Mullingar Shamrocks qualified for the Under-16 Division 1 County Final by defeating Garrycastle in Springfield on Tuesday evening. This is a sentence that we haven’t written before as its quite some time since we have progressed to this stage at this level of football.

This was a great team victory with all players and replacements contributing to what was a comfortable victory in the end in a match that was finely balanced for long stages.

Points by Abbey Matthews and Moya  Kilmartin gave Shamrocks an early lead but two pointed frees by Erin McHugh levelled matters. Garrycastle probably enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half but great defending limited the scoring opportunities and good pressurized defending forced Garrycastle attackers to kick wide of the posts. The defending was heroic during spells with Alice Geelon and Ellie O’Donnell, the defenders in chief, supported by Layla Dowd, and the half-back trio of Sarah Cosgrave, Keela Doran and Ava Sheahan. Emily Forde had a fine game in goal. 
 

Moya Kilmartin showed her kicking skills by pointing a free, kicking from the ground in the manner of Anna Jones or a Gaelic footballer from the distant past. Suzi Corroon kicked a fine point from play after a big run by Orla Nohilly created the opportunity before Moya again pointed a free this one just inside the two-point arc – a great effort.  Moya then pointed from play after a fine piece of fielding by Alannah Burke who combined with Orla Nohilly to create the opportunity. Alannah and Sara Hannify formed a hard-working midfield partnership throughout.   Orla McHugh added her third point to the Garrycastle total, before, after 27 minutes, Garrycastle finally got the better of the Shamrocks defence and Wiktoria Wziatek got through for a goal to tie the match at 1-3 to 0-6 at the interval. 

Shamrocks dominated the second half scoring.  Moya Kilmartin kicked three points in the third quarter to give Shamrocks an 0-9 to 1-3 lead before Laoise Glennon pointed for Garrycastle after 45 minutes. Garrycastle had their moments during this half but poor shooting proved very costly. A great run by Alex Gavigan who combined with Alannah Buke was finished in fine style by Florence Geelon to restore the 3 point lead. Alexa then used her knowledge of the tap and go rule to engineer a free closer to goal which was converted by Moya. This proved to be the crucial moment of the game as Moya collected the Garrycastle restart, clear on goal, and dispatched the ball to the back of the net to give Shamrocks a winning lead. Alexa Gavigan made a welcome return to active service at half-time and after a long absence due to injury showed that she has lost none of her ball playing and carrying ability.  Shamrocks scoring was complete but what was virtually the last kick of the evening Erin McHugh finished as she started by pointing a Garrycastle free. 

Mullingar Shamrocks: Emily Forde; Alice Geelon, Ellie O’Donnell, Layla Dowd (Eilis Nohilly); Sarah Cosgrave ( Ece Ozdemir), Keela Doran, Ava Sheahan; Alannah Burke, Sarah Hannify; Florence Geelon (0-1), Oral Nohilly, Abi Matthews (0-1) [Alexa Gavigan]; Emily Maguire, Suzi Corroon (0-1) [Clodagh Keane], Moya Kilmartin (1-8).