ACL Div. 3: Killucan 3-6 Mullingar Shamrocks 0-14

No joy for the hardy boys who lined out for Mullingar Shamrocks on a bitterly cold, stormy night in Killucan in this ACL Div. 3 match. Their efforts deserved at least a draw; on a difficult night for football putting 14 points on the scoreboard was a very good return. However we know what is said about goals: they win matches and Killucan's 3 secured the victory and the important league points. On a night designed to test football skills the kicking of Ross Corroon for Mullingar Shamrocks and David Hickey for Killucan was outstanding. Killucan led by 2-5 to 0-6 at half-time and Ross Corroon's great striking from free kicks straight into the wind secured 0-4 and Ross also had another fine point from play. David Hickey notched 1-5 for Killucan in this half; the collection included a pointed sideline and a superb penalty goal. Mullingar Shamrocks dominance of the second half was total. Points from Ross Corroon and Ciarán Curley closed the gap before another David Hickey point extended the Killucan lead. Points from Brendan O'Reilly, Ciarán Curley, Trevor Keena and Alan Cashman levelled matters by the eighteenth minute (2-6 to 0-12). Gary Walshe edged Shamrocks ahead and a superb Ciarán Curley point increased the lead to 0-2 and Shamrocks looked good. However Killucan weren't for surrendering and their second score of the half - a goal finished by Seán Scully- secured the victory and the league points. It could easily have been different, a bit of impatient shooting proved costly but that's football and we did survive a few dangerous first-half situations. On the most difficult of nights a lot of good football was played and the kicking displays of Ross Corroon and David Hickey will not be bettered anywhere this season.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Daragh Ryan; Marc Eivers (Ryan Blundell), Mark Butler, Peter Bane; Brendan O'Reilly (0-1), James Grogan, Pearse Corroon; Adam McCormack, Alan Cashman (0-1); Gary Walshe (0-1), Ciarán Curley (0-3), Ross Corroon (0-6); Kenneth O'Reilly, Gary Corroon, Trevor Keena (0-2).