After a difficult league campaign, Mullingar Shamrocks returned to championship action and performed much more impressively in Springfield this (Thursday) evening against Coralstown-Kinnegad. In fact, 32 minutes into the second half as Shamrocks controlled possession it looked as if the two championship points were secured. Unfortunately, this was not to be as Coralstown-Kinnegad making their senior championship debut refused to surrender. Shamrocks welcomed Honor MacNamara back from her stay in Australia and Megan Fagan and Clara Thornton back from long-term injuries.
A contrary wind made conditions difficult for football. Anna Jones pointed within 60 seconds; Kiara Giles replied with a similar score two minutes later. From the restart, Shamrocks moved the ball with purpose before a Chloe Smullen shot ricocheted off the crossbar. Shannon Lyons took advantage of the let-off and kicked a fine long-range point before Anna Jones and Karen Hegarty combined for Karen to kick the equalising point. Coralstown-Kinnegad retaliated with three unanswered points from Andrea Goggins, Emer Fogarty and Claire Taaffe. Referee, Paul McCaughey spotted an off the ball foul, Anna Jones played the ball short to Honor MacNamara whose shot dipped under the crossbar for a vital goal. Shamrocks dominated the remainder of the half and points from Karen, and the two youngest players on the team, Grace Daly and Zara Corroon gave Shamrocks a 1-5 to 0-5 lead.
Kinnegad began the second half with two early points from Andrea Goggins and Kiara Giles. A great Anna Jones pointed free from close to the sideline was neutralised by a pointed free from Kiara Giles (1-6 to 0-8). An Emer Fogarty point equalised before another Anna Jones pointed free restored the Shamrocks lead. Aoife McGrath was on hand when the ball came back off the bar to score Coralstown’s first goal with ten minutes remaining (1-9 to 1-7). Four pointed frees in normal time, three from the boot of Anna Jones and one for Kinnegad by Kiara Giles brought the sides level (1-10 each).
The real drama of the night was then unveiled. A dangerous Coralstown-Kinnegad attack was halted by a superb Susanna Buckley turnover who moved the ball to Clara Thornton. Clara hit a wonderful pass to Chloe Smullen in space and Chloe ripped the Corasltown defence with one of her trademark solo-runs. Chloe passed to Karen, looped around for the return pass, and blasted the ball to the net for what should have been the winning goal. The poetry of LGF. Victory looked assured but Shamrocks were unable to retain possession and a Kinnegad delivery, from a free kick, deep into the Shamrocks goalmouth, was flicked past Katie Kelly by Aoife McGrath for the equalising goal. From the restart, Shamrocks gained possession and the final attack was halted by Paul McCaughey’s full-time whistle.
For the Shamrocks players, the result was a disappointment but there are many reasons to feel positive about the performance especially some great bouts of combined play and some excellent defending.
And it was great to see Terry back and offering advice!
Mullingar Shamrocks: Katie Kelly, Rosie O’Grady (Clara Thornton), Annemarie O’Reilly, Melek Fagan; Susanna Buckley, Chloe Swarbrigg, Jodi Aherne; Mairéad Newman, Anna Jones (0-6); Zara Corroon (0-1), Karen Hegarty (0-1), Holly McCormack; Grace Daly (0-1), Honor MacNamara (1-0), Chloe Smullen (1-0).
