MJS Building and Development Minor Football Final: Mullingar Shamrocks 1-7 Tubberclair 4-5.
Disappointment at the end of the day for our Minor footballers as the quest to defend the title ended in defeat to a better Tubberclair team on the day. Or at least the better team when it really mattered in the last fifteen minutes when we were outscored 3-1 to 0-2 by the physically powerful Tubberclair side.
The loss of Criostóir Ormsby was a great one but Tubberclair also lined out without their leading player Daire O’Connor. Tubberclair dominated midfield at crucial stages with Tom Bourke unmatchable. Criostóir’s significance presence might have curbed the midfielder’s dominance but as it was Shamrocks had great difficulty in gaining possession from restarts. Adam Glynn in defence turned in a powerful performance in defence and was particularly prominent in the opening half.
After a cautious opening half Mullingar Shamrocks entered the interval break leading by the minimum margin (1-3 to 1-2) after both teams engaged in the football equivalent of shadow boxing as both sides were careful not to provide the opposition with an opportunity to deliver a knock-out blow.
In the fifth minute, Alex Sheerin was taken down as he raced through on goal and from the resultant penalty kick, Ryan Kelly crashed the ball past Peter Bourke in the Tubberclair goal. Ten minutes later Seán Whittaker gained possession and shot past Adam Buckley for the equalizing goal. Adam got in a great block but the ball made it to the net. Conor Heffernan pointed well from a free an effort that was neutralized 4 minutes later when Ruairi Dolan also pointed from a placed ball. Seán Whittaker pointed in the twenty-third minute, a score that was matched by another Conor Heffernan free. The last score of the half was delivered by Killian Mooney – a point that secured the interval lead of 1-3 to 1-2.
Tubberclair equalized immediately on the restart as Tom Bourke won possession from the throw-in and soloed forward before creating an opportunity for Killian Connell who kicked the equalizing point. Kyle Mooney pointed two minutes later to restore the Shamrocks lead, a score that was followed by a superb point from play by Conor Heffernan (1-5 to 1-3). Two pointed frees from Ruairi Dolan brought the teams level once again after 18 minutes of the half. Ryan Kelly restored the Shamrocks lead after Alex Sheerin was fouled once again. It was a short-lived lead as Tom Bourke fielded brilliantly from the restart and began a move that ended with Keelan Connell shooting to the net.
Worse was to follow as Gavin Pierce was red carded in the twenty-fourth minute and from the resultant free the ball was worked downfield and the move finished with Jack O’Donnell shooting to the net. Once again, Tom Bourke was instrumental in the creation of this goal as it was his run through the middle that unhinged the Shamrocks defence. Shamrocks response was a pointed Ryan Kelly free before Taylor Slevin finished with the score of the day – a brilliant outside of the boot effort that rocketed to the net past a helpless Adam Buckley.
A disappointing end then to what has been three great years of Minor football for Mullingar Shamrocks with several great matches with Tubberclair the particular highlights. We thank Tom Ormsby, Paul Chrisite, Derek Sheridan and Ned Moore for their coaching work on behalf of the team. It has taken a monumental effort and commitment by the management team to achieve the standard that the players have produced over the past three years.
And, to the players involved: remember your footballing careers are only beginning.
Mullingar Shamrocks: Adam Buckley; Ben Sheerin, Ty Masterson, Adam Glynn; James Flynn, Peter Finch, Ben McNamee; Callum Rigney Clyne, Ryan Kelly (1-2); Paul Keating (Criostóir Ormsby) , Conor Heffernan (0-3), Killian Mooney (0-2) [Matthew Shaw]; Gavin Pierce, Donnacha Maguire, Alex Sheerin.
Disappointment at the end of the day for our Minor footballers as the quest to defend the title ended in defeat to a better Tubberclair team on the day. Or at least the better team when it really mattered in the last fifteen minutes when we were outscored 3-1 to 0-2 by the physically powerful Tubberclair side.
The loss of Criostóir Ormsby was a great one but Tubberclair also lined out without their leading player Daire O’Connor. Tubberclair dominated midfield at crucial stages with Tom Bourke unmatchable. Criostóir’s significance presence might have curbed the midfielder’s dominance but as it was Shamrocks had great difficulty in gaining possession from restarts. Adam Glynn in defence turned in a powerful performance in defence and was particularly prominent in the opening half.
After a cautious opening half Mullingar Shamrocks entered the interval break leading by the minimum margin (1-3 to 1-2) after both teams engaged in the football equivalent of shadow boxing as both sides were careful not to provide the opposition with an opportunity to deliver a knock-out blow.
In the fifth minute, Alex Sheerin was taken down as he raced through on goal and from the resultant penalty kick, Ryan Kelly crashed the ball past Peter Bourke in the Tubberclair goal. Ten minutes later Seán Whittaker gained possession and shot past Adam Buckley for the equalizing goal. Adam got in a great block but the ball made it to the net. Conor Heffernan pointed well from a free an effort that was neutralized 4 minutes later when Ruairi Dolan also pointed from a placed ball. Seán Whittaker pointed in the twenty-third minute, a score that was matched by another Conor Heffernan free. The last score of the half was delivered by Killian Mooney – a point that secured the interval lead of 1-3 to 1-2.
Tubberclair equalized immediately on the restart as Tom Bourke won possession from the throw-in and soloed forward before creating an opportunity for Killian Connell who kicked the equalizing point. Kyle Mooney pointed two minutes later to restore the Shamrocks lead, a score that was followed by a superb point from play by Conor Heffernan (1-5 to 1-3). Two pointed frees from Ruairi Dolan brought the teams level once again after 18 minutes of the half. Ryan Kelly restored the Shamrocks lead after Alex Sheerin was fouled once again. It was a short-lived lead as Tom Bourke fielded brilliantly from the restart and began a move that ended with Keelan Connell shooting to the net.
Worse was to follow as Gavin Pierce was red carded in the twenty-fourth minute and from the resultant free the ball was worked downfield and the move finished with Jack O’Donnell shooting to the net. Once again, Tom Bourke was instrumental in the creation of this goal as it was his run through the middle that unhinged the Shamrocks defence. Shamrocks response was a pointed Ryan Kelly free before Taylor Slevin finished with the score of the day – a brilliant outside of the boot effort that rocketed to the net past a helpless Adam Buckley.
A disappointing end then to what has been three great years of Minor football for Mullingar Shamrocks with several great matches with Tubberclair the particular highlights. We thank Tom Ormsby, Paul Chrisite, Derek Sheridan and Ned Moore for their coaching work on behalf of the team. It has taken a monumental effort and commitment by the management team to achieve the standard that the players have produced over the past three years.
And, to the players involved: remember your footballing careers are only beginning.
Mullingar Shamrocks: Adam Buckley; Ben Sheerin, Ty Masterson, Adam Glynn; James Flynn, Peter Finch, Ben McNamee; Callum Rigney Clyne, Ryan Kelly (1-2); Paul Keating (Criostóir Ormsby) , Conor Heffernan (0-3), Killian Mooney (0-2) [Matthew Shaw]; Gavin Pierce, Donnacha Maguire, Alex Sheerin.
