Senior Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 0-18 Castledaly 2-8

In the end it was a comfortable victory for Mullingar Shamrocks accompanied by some moments of concern in both halves. Shamrocks reeled-off a number of fine scores in the early stages as Darren Keena kicked two fine points from play, Denis Corroon had two from frees and single points from Dean Moore and Simon Quinn … the latter one was a bit special as it came from a good turnover by Kieran Gavin who off-loaded to Micheál Curley who passed to Simon Quinn. Quinn (who just recently returned to active service had his finest game in a long time in a Shamrocks jersey) ended a long-distance solo-run by kicking a beautiful point. Castledaly opened their scoring account in the nineteenth minute when Lorcan Dolan scored a classic point … the first of several fine scores by the Castledaly full-forward on the night. Dean Moore pointed for Shamrocks to restore the six points advantage but then Castledaly had their best spell of the match. Dan Heavin pointed and then M. J. Kelly ghosted in behind the Shamrocks defence to punch the ball past Philly Shaw (0-7 to 1-3). It was game on and a Lorcan Dolan shot crashed off the crossbar to the relief of the Shamrocks contingent on and off the pitch. Shamrocks regained their composure and closed the half with points from Darren Keena, Simon Quinn and Denis Corroon to establish a half-time lead of 0-10 to 1-3.

On resumption Denis Corroon and Lorcan Dolan shared six points over fifteen minutes, appropriately as Denis and Lorcan were outstanding on the night. Denis Corroon finished with eight points to his credit, the collection included one from the end line, one from long range and a few frees in what was a superb display of all-round football skills and ability. Castledaly scored the game’s second goal after fifteen minutes with an almost exact replica of the first. A high speculative ball in to the goalmouth to an unmarked Kevin Stone who punched the ball to the Shamrocks to reduce the deficit to the minimum again (0-13 to 2-6).

However, Shamrocks responded in style and quickly regained the initiative; Jordan Warde scored his first point in Westmeath senior championship football after great work by Simon Quinn; Denis Corroon scored 0-2 and Paddy Joyce and Efe Siode completed the eighteen-point total before a late pointed Lorcan Dolan free deep into injury time ended the championship contest.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Philip Shaw; Eddie Moore, Efe Siode (0-1), Aaron Purcell; Paddy Joyce (0-1), Kieran Gavin, Micheál Curley; Denis Corroon (0-8) and Dónal O’Donoghue; Killian Daly, Dean Moore (0-2), Alan Cashman; Simon Quinn (0-2), Brendan O’Reilly, Jordan Warde 0-1), Darren Keena (0-3)