ACL Div. 4: Mullingar Shamrocks 4-12 Caulry 2-4

Our ACL Div. 4 team had a good victory over Caulry in Springfield on Friday night. Shamrocks began well and had 1-1 on the board during the opening minutes. Paddy Joyce surged forward and delivered to Dillon Matthews who raced through the Caulry defence and  struck a powerful shot past the Caulry goalkeeper. Darren Keena added a fine point but a penalty goal by Peter Smyth and a point from a free levelled the scores. Dean Moore added two points and then turned creator for a Paddy Joyce goal (2-3 to 1-1). Caulry added a point and were gifted a goal to reduce the deficit before Dean Moore pointed and Brendan O’Reilly goaled with a great finish. A bit of red mist descended over Springfield at this stage and when the mist cleared two players were no longer part of the evening’s play. Unfortunately, what was a good game of football to this stage evaporated with the clearing of the mist and Shamrocks totally dominated the remaining 40 minutes. Caulry pointed and then had to wait until the last kick of the game for their next score. Dean Moore, who made a welcome return to his old scoring form, pointed before the interval to increase Shamrocks lead to 0-5 (3-5 to 2-3).

Shamrocks added 1-7 on resumption with Brendan O’Reilly adding his second goal, Dean Moore added 0-2, Dillon Matthews kicked two very good points off his left foot, Jordan Warde was introduced and kicked 0-2 and Darren Keena also added a point in what was a good Mullingar Shamrocks performance.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Adam Smith; Ryan Blundell (Darragh White), David Coyne, Eamonn Breslin (Cormac Murphy); Mark Butler, Ross Corroon (Marc Eivers), Paddy Joyce (1-0); Alan Cashman and Nathan Smith; Brendan O’Reilly (2-0), Dillon Matthews (1-2), Pearse Corroon (Cian Roe); Dean Moore (0-6) [Jordan Warde 0-2], Darren Keena (0-2), Kenneth O’Reilly.

ACL Div. 5: The Downs 4-10 Mullingar Shamrocks 3-12

After trailing by 3-6 to 1-5 at the interval and by ten points at one stage during the second half Mullingar Shamrocks staged a dramatic rally that fell just short and were a bit unlucky not to salvage a draw from the occasion. Robbie Boyle’s scoring display at full-forward (1-2) was one of the highlights of the night and the former Dublin All-Ireland medallist and delivered a clear message to Gianluca Vialli that he is fit and ready to take on the challenge posed by the Harry Redknapp managed Castlehaven in the Toughest Rivalry later this season.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Adam Smith; Darragh White, Eamonn Breslin, Cormac Murphy; Mark Butler, James Grogan, Ryan Blundell; Nathan Gavin and Pearse Corroon; Cian Roe, Gary Corroon, Kenneth O’Reilly; Ross Corroon, Robbie Boyle; Sean Wylie.