Mullingar Town Under-12 Tournament

The final blitz of the season cohosted by ourselves and St Loman’s ended with a great victory for Mullingar Shamrocks who defeated Millmore Gaels (2-8 to 0-9) in a final of top-class football in Lakepoint Park.  The sides were level at the interval (1-2 to 0-5) but some great points by John Ryan and a goal from Ryan Kelly secured the victory for Shamrocks. The fitness levels of both teams was exemplary.  In the Cup semi-finals Millmore Gaels defeated St Loman’s and Shamrocks just edged-out Celbridge (2-5 to 0-9) with Ryan Kelly and Alex Sheerin the goal poachers. In their group games, Mullingar Shamrocks defeated Kilmacud Crokes (1-12 to 0-3) and were never headed after Shane Ormsby raced through for a great goal with Tullamore beaten in the opening game (9-9 to 0-2). The Mullingar Shamrocks lads played great football throughout tackling and defending with determination (no goal was conceded in four matches) and with their combination play in attack kicked some great scores.

Apart from those teams already mentioned, Ramor (Cavan), Rhode, Athlone, Killoe and Moate competed in the Blitz with a format designed to ensure that every child has the ‘opportunity to play meaningful games in an informal, safe and enjoyable environment, have fun and experience a sense of enjoyment and fulfilment and be treated with respect dignity and sensitivity’. The semi-finals and finals are designed to enable teams of the same standard to play each other.

Shamrocks legendary hospitality was at its usual high standard and an army of volunteers were busy from Saturday preparing the goodies for those who travelled and the lunch boxes for the teams. Many thanks to all those who volunteered on the day, serving the teas, umpiring, refereeing, keeping track of scores, preparing the pitches and dealing with the numerous other tasks so essential to hosting a successful tournament.  A special word of thanks to all the coaches who contributed so much to looking after their players and teams  over the season. Our mentors were Tom Ormsby, Derek Sheridan and David Cornally.

Our eighteen footballers on duty were Eóin Doran, Nathan Cornally, Killian Kelly, Peter Finch, Karl Mulhern, Tadhg Sheridan, Dylan Carey, Shane Ormsby, Matt Ryan, John Ryan, Ryan Kelly, Conor Heffernan, Alex Sheerin, Gavin Pierce, Matt Shaw, Hugh Sullivan Sexton, Donnacha Maguire, Charlie Kennedy.