Mullingar Shamrocks

Founded 1953

Co. Westmeath

Milltown finish ahead in the Faigreen Ladies Championship

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Fairgreen Ladies Senior Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 1-8 Milltown 0-14.

This defeat ended Mullingar Shamrocks interest in the championship for 2021 after what was probably the team’s finest display over the past few years. This was no freestyle scoring bonanza but an excellent game of football, great defending and patient football the order of the day. This was senior football in all its glory. This quality play was what might be expected with 10 of the Westmeath All-Ireland title winning panel on the pitch and given the standard on show it was easy to see why Westmeath were All-Ireland champions.

Mullingar Shamrocks players can feel confident after this display that winning a senior championship title is well within the capabilities of this relatively young team with two of the youngest players on the field anchoring a great Shamrocks half back line.

Karen Hegarty notched the opening point after 1 minute and 20 seconds of the most patient of creations during which Mullingar Shamrocks retained possession from the throw-in. Milltown responded immediately with a direct attack as Sarah Dillon kicked the equalising point almost straight from the restart. Lauren McCormack saved brilliantly to prevent an early Milltown goal before Karen Hegarty and Sarah Dillon, two of the best forwards in the county, again traded points with Cliodhna Spellman and Anna Jones linking to create the opportunity for Karen. Points from Orlaith Sheerin, Leanne Slevin (free) and Bronagh Beglin eased Milltown into a lead they were never subsequently to lose. A dropped kicked-point from Karen Hegarty that skimmed the bar ended the first quarter with Milltown leading by 0-5 to 0-3. In the second quarter, Leanne Slevin and Anna Jones (free) exchanged points, a Karen Hegarty shot rebounded from the crossbar before Sarah Dillon and Kelly Boyce Jordan added to Milltown’s total before the interval (0-8 to 0-4).

Another great Lauren McCormack save from a Sarah Dillon shot early in the second half kept Shamrocks hopes alive and at this stage the Mullingar Shamrocks defence was outstanding with the halfback line of Annemarie O’Reilly, Máiread Newman, who was thriving in her new centre-half back position, and the equally brilliant Cliodhna Spellman setting the standard. Behind them the fullback line was equally secure with Melek Fagan and Sophie Hegarty (having her best ever season) in top form allowing Niamh Spellman and Sarah Dillon to engage in their own great personal duel with honours even between two of Westmeath’s stars of 2021. Bronagh Beglan pointed but a brilliant solo run by Máiread Newman created an opening for Susanna Buckley who pointed to cut the deficit to 0-4. A great Anna Jones run ended with Anna’s shot crashing off the cross bar with the Milltown keeper well beaten. Orlaith Sheerin pointed with a little help from the goalpost (0-10 to 0-5), another Susanna Buckley point neutralised this score before Kelly Boyce Jordan made her way up-field and pointed. Tara Fagan (also thriving in midfield well supported by Laura Whitelaw) pointed and at the second water break the scoreboard read 0-11 to 0-7.

Shamrocks refused to surrender and dominated the final quarter piling on the pressure. Another Kelly Boyce Jordan foray extended the Milltown lead; Holly McCormack replaced Clara Thornton (who had worked herself to a standstill) and signalled her arrival by scoring a crucial goal (1-7 to 0-12). Some last gasp defending by Milltown prevented a second goal and the lead for Shamrocks. Leann Slevin and Anna Jones swopped pointed frees before Leann again pointed from a free before Jim Rock blew the whistle for the last time as the rain poured down.

All seventeen Shamrocks players had fought the brave fight and refused at any stage to surrender, and although the positives to be drawn from this game far outweighed the negatives, unfortunately, the championship hopes for 2021 are no more.

Thanks to Robbie Boyle for all his work with the players over the past two years and his support team of Lisa Burke and Carole Finch; Geraldine McCormack for her medical expertise, and Debbie Newman for her administration and logistics management.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Lauren McCormack; Niamh Spellman, Sophie Hegarty, Melek Fagan; Cliodhna Spellman, Máiread Newman, Annmarie O’Reilly; Tara Fagan (0-1), Laura Whitelaw; Casey McDermott (Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton), Anna Jones (0-2), Susanna Buckley (0-2); Emma Morris, Karen Hegarty (0-3), Clara Thornton (Holly McCormack, 1-0).

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