Junior Football Championship, Quarter-final: Mullingar Shamrocks 0-10 Castletown-Finea/Coole-Whitehall 4-10.

The final scoreline did not do justice to the Mullingar Shamrocks efforts in this encounter and although CFCW were deserving winners the twelve point margin was inflated somewhat by the addition of two very late goals when the result was decided. CFCW dominated the opening quarter and had bult a 1-5 to 0-2 lead at the first break although they ended the quarter reduced to 14 men when Charlie McCormack was shown a red card for an off the ball infraction. The lead margin could have been greater as CFCW missed a number of goal scoring opportunities that were prevented by a combination of scrambled defending, some good saves by Seán Óg Hynes, a brilliant block by Daniel Chukwuemeka and some wild CFCW shooting. Marc Eivers kicked a good point for Shamrocks after some good play by James Shaw and Jack Kelly did likewise after good work by Brian Melody and Matthew Clinton. Scores were evenly divided in the second quarter with Gary Corroon and Alan Naughton exchanging points before Kevin Brazil breached the Shamrocks defence for CFCW’s second goal. Shamrocks responded well and dominated the final minutes of the half and points by Gary Corroon, John O’Reilly and Trevor Keena provided a foundation for a second half recovery based on a scoreboard reading 2-6 to 0-6.

Playing with wind and hill advantage and an extra player hopes were high of a Shamrocks recovery on the restart. Gary Corroon gave life to these hopes with three excellent points struck from long range frees. However, the second set of scores belonged to CFCW as Joe Rabbit too pointed three frees from close range. Shortly before the second water break Shamrocks too were reduced to 14 men when Alan Cashman received a second yellow card for his second phantom foul. Mullingar Shamrocks fading hopes were extinguished early in the final quarter when substitute Mark Cunningham announced his arrival with 1-1, John O’Reilly pointed for Shamrocks, a good save by Seán Óg Hynes prevented another goal but with the last play of the match Alan Devine hit CFCW’s fourth goal to send his team into the semi-final of the championship.

Mullingar Shamrocks appreciate the efforts of Seán Hynes and Gareth Doyle on behalf of the team during the season, a season that was very important in developing the several young promising players that featured during the season. There is no doubt that several of these players will feature prominently in the near future at senior level.

And in there, showing the example was Gary Corroon, an ageless veteran, who had a great season and is a brilliant worker on behalf of the club.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Seán Óg Hynes; Emmet Walsh, Matthew Siode, Daniel Chukwuemeka; Jack Kelly [0-1] (Kevin Reid), Eamon Breslin, James Shaw; Marc Eivers (0-1), John O’Reilly (0-2); Matthew Clinton (Cormac Hynes), Alan Cashman, Andrew Shaw (Mark Shaw); Brian Melody, Gary Corroon[0-4] (Brian Maguire), Trevor Keena[Ciarán Looby].