ACL Division 2: Ballymore 2-9 Mullingar Shamrocks 2-10.
Shamrocks’ Division 2 side travelled to Ballymore on Thursday for an encounter with the home side. This was a vital game for both sides with Ballymore desperately needing points to open their account and to have any chance of avoiding relegation while the Shamrocks’ men knew that a third league victory in their fifth outing would leave them within touching distance of securing another year in the challenging second tier. The home side’s determination to give themselves a fighting chance of staying in division 2 was in evidence throughout with a goal in each half establishing a seemingly unassailable lead with less than ten minutes remaining. The visitors, who had left their shooting boots in the dressing room for long periods, refused to give up and launched a valiant fightback in the closing stages. A goal by the veteran Alan Cashman, sandwiched by two well struck Ross Corroon frees, reduced the deficit to two points and in the modern game that margin is nerve wracking for the team leading. Defenders are forced to push out to prevent two pointers and space is created close to goals. This was utilised fully when intelligent play by the selfless Adam Glynn set up Nathan Smith to dispatch to the net and the shell shocked Ballymore men barely had time to respond before the excellent man in the middle Kenneth Gunning signalled an end to proceedings with the green and whites winning by the minimum margin. Conn O’ Hanlon, the consistent Donnacha Maguire, Adam Glynn for his maturity in the closing stages and Alan Cashman fared best but the endeavour and attitude of the players must be commended to turn a seemingly certain defeat into a vital victory.
Mullingar Shamrocks Squad: Liam English, Adam Glynn, Con Fitzpatrick, Eamon Breslin, Donal Lane, Conn O’ Hanlon, Pierce Corroon, Brian Farrell, Alan Cashman, Matthew Shaw, Lorcan Smyth, Nathan Smith, Neil Hannigan, Trevor Keena, Ross Corroon Donnacha Maguire Alex Sheerin Ryan Blundell
Shamrocks’ Division 2 side travelled to Ballymore on Thursday for an encounter with the home side. This was a vital game for both sides with Ballymore desperately needing points to open their account and to have any chance of avoiding relegation while the Shamrocks’ men knew that a third league victory in their fifth outing would leave them within touching distance of securing another year in the challenging second tier. The home side’s determination to give themselves a fighting chance of staying in division 2 was in evidence throughout with a goal in each half establishing a seemingly unassailable lead with less than ten minutes remaining. The visitors, who had left their shooting boots in the dressing room for long periods, refused to give up and launched a valiant fightback in the closing stages. A goal by the veteran Alan Cashman, sandwiched by two well struck Ross Corroon frees, reduced the deficit to two points and in the modern game that margin is nerve wracking for the team leading. Defenders are forced to push out to prevent two pointers and space is created close to goals. This was utilised fully when intelligent play by the selfless Adam Glynn set up Nathan Smith to dispatch to the net and the shell shocked Ballymore men barely had time to respond before the excellent man in the middle Kenneth Gunning signalled an end to proceedings with the green and whites winning by the minimum margin. Conn O’ Hanlon, the consistent Donnacha Maguire, Adam Glynn for his maturity in the closing stages and Alan Cashman fared best but the endeavour and attitude of the players must be commended to turn a seemingly certain defeat into a vital victory.
Mullingar Shamrocks Squad: Liam English, Adam Glynn, Con Fitzpatrick, Eamon Breslin, Donal Lane, Conn O’ Hanlon, Pierce Corroon, Brian Farrell, Alan Cashman, Matthew Shaw, Lorcan Smyth, Nathan Smith, Neil Hannigan, Trevor Keena, Ross Corroon Donnacha Maguire Alex Sheerin Ryan Blundell
