ACL Div.1 Mullingar Shamrocks 1-4 Coralstown-Kinnegad 0-7

Mullingar Shamrocks produced their best performance of the season to collect a valuable league point from this game played in Kinnegad. With both teams playing controlled, disciplined football with the emphasis on retaining possession and defending in depth scoring opportunities were scare. Coralstown-Kinnegad held an interval lead of 0-4 to 0-2 with Shamrocks two points coming from the boot of Dean Moore, the first created by a great surge from defence by Dillon Matthews. Kinnegad extended their lead ten minutes into the second half when Eoin O’Brien kicked a point from a difficult angle and only a fine save from Philly Shaw prevent ed the same player from finding the net. A superbly struck Colm Murray free from the sideline extend the Coralstown-Kinnegad lead and increased the gap to four points (0-6 to 0-2: Why do defenders foul when there is no danger or possibility of a score?).

Mullingar Shamrocks responded with the score of the evening that began with a great piece of Ryan Blundell defending. Patrick Fagan moved the ball forward to Denis Corroon who released Dean Moore for a clear run on goal. Dean made no mistake and crashed the ball past Seán Martin. A pointed free from Denis Corroon levelled the game and then Denis kicked a fine point from play, after a long series of passes, with just three minutes remaining to put Shamrocks ahead 1-4 to 0-6. However, a turnover provided Coralstown-Kinnegad with one final opportunity and Westmeath Under-20 player Ciaran Daly pointed with what was the last kick of the game to equalise.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Philly Shaw; Eddie Moore, Conn O’Hanlon, Marc Eivers; Ryan Blundell, David Gavin, Dillon Matthews; Brian Farrell, Denis Corroon (0-2); Alan Cashman, Dean Moore (1-2), John O’Reilly; Zach Aherne (Patrick Fagan), Ross Corroon, Lorcan Smyth (Ollie MacNamara).