It was mission accomplished in Rochfortbridge as Mullingar Shamrocks secured the victory that was essential to keep alive the possibility of  reaching the knock-out stages of the championship. Shamrocks  opened their scoring with two pointed frees by Denis Corroon. The direct running of Paddy Fagan was instrumental in the creation of the frees. Conor Bracken responded with a point form play for Moate before points from Jordan Warde, Paddy Fagan and Brian Guerin extended Shamrocks lead to 0-5 to 0-1. Two Moate points before the interval by Eoghan Curran and Robbie Forde reduced the deficit and it took a great goal line clearance by Brendan O’Reilly to secure an interval lead of 0-5 to 0-3. 

Robbie Forde pointed early in the second half and this was followed by a Ronan Murray goal to secure a 1-4 to 0-5 lead for the All-Whites. However this  was to be the last score of the evening for the south Westmeath boys. Denis Corroon added another pointed free to the Shamrocks tally. A great turnover by Conor O’Brien (one of many on the night) who combined with Denis Corroon and Paddy Fagan to split the Moate defence and Paddy was the one who crashed the ball home. Jordan Warde was unlucky to have his goal ruled out for a square ball infringement before Denis Corroon added another pointed free before the final whistle with Shamrocks leading by 1-7 to 1-4.

Next up is Killucan. There is no room for relaxation. This is now a must win game for Shamrocks (Killucan scored 2-20 tonight) and a must not lose game for Killucan. Jeopardy will be around Cusack Park again in two weeks time.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Eoin Doran; Marc Eivers, David Gavin, Dillon Matthews; Davy Gavin (Conn O’Hanlon), Matt O’Shea, Brendan O’Reilly; Conor O’Brien and Shane Ormsby; Brian Guerin (0-1), Patrick Fagan (1-1), John O’Reilly; Dean Moore, Denis Corroon (0-4), Jordan Warde (0-1) [Killian Daly].