Under 13 Division 2 semi-final: Mullingar Shamrocks 4-11 St. Michael’s 8-9.
If ever a scoreline does scant justice to a game then the final score in Ballycomoyle on Wednesday evening certainly ticks all the boxes. The visitors produced a superb display against a home side that had finished top of the group and with just three minutes to go the sides were level. A physically powerful St. Michael’s side forged ahead in the game’s closing moments but they certainly knew they’d been in a titanic battle. The management team of Oisin Masterson, Derek Sheerin, Adrian Regan and Greg Gavin deserve enormous credit for having their charges in such fine fettle at the season’s critical juncture and it’s hard to believe that Shamrocks were short five of the defenders who started the quarter final win over Lilliput Gaels. Shamrocks began promisingly but failed to trouble the scoreboard and a clinical home side punished a couple of hesitant moments in the Shamrocks’ rearguard.
The visitors were clearly keen to impose themselves on the game and Dylan Byrne, Shay Leavy, Harry Tilson and Oisin Gavin were imperious in defence. John Gilbride was having his best game of the year and Hugo Corroon and Sean Hickey were immense at midfield. The first of Paddy Colleary’s two goals and points from Scott Farrelly, Colm Clinton and Darragh Daly brought Shamrocks’ back into the game and a pulsating contest provided great entertainment for those watching. Both sides had periods of dominance and a heroic display by the green and whites saw them level matters when substitute Theo Kelly pointed with five minutes remaining. The match was finely poised but Conor Williams, Dylan Gaffney and influential sub Channing Dafel were to the fore as St. Michael’s edged ahead and a gallant Shamrocks’ effort ended in vain. It was heartening to see the skill and the effort of all the Shamrocks’ players and their improvement as witnessed in Ballycomoyle is a testament to the fantastic work on the training ground since late January.
The squad of players in Ballycomoyle was: Aaron Conroy, Harry Tilson, Oisin Gavin, Dylan Byrne, Shay Leavy, John Gilbride, MJ Burke, Hugo Corroon, Sean Hickey, Darragh Daly, Colm Clinton, Scott Farrelly, Paddy Colleary, Conor Walsh, Padraig Regan, Ruairi Kelly, Theo Kelly, Ben Murphy, Charlie Murtagh, Darragh Ryan
