Minor Football League: Mullingar Shamrocks 5-10 The Downs 1-7

Mullingar Shamrocks Minor footballers began their championship campaign on Monday evening last with a short trip to local rivals The Downs. This was a fiercely contested, competitive encounter with the green and whites emerging victorious on a 5-10 to 1-7 scoreline. The management team of Micheál Burke, Seamus Wallace, Vinny Timoney and Niall O' Brien were content with some aspects of the side's performance whilst acknowledging that more work needs to be done on the coaching front. An early goal by Darragh Hughes gave the visitors an advantage that they never subsequently relinquished but the first quarter was notable for the chances spurned by the Shamrocks' boys and The Downs levelled matters after fifteen minutes. Gradually, the likes of Conor Fagan, Shane Ormsby, Aaron Russell, Conor Hickey, Tom and Rory Hickey, Ciarán Kiernan, Rian Adamson and Enda Keating began to influence proceedings and a superbly taken goal by Adam Boyle helped Shamrocks to a half time lead of 2-4 to 1-2. The game continued in a similar vein in the third quarter with Darragh Hughes adding two more goals and the loss of Shane Ormsby to a harsh black card was overcome with Ben White, Ben Egan and Eoin Doran making significant contributions. The Downs through Rian Holding's high fielding and Josh Murtagh put the Shamrocks' rearguard under pressure but the management were able to introduce a raft of substitutions and the game ended on a final score of Mullingar Shamrocks 5-10 The Downs 1-7. Best wishes to Josh Murtagh who sustained an accidental knock in a collision with Shane Ormsby.

Mullingar Shamrocks Panel: Eoin Doran, Enda Keating, Conor Kelly, Rory Hickey, Ben White, Ben Egan, Aaron Russell, Tom Hickey, Shane Ormsby, John Ryan, Ciaran Kiernan, Rian Adamson, Adam Boyle, Darragh Hughes, Conor Fagan, Caoileann Walsh, Nathan Cornally, Oisin Garry, Aaron Smith, Tadgh Sheridan, Dylan Carey, Nathan Cornally, Killian Kelly, William O' Reilly, Cian McGrath, Mikey Curley, Cameron Crichton, Mike Swarbrigg, Jack Guilfoyle, Luke McCabe, Robin Harimona.