ACL Div.1: Mullingar Shamrocks 2-11 Garrycastle 0-7.

Traditionally we don’t beat Garrycastle so any victory against our long time tormentors, even if they are understrength. is to be welcomed and is an indication of progress. This was a good display with lots of hard running, long phases of ball possession and some great tackling within the confines of the rule book (we conceded only two points from frees). Ross and Denis Corroon kicked our opening points but Garrycastle responded with two pointed frees from Michael Monaghan and third from play by Michael Greene to put the Garrycastle boys ahead for the only time in the game, a lead that was quickly extinguished by a classic Alan Cashman point. Denis Corroon (0-2) and Dean Moore added points to secure an interval 0-6 to 0-3 lead for Shamrocks.

Shamrocks controlled the second half after Denis Corroon and Mark McCallon exchanged points. An effort for a point by an off-balance Dean Moore hung invitingly in the air and Conor O’Brien rose to the occasion in spectacular fashion and smashed the ball to the net in volleyball fashion. Ben Kilkenny pointed for Garrycastle but a Denis Corroon pointed free neutralised that effort. A James Sheerin point narrowed the gap to 0-5 (1-8 to 0-6) before Shamrocks’ second goal secured the points. Lorcan Smyth began the move and freed John O’Reilly who accelerated through the Garrycastle defence before finding Dean Moore. A pop over point was the easy option but a classic shimmy created the space for Deano who smashed the ball to the Garrycastle net (2-8 to 0-6). John O’Reilly, Denis Corroon and Dean Moore completed the Shamrocks scoring before the final whistle was blown.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Eoin Doran; David Coyne, Efe Siode, Dillon Matthews; Niall Hardiman (Shane Ormsby), David Coyne, John O’Reilly (0-1); Zach Aherne, Denis Corroon (0-6); Alan Cashman (0-1) [Trevor Keena],Dean Moore (1-2), Killian Daly; Conor O’Brien (1-0), Ross Corroon (0-1) [Lorcan Smyth], Jordan Warde.