Clarke’s Bar Junior I Quarter-final: Bunbrosna 0-14 Mullingar Shamrocks 1-9

Mullingar Shamrocks exited from the Junior I championship after a battling performance in Ballymore on Saturday evening. The greater experience and craft of Bunrbrosna and their greater level of fitness were important factors in securing the important victory for the Bun who opened the scoring with a point from Barry O’Mara. They were to remain scoreless for the next twenty minutes as some great tackling by the Shamrocks defenders forced several turnovers or hurried shot making by the Bub forwards with inevitable results.

Shamrocks were far more efficient in availing of their limited chances and points from Brian Melody, a neat left footed chip from Niall Hardiman, a great combined effort also finished by Brian Melody secured a 0-3 to 0-1 lead for Shamrocks after 20 minutes. A pointed Barry O’Mara free reintroduced Bunbrosna to the concept of scoring and O’Mara’s third point brought the sides level and a Peter Tormey point sent Bunbrosna ahead. A fine Trevor Keenan point levelled the match. Sean Hynes superb catch from Emmet Walsh’s deliver was the vial piece of skill that made this score possible. A brilliant Mikey Curley save kept Shamrocks in the game and from the resulting scramble Peter Tormey pointed to secure the interval lead for his team – a lead Bunbrosna never subsequently lost (0-5 to 0-4).

Pete Tormey with his third successive point extended the lead following the restart followed almost immediately by another great save by Mikey from John Kiernan. A great point by Niall Hannigan from a move that was started and finished by Niall, who had a superb game and covered acres of Ballymore ground for the cause. James Larkin too was outstanding as was Donal O’Donoghue and Brian Melody. Mikey Curley’s saves were crucial. Another Tormey point and one from Kenny Michell extended the Bunbrosna lead to three points (0-8 to 0-5). A pointed mark by Gary Corroon kept Shamrocks in contention but this was balanced by a like score from Darragh Lyons who had a significant impact following his introduction. Brian Melody pointed on the fifteenth minute (0-9 to 0-7), A super Donal O’Donoghue point, an outside of the boot special, reduced the deficit to the minimum (0-9 to 0-8). This outside of the boot special was from the left boot which made the score extra special. Have no doubt about it: class is permanent

Darragh Lyons pointed again (0-10 to 0-8) but a Darren Keena point again reduced the deficit to the minimum. However, points by Mark Donnelly, Shane McGovern, and two from Barry O’ Mara extended the Bunbrosna lead to five points (0-14 to 0-9) with two minutes remaining. Darren Keena scored a brilliant goal but unfortunately that was it and on the kickout Mick Gordon blew the final whistle.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Mikey Curley; Eamonn Breslin, Matthew Siode, Niall Hardiman (0-1); Emmet Walsh, Padraic McKenna, Tomass Turks; Donal O’Donoghue (0-1), James Larkin; Niall Hannigan (0-1) Trevor Keena (0-1), Andrew Shaw (Ciaran Kiernan – blood sub); Brian Melody (0-3), Gary Corroon (0-1) [Ciaran Kiernan), Seán Hynes (Darren Keena, 1-1).

Clarke’s Bar Junior II Quarter-final: Caulry 1-17 Mullingar Shamrocks 0-3.

Mullingar Shamrocks Junior II team exited the championship on Sunday morning in Ballinagore after a heavy defeat to a powerful Caulry team. The damage was done in the first half and despite the best efforts of Enda Keating who was outstanding throughout Caulry secured an interval lead of 1-12 to 0-1, the goal courtesy of some sloppy passing. Caulry’s second half scoring was limited to five points thanks to a much improved Shamrocks performance but the game as a contest was effectively over at the interval.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Daragh Ryan; Enda Keating, Ben Egan, Stephen Hassett; Ruaíri Hickey, Conor Fitzpatrick, Ejiro Siode, David Culkin (0-1); Tom Hickey, Andrew Connaughton, Peter Collins; Adam Boyle (0-1), Ritchie Daly, Mark Shaw (0-1), James Devine.