Leinster Under-13 League Final: Mullingar Shamrocks 6-6 Raheens (Kildare) 2-4

Leinster champions has a nice ring to it and that is the title our Under-13 footballers now lay claim to after this fine victory against Raheens, from Kildare. On their way to collecting this title, the team defeated Mount Leinster Rangers (the marathon journey was worthwhile), Dunshaughlin, Tullamore, our neighbours St Loman’s and finally Raheens in the wonderful setting of the Abbotstown National Sports Centre.

In the final, Mullingar Shamrocks began slowly despite the assistance of a strong wind and after John Ryan opened the scoring with a point Raheens responded with a goal and held this 1-0 to 0-1 lead into ten minutes of the opening half. Ryan Kelly at this stage stamped his authority on the match and scored two superb individual goals. Shane Ormsby pointed brilliantly from a difficult long range free and followed almost immediately with a superb goal; In this twelve-minute scoring spree Mullingar Shamrocks established a 3-2 to 1-0 lead; The final score of the half belonged to John Ryan who pointed a free on the stroke of half-time. Shamrocks restarted in spectacular fashion and from the throw-in Shane Ormsby and John Ryan combined to create a chance for Matt Shaw who pointed and almost immediately Ormsby and Ryan again combined, and this time John Ryan goaled. These were two vital scores and practically sealed the victory for Shamrocks. One of the notable features of the second half was the great combined play of Ormsby and Ryan in particular, but the team in general was excellent after the resumption. The fielding of Shane Ormsby was also worthy of mention as was the restarts by our two goalkeepers William and Eoin Doran. Matt Shaw scored his second point, Raheens scored three unanswered points (4-5 to 1-3) before Ryan Kelly completed his hat trick with his third goal. Gavin Pierce blasted a great shot to the net and then pointed to complete the Shamrocks tally (6-6) Raheens penalty goal proved to be the last score of the game and the final whistle secured a great team victory for Mullingar Shamrocks.

Well done to all twenty-two players who secured the victory and to the team mentors Derek Sheridan, Daragh Maguire, Tom Ormsby and Robbie Boyle who have worked so hard with this group of football-wise, and talented group of young footballers over the last two or three seasons. Let’s hope all are still wearing the Mullingar Shamrocks colours in three or four seasons from now.

Mullingar Shamrocks: William O’Reilly, Peter Finch, Killian Kelly, Tadhg Sheridan, Dylan Carey, Karl Mulhern, Shane Ormsby (1-1), Matthew Ryan, Donnacha Maguire, Ryan Kelly (3-0), Conor Heffernan, Alex Sheerin, John Ryan (1-2), Matt Shaw (0-2), Eoin Doran, Rian Maguire, Gavin Pierce (1-1), Adam Glynn, Hugh O’Sullivan Sexton, Nathan Cornally, Luke McCabe, Calvin Rigney Clyne.