A potential victory that escaped as Mullingar Shamrocks for the second successive year were eliminated from the Junior I championship after extra time at the quarter final stage. A few needless turnovers proved costly as St Joseph's progressed to the semi-final.
Ross Elliffe opened the scoring for St Joseph’s and a score that was followed by a Danny Keegan goal as he ran straight through the Shamrocks defence and blasted the ball past Philly Shaw. Ross Corroon under intense pressure pointed for Shamrocks; this was neutralized by a Dean Slevin point after he intercepted a short kick-out. Jordan McDonnell blasted over the bar from close range when a goal seemed certain but Philly stood big (1-3 to 0-1). At this stage Shamrocks dominated possession but playing into a strong wind and against the hill made scoring difficult. Ross Corroon put down two strokes of what was to become a free-taking exhibition when he pointed twice from difficult frees – the ones that are in front of the posts and into the wind are the most difficult but not on this day for Ross. Ryan Blundell won the restart and advanced to find Trevor Keena who raced through and shot the equalizing goal. Ross Elliffe and Jordan McDonnell combined to split the Shamrocks defence but Philly saved brilliantly and from the resultant free kick Shamrocks worked the ball patiently up field before Emmet Walsh pointed to send Shamrocks into the lead. Jordan McDonnell kicked a great equalizer for St Joseph’s before Mikey Lynam and Ross Corroon swopped scores. Jordan McDonnell signed off with the point of the half to bring the interval score to 1-6 to 1-5 in favour of St Joseph’s.
Shamrocks dominated the first ten or so minutes following the resumption and Ross Corroon pointed a very difficult free with a superb strike. Just when it seemed things couldn’t get any better for Ross he went and pointed a sideline kick from miles out. The point of the day without question. Ross went short with his next free and combined with Alan Cashman who pointed and from the restart Shamrocks won possession and Ross pointed from play. This was Ross’s seventh point ‘’all good points, every one of them” cousin Gary remarked on the sideline. The next few minutes were vital to the result as after thirteen scoreless minutes of the half Jordan McDonnell pointed twice for St Joseph’s to tie the game (1-9 each). One of the lessons from several inter-county championship matches this year was the importance of staying in the game and this is what St Joseph’s did. The men from Streamstown never fell more than two points behind. And it wasn’t easy playing against a strong breeze. Ross Corroon pointed a 45 but in the twentieth minute Ross Elliffe goaled to reestablish the St Joseph’s lead (2-9 to 1-10). We lost Aaron Purcell who had been playing superbly throughout at this stage to injury. Alan Cashman also departed through injury as did Dónal O'Donoghue and Conor Fitzpatrick and all were missed although incredibly played almost the full 80 minutes.
The Ross Corroon show continued with two more pointed frees to equalize once again and then he kicked Shamrocks ahead with a free taken from the hand this time (2-9 to 1-13). In the final minute Jordan McDonnell pointed to equalize and send the match into extra time. A decent pointed free given the pressurized circumstances.
St Joseph’s had wind advantage for the first ten minutes of extra time and opened with a goal when a long delivery from a sideline kick into the Shamrocks goalmouth was finished to the net by Dean Slevin, suspicions of a ‘square ball’ were ruled out following a consultation between referee Mick Murtagh and his umpires. Shamrocks responded well. Trevor Keena attacked and as his shot for goal flew across the goalmouth Niall Hannigan came sliding in to finish to the net for what can only be described as a wonder goal and the sides were level once again. A galloping run by Eddie Moore was halted with a free which was converted by Ross. Jake Gannon equalized and Jordan McDonnell added a point from play for the lead for Joseph’s (3-12 to 2-14). It was short lived as a quickly taken free to Trevor Keena produced the equalizer once again as Trevor shot over from long range. As Shamrocks attacked, possession was lost and a St Joseph’s attack along the end line ended with a shot that was deflected on to the crossbar by Ciaran Kiernan and from the rebound Alan Conlon reacted quickly and got the vital touch with his head (yes!) to send the ball to the net for what proved to be the winning goal. Ross Corroon’s thirteenth point proved to be the last score of the game and when Shamrocks final attack was repelled Mick Murtagh’s final whistle brought a great game to an end.
13 is an unlucky number allegedly and on this occasion Ross Corroon deserved better for his extraordinary place kicking exhibition with the majority kicked from the ground – a dying skill as we know. Was this a record score for a Shamrocks player in an adult championship match?
Mullingar Shamrocks: Philly Shaw; Eamonn Breslin, Aaron Purcell (Matthew Siode), Conor Fitzpatrick (Nathan Cornally); Emmet Walsh (0-1); Eddie Moore, Dónal Lane; Pearse Corroon (Ciaran Kiernan), Dónal O Donoghue (Gary Corroon); Alan Cashman (0-1) [Andrew Shaw], Trevor Keena (1-1) Niall Hannigan (1-0); Ross Corroon (0-13), Conor Fagan[Nathan Smyth].
