A wonderful victory in Garrycastle on Thursday evening for our Senior team in the first round of the Village Barn Senior Football championship. It was a team victory of the first order, a victory in which every player on the pitch contributed to the cause, a victory for resilience and determination and a victory against the odds to a certain extent as Mullingar Shamrocks lined out without Annemarie O’Reilly and the injured Grace Daly and Alexa Gavigan. The poor form and disappointment of the league campaign was confined to history with one of the finest team performances for some time.  

The half-time lead of 3-6 to 2-4 seemed inadequate as Shamrocks had played with the aid of a significant breeze that made football conditions difficult. Anna Jones opened the scoring with a two-pointer kicked from the ground. Anna backed her skill set on this occasion and rejected the option of a tap-over free by taking the ball back outside the arc. The kick created a small piece of history as it was Shamrocks first two-pointer in LGF. Anna followed with a goal and then embarked on a long-distance solo run that ended with a pass to Honor MacNamara who finished the move with a point. Shannon Mulvihill with a pointed free secured Garrycastle’s opening score that was followed by an Eve Murphy goal (1-3 to 1-1) after 10 minutes. The Shamrocks response was immediate: Chloe Smullen combined with Maireád Newman who released Karen Hegarty who buried Shamrocks second goal. Clodagh McCahey balanced this score as she raced through the middle and shot to the net. Shannon Mulvihill followed with an equalising pointed free (2-3 each). Both goalkeepers produced spectacular saves to keep their goal intact: Ellen Parker saved from Anna Jones and Holly McCormack with a brilliant one-on-one effort from Amelie Henson. Undeterred, Anna Jones took full advantage of her next opportunity and blasted home Shamrocks third goal. A fabulous Eve Hynes interception was followed by a great Karen Hegarty run that ended with Honor MacNamara’s second point. Elaine McGovern pointed but Shamrocks closed the half with points from Susanna Buckley who excelled for the 60 minutes racing up the right wing and creating acres of space and Anna Jones to extend the Shamrocks lead to 5 points (3-6 to 2-4). Susanna was always available and created acres of space for herself. The work rate of our midfielders was also notable with Jenna Kelly and Katie Matthews tireless in their efforts.  The half-time lead appeared to be insufficient.  A few good scoring opportunities were squandered but Garrycastle probably topped the charts of missed opportunities in the half and it required some great defending to limit the Garrycastle total, helped by some wild shooting. But missed opportunities are often a product of applied pressure and the Shamrocks backs provided plenty of this ‘encouragement’. 

Shamrocks set down a marker with improved work rate, tackling and combined play on resumption. Susanna Buckley was sent through by Karen Hegarty and pointed but a point by Elaine McGovern neutralised this score. Chloe Swarbrigg was next on the score sheet finishing a move that involved Karen and Susanna again. The score epitomised the spirit of the night as Chloe began this move at the back with a great turnover and continued to push forward and was on hand to finish a fine bout of combined play that her determination had initiated. The next score by Karen was also a model of combined play that involved at least ten passes before the scoring opportunity was created (The ball handling skills was also a noteworthy feature of the play on the night). The good play continued and this time Anna Jones goaled – a score that completed a move that began with a superb interception at the back by Siobhán O’ Donnell. After 14 minutes of the second half, Shamrocks had doubled the lead to 10 points (4-9 to 2-5). The scores were vital but some superb defending provided the platform for the lead extension. Elaine McGovern and Anna Jones hit two points each – Anna kicking off the ground, twice converted from the wrong side for a right footed player, but Anna’s technique withstood the test. Both free kicks followed when two of Maireád Newman’s forward runs ended in fouls. Elaine McGovern added another point to the Garrycastle total but Karen Hegarty matched this effort, a score created by the deliberate play of Honor (4-12 to 2-8). Holly McCormack saved brilliantly from Amelie Henson and good defending by Melek Fagan and Carla Blackman smothered Elaine McGovern’s goal scoring intentions after she collected the rebound and forced Elaine to kick over. The same player worked a short free and pointed again but at this stage the game was well into the four minutes of injury time allowed and victory was guaranteed. Amelie Henson did manage to breach the Shamrocks defence for a goal but at that stage the score was only of cosmetic value and a significant victory was guaranteed.  

Well done to all involved, players (including replacements Sinead Sweeney and Sarah Geoghegan), team management and helpers. Now for a repeat performance. 

Mullingar Shamrocks: Holly McCormack; Chloe Swarbrigg (0-1), Siobhán O’Donnell, Eve Hynes; Carla Blackman, Melek Fagan, Susanna Buckley (0-2); Katie Matthews (Sinead Sweeney), Jenna Kelly; Honor MacNamara (0-2), Maireád Newman, Zara Corroon; Anna Jones (3-5), Chloe Smullen, Karen Hegarty (1-2) [Sarah Geoghegan].