A lively encounter for the final game of the division despite the fact that both clubs’ position in the league were already determined. Despite being relegated from the division, Castledaly played with pride and passion. For Mullingar Shamrocks keeping our place in the division was a massive achievement and a great bonus for player development. 

Shamrocks dominated the first half but could never escape the Castledaly clutches. Ross Corroon opened the scoring with two points in succession after five minutes of play. Cathal Dolan responded with a point for Castledaly from an advanced mark. A great Donal O’Donoghue point (class is permanent is a necessary addendum for this score), Dylan Franzoni and Conor Fagan from long range opened a four point lead for Shamrocks (0-5 to 0-1). Three successive points from Justin Coughlan, Donal Heavin (a massive long range free into the wind) and John Warburton reduced the deficit to the minimum.  Another Ross score set up by a Trevor Keena precision pass was followed by points from Kevin Stone and Cathal Dolan to level the scores (0-6 each). Trevor Keena’s point from a superb Dónal O’Donoghue pass was again followed by a Kevin Stone point to bring the sides level at 0-7  each at the interval. 

 

Scores came in pairs in the second half with Castledaly having the advantage of wind and hill. Aaron Nugent raced through from midfield  for a brilliant goal, Shamrocks replied almost immediately with an equally great goal, this one the product of great team play that began with a great interception by Bressie deep in defence and finished spectacularly by Ryan Blundell. Unfortunately for  Aaron Nugent the goal was his last contribution to the match as he was stretchered off with a serious knee injury after his next play. We wish Aaron a speedy recovery. Kevin Stone pointed a free that earned Bressie a black card in the 40th minute. Conor Fagan from a mark equalised. Kevin Stone hit a massive point from long range, Andrew Shaw equalised with his first touch (Did you know Andrew’s granduncle captained Kerry in an All-Ireland senior football final? Amazing what you learn in SuperMacs). Conor Fagan with a superb point from a free seemed to have secured a victory for Shamrocks but Alan Stone kicked another beauty from a distance to equalise. There was still some time for Cathal Dolan to kick the winner and for Shamrocks to get an equaliser but it wasn’t to be and at the final whistle the scoreboard read 1-11 to 1-10 in favour of Castledaly. 

 

It is worth noting that Jim Gavin’s Football Review Committee are considering awarding 0-2 for a score kicked outside a certain range as part of what is called rules enhancement and to encourage long range kicking. Last night match included quite a number of points in the 0-2 category had the system been in operation. There will be some fun in keeping track of the scores should such a change ever see the light of day.

 

Mullingar Shamrocks: Liam English; Eamon Breslin, Aaron Purcell, Conor Fitzpatrick;  Dylan Franzoni (0-1); Pearse Corroon, Dónal Lane; Dónal O’Donoghue (0-1), Ciaran Kiernan (Matthew Siode); Ryan Blundell (1-0), Trevor Keena (0-1) [Andrew Shaw, 0-1], Niall Hannigan; Ross Corroon (0-3) [Gary Corroon], Conor O’Brien (Micheál Curley), Conor Fagan (0-3).