ACL Div.1: Mullingar Shamrocks 2-10 Tang 1-12. 

Mullingar Shamrocks travelled to Tang for the penultimate match of the 2016 ACL Div. 1 and emerged with a single-point victory over the home side. Shamrocks were slow to settle and after Tye Adamson opened the scoring, Aidan Burke (0-2 frees) and Niall Neary replied with points to establish a 0-3 to 0-1 Tang after ten minutes. Shamrocks dominated the remainder of the half and with Ciarán Curley outstanding established an interval lead of 1-6 to 0-3. Curley’s 1-3 represented the difference between the sides – the goal a particularly fine individual effort. Tye Adamson, Paddy Joyce and Patrick Fagan were also prominent in this half.

Tang, with hill advantage, reduced the deficit with two more pointed frees from Burke and a point from Martin Rock in the opening five minutes of the second half. Dylan McDermott and Seanie Daly exchanged a pair of points with Aidan Burke to leave the score 1-8 to 0-8 after fifteen minutes.  At this stage, a precision pass from Dylan McDermott sent Seanie Daly through to score the decisive goal. Pointed frees from Daly (0-2) and Patrick Fagan completed the Shamrocks tally before Sean Coughlan goaled for Tang in the final seconds, a goal that followed  a spectacular long range point from Neary, that was perhaps the score of the match. John Ganly made a welcome return to the Shamrocks colours after his recent return from the Middle East. The victory was essential if Shamrocks were to maintain an interest in the destination of the 2016 ACL Div. 1 title. This will now be decided in the final league game against St Loman’s.

Shamrocks:  Philly Shaw; Aaron Purcell, Effie Siode, David Coyne; Paddy Joyce [Nathan Smyth] , Kieran Gavin, Paul Christie;  Seanie Daly (1-2) and Donal O’Donoghue;  Tye Adamson (0-2), Patrick Fagan (0-2),  Brian Melody [Ryan Blundell];  Ciarán Curley (1-3) [John Ganly], Dylan McDermott (0-1), Conor Twomey (Daragh Daly).

Under-14 Football Championship

Under strength due to holidays and other commitments, Shamrocks were on the wrong side of a 5-11 to 3-4 score-line in the under-14 championship match against Killucan. Our scorers on this occasion were Johnny Joyce (2-0), Emmett Walsh (1-0), Seán Óg Hynes (0-2) Rory Sexton O’ Sullivan (0-1) and Mark Shaw (0-1).