Mullingar Shamrocks Qualify for Div.1 Féile Final

Mullingar Shamrocks with a great 4-4 to 0-5 victory over The Downs and an 0-4 each draw with Lilliput Gaels, on Saturday morning, qualified for the Division 1 Football Féile Final. The battling qualities on display against The Downs were admirable and after surviving a first-half onslaught Shamrocks dominated the second half an outscored the home team 4-2 to 0-1. James Ryan, Ted Aherne and Hugo Corroon (2-0) scored the crucial goals. James Ryan’s goal was the special one and an early contender for the goal of the season. James will rarely score a better one. Older spectators mentioned Barney Rock’s goal against Galway in the 1983 All-Ireland final, David Beckham’s famous goal against Wimbledon in 1996 was also included in the mix. James spotted The Downs goalkeeper well off his line as he was about to take a sideline from around the 50 metre line and floated the perfect kick straight to the back of The Downs net. A wonderful goal and a crucial score in the context of the game.

The goals were important but there was some excellent defending also, that began in the full forward line with excellent tackling and blocking a feature.

Mullingar Shamrocks then lined out against Lilliput Gaels and were at the receiving end of a great battling performance from the St Malachy’s-Ballinagore-Loughnavalley combination that refused to accept defeat. A win would have guaranteed Shamrocks a final place but it wasn’t to be as with the last attack of the morning Lilliput scored the point that secured the draw the Lilliput boys fully deserved. Both Shamrocks and Lilliput were now potential finalists and entering the final minutes of their second match against The Downs, Lilliput loked to have secured the final place as they comfortably defended their 1-2 to 0-2 lead. A last minute penalty awarded to The Downs which was converted by Patrick Monaghan after his initial shot was saved cost the Lilliput Gaels their final place as the sides were level when John Joe Brady blew the final whistle. Mullingar Shamrocks topped the group with 3 points and secured the prize of a final place and the bonus of an opportunity to play in Cusack Park.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Ted Aherne, Dylan Byrne, Paddy Colleary, Aaron Conroy, Hugo Corroon, Zak Coyne, James Davitt, Óisin Gavin, Isaac Haughey, Liam Heffernan, Seán Hickey, Luke Kelly, Declan Newman, Ruairí Kelly, Ruairí Kilmartin, Zak Masterson, Rory McCaul, Ryan McNamee, Charlie Murtagh, Padraig Regan, James Ryan, Rian Sheeran, Gareth Sweeney, Harry Tilson, Conor Walsh.