Senior Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 3-10 St Loman’s 0-19

Mullingar Shamrocks and St Loman’s played-out an exciting draw in the what was a spectacular opening match for both clubs in the Westmeath senior football championship in Cusack Park on Sunday evening. St Loman’s justified their favouritism with early scores from Shane Dempsey and Ken Casey before a superb mark by Daragh Daly released Denis Corroon to score Shamrocks opening point. John Heslin’s pointed free restored the two-point gap.  Another thundering run from a superb Daragh Daly ended in a foul that flirted with black card territory. Denis Corroon pointed the free but the next fifteen minutes proved to be the worst period of the game for Mullingar Shamrocks. David Gavin received a black card and was replaced by Seanie Daly; John Heslin (0-3) and David Whelan added points to establish an 0-7 to 0-2 lead for St Loman’s after 20 minutes. Tye Adamson pointed to end the scoring drought, again following a great Daragh Daly pass, but John Heslin responded with a similar score. In the twenty-fifth minute Donal O’Donoghue secured the crucial score of the opening half when he finished a Shamrocks move with a punched goal that reduced the deficit to 0-2 (Donal was beginning his eighteenth championship season for Shamrocks and looked as good and fit as ever). The move involved several Shamrocks players and began with some great tackling by Micheál Curley, deep in his own defence (Curley adapted very well to his new half-forward position - remember 2012  v Tyrrellspass). St Lomans responded with four points (Ronan O’ Toole 0-2, John Heslin, Kieran Kilmurray) before Denis Corroon and Micheál Curley combined to create a chance for Donal O’Donoghue who pointed before the referee called for the interval with St Loman’s comfortably ahead 0-12 to 1-4 and seemingly cantering to a comfortable victory.

Daragh Daly laid down a marker for Shamrocks immediately on resumption. He grabbed the ball from the throw in and tore straight through the heart of the St Loman’s defence for a great inspiring point. John Heslin’s response was equally impressive – a great long range pointed free using the left foot. Two great opening points fit to grace any occasion (0-12 to 1-6).

Shamrocks were now playing with greater intensity and the hesitancy and caution of the first half was set aside.  Tye Adamson with a long-range effort and Denis Corroon with a free, added points within the opening five minutes and following a foul on Micheál Curley, Denis Corroon pointed again. Shane Dempsey pointed for Lomans but Killian Daly neutralised this score. All this action was packed into the opening ten minutes before the scoreboard operator was given a break for the next ten minutes.  Shamrocks again split the St Loman’s defence but Tye Adamson shot wide from a great position before Paddy Joyce and Brendan O’Reilly (making his senior championship debut) combined to create a great goal chance for the latter. A penalty resulted and Seanie Daly maintained his composure to crash the ball to the net and send Mullingar Shamrocks into the lead for the first-time. A pointed free from Denis Corroon added to the lead with seven minutes remaining (2-10 to 0-14). St Loman’s responded as county champions might be expected and inspired by Ronan O’Toole scored five points without a Shamrocks response. However, there was a final response and it was a big one. A free floated into the goal mouth by Killian Daly was grabbed by Kieran Gavin and the gamekeeper became the poacher and crashed the ball past Stephen Gallagher. Drawn match and Shamrocks announced that they haven’t gone away you know.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Philly Shaw; Aaron Purcell, Kieran Gavin (1-0), Eddie Moore; David Coyne (Efi Siode), Killian Daly (0-1), Brendan O’Reilly, Brendan O’Reilly; Denis Corroon (0-5) and Daragh Daly (0-1); Micheál Curley (Dylan McDermott), Dónal O’Donoghue (1-1), Patrick Fagan; Tye Adamson (0-2) [Darren Keena], David Gavin (Seanie Daly 1-0) Simon Quinn (Paddy Joyce).

Note: See Mullingar Shamrocks facebook for superb pictures of the equalising goal taken by Roger Nicholson.