First of all a word of commendation to Caulry for hosting the game on a bone dry pitch, the second on the pitch on Sunday morning and not a scratch on the pitch at the end of the game. It was our first experience of the fine new Caulry clubhouse with its superb dressing rooms and gym.  

The understrength home team enjoyed the advantage of a strong wind and opened the scoring with a massive long range point from Sean Clinton that raised an orange flag. A four-minute Shamrocks vignette followed that had a significant impact on the final result. A free from the sideline was converted to a tap over free in front of goal from Dean Moore after a Caulry player offered some unwanted advice to referee Michael Murtagh. Worse was to follow for Caulry. Shane Ormsby fielded magnificently from the restart, quickly transferred to Denis Corroon who sent Dean Moore through on goal. Dean’s goal scoring opportunity was ended with the type of foul that merited a black card and a penalty that was expertly converted by Deano. A minute later, a great turnover by Dillon Matthews released Brian Guerin who galloped 70 metres through the Caulry defence before smashing the ball to the net. After six minutes, Shamrocks had secured a 2-1 to 0-2 lead that laid the foundation for an interval lead of 2-3 to 1-5. Caulry responded with a second two point score (from an acute angle) and a single point by Shane Lawless to reduce the deficit. Brian Guerin pointed from play. A brilliant restart by Caulry goalkeeper Liam Malynn was fielded by Stephen Connolly and the ball was quickly transferred to Aaron Murphy who finished past Eoin Doran for a fine goal (2-2 to 1-5). A Dean Moore pointed free completed the first half scoring with Shamrocks leading by 2-3 to 1-5. 

Caulry restarted with points from Sean Murphy and Tiarnán O’Donovan before Shamrocks extended their  lead in the 35th minute.  Eoin Doran’s restart was instrumental in creating the opportunity. The ball was won cleanly by Pearse Corroon who continued the move which ended with a Darragh Daly point. Shamrocks went on to dominate from this point. Dean Moore pointed from play, Shane Ormsby kicked a two pointer; Davy Gavin and Brian Farrell combined and Brian Guerin pointed before Denis Corroon and Dean Moore combined and Trevor Keena finished to the net (3-11 to 1-7), the first of three goals that Shamrocks scored in the final minutes. Caulry added a pair of points before Dean Moore and Brian Guerin added second goals to their tally. Deano has obviously lost none of his sharpness over the winter months. In the final minutes, Eoin Doran suffered a knee injury which hopefully is not too serious and we wish Eoin a speedy recovery; and while on the injury theme, it was great to see Brian Farrell, a former senior championship player, return to serious football action after a long absence that began with the damned cruciate injury or two. 

Mullingar Shamrocks: Eoin Doran; Ryan Blundell (Dillon Carey), Efe Siode, Donal Lane; Dillon Matthews, Brendan O’Reilly, Brian Guerin (2-2); Darragh Daly (0-1), Shane Ormsby (0-2); Alan Cashman (Andrew Shaw), Pierce Corroon (Davy Gavin, 0-1), Emmett Walsh (Brian Farrell); Dean Moore (2-5), Nathan Smith (Trevor Keena, 1-0), Denis Corroon.