Kilmurray pointed from play and a superb goal line block by Shane Canning from Darragh Daly prevented a certain goal. One of the crucial plays of the game as it transpired. Shamrock’s attacks were now relentless and two points from Colm Clinton reduced the deficit to the minimum (3-7 to 2-9). The equalizing point proved to be elusive and Cathal Kilmurray pointed a free to close the scoring for the evening but not before Tom McCaul showed his talent between the posts one more time with a great save. 

Both teams are to be complimented for the sporting manner in which the game was played, hardly a cross word was exchanged between the players all evening. The same comment applies to the mentors of both sides who also allowed referee Cathal Boland  to get on with the task of refereeing the match without having to deal with any unsolicited advice from the sideline. 

The result was a disappointment for the Shamrocks boys but it was an evening where the positives far outweighed the negatives and we look forward to the championship.
 

Mullingar Shamrocks: Tom McCaul; Carl Keane, Shay Leavy, Cian Traynor; Manus Kelly, Scott Farrelly, Conor Glynn; Colm Clinton (0-8), Oliver Keane; Theo Kelly (1-0), Darragh Daly (0-1), MJ Burke; Eddie Leavy (Killian Hand), Eoin Reddy (Mayus Virketis), Conor Matthews (Marius Buividavicius, 1-0).