ACL Div.6 Final: Mullingar Shamrocks 2-12 Ballycomoyle 2-5.

Mullingar Shamrocks collected the ACL Div.6 title in Cusack Park on Friday evening defeating Ballycomoyle by a seven point margin in a ‘game of football played in the old style and great to see’ according to County Committee Chairperson Frank Mescall as he presented the League Shield to our captain Dylan Carey. Shamrocks dominated but Ballycomoyle battled to the end and it was only in the final few minutes that Shamrocks secured the title.

It was football played in the modern style that resulted in the opening score, a Ballycomoyle goal within 40 seconds as Shamrocks defenders began a passing movement deep in their own half. Nothing wrong with this, it’s the modern way but it occasionally misfires and on this occasion Mikey Curley’s pass was intercepted and promptly dispatched to an empty net by Adrian Leahy. Three minutes later Trevor Keena pointed after great work by James Larkin and the score began a long spell of Shamrocks dominance. Dónal O’Donoghue and James Larkin totally controlled midfield and Trevor Keena created havoc with his pace and runs through the centre. Brendan O’Reilly anchored the defence and behind him Matthew Siode controlled the front of goal action and found the time for several Efi type solo runs up-field. Eamonn Breslin and Dylan Carey were in control in the corners; Bressie played so well that Frank Mescall believed it was Micheál Curley in the corner –no greater tribute can be played to a Shamrocks defender. Pearse Corroon and Dylan Franzoni also impressed with Dylan one of the outstanding players on the field with his pace, fitness and mobility and football skill of the highest order. In attack Trevor Keena played havoc and is having a great season and is quickly regaining the form that made him a county minor player a few years ago; Luke McCabe was just as effective; David Culkin is improving with every game and his strength and power are producing plenty of free kick opportunities; Matthew Ryan and Niall Hannigan covered acres of ground while Nathan Smyth always threatened on the edge of the square.

With Shamrocks in control ,fouls inevitably followed and Luke McCabe from a free added a second point, and after Dylan Franzoni and Davy Culkin combined added a second point from play (1-0 to 0-3).In the thirteenth minute, Pearse Corron kicked Shamrocks into the lead before Luke McCabe and Niall Hannigan combined and David Culkin finished for a fine point. Luke McCabe pointed twice from frees before Ballycomoyle responded with two successive points to close the gap. David Williams pointed and collected Mikey’s restart and pointed again (0-6 to 1-2). Matthew Siode and David Culkin released Trevor Keena who raced through the centre and shot narrowly over, this was followed by Noel Breslin point for Ballycomoyle to bring the interval score to 0-8 to 1-3 in favour of Mullingar Shamrocks.

Dónal O’Donoghue’s hamstrings are not a flexible as they were in the past and a twinge forced the veteran midfielder out a halftime and he was replaced by Tomass Turks. A Robbie Cooney point reduced the deficit to the minimum eleven minutes into the second half but Shamrocks responded with a goal the restart. It was a score worth waiting for as Mikey Curley’s excellent kick was fielded by Trevor Keena in midfield close to the Cusack Park tunnel. Trevor switched to overdrive and raced through the Ballycomoyle defence before chipping the ball to the top corner without breaking stride. Only one word: brilliant. Luke McCabe, playing his best game in a Shamrocks jersey, pointed under pressure but a high delivery from David Williams deceived Mikey Curley and a couple of more defenders before it nestled in the back of the Shamrocks net to keep the Ballycomoyle hopes alive and another Williams point again cut the deficit to the minimum (1-9 to 2-5) in the twenty-first minute. Shamrocks despite the dominance were vulnerable but a second Shamrocks goal secured the title. Again Shamrocks retained possession from a Mikey Curley restart and again Trevor Keena cut through the Ballycomoyle defence. This time he parted to Ciarán Curley who shimmied and despatched the ball to the net. A great goal for the Lynn Heights contingent. Curley’s presence brought a bit of steadiness to the scene and from the goal restart Dylan Franzoni gained possession and pointed. (2-10 to 2-5). Luke McCabe kicked his sixth point Niall Hannigan completed the scoring with a tidy point created by a Ciaran Curley pass.

So a fine win for the team made up of in the words of Frank Mescall ‘men from Tír na nÓg and those who have graduated from last year’s minor team’. The men from Tír na nÓg probably made their debut in Cusack Park sometime in the last century and have a nice collection of medals to their credit; some of the younger lads were possible playing in Cusack Park for the first time and were collecting their first medals as adult footballers.

Well done to the management team of Gary Corroon, Ritchie Daly and Seamus Wallace for their work during the league campaign.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Mikey Curley; Eamonn Breslin, Matthew Siode, Dylan Carey; Dylan Franzoni (0-1), Brendan O’Reilly, Pearse Corroon (0-1); Dónal O’Donoghue (Tomass Turks), James Larkin; Niall Hannigan (0-1), Trevor Keena (1-2) Matthew Ryan (Brian Melody) (Ciaran Kiernan); Luke McCabe (0-6), Nathan Smyth (Ciaran Curley, 1-0), David Culkin (0-1) [Nathan Cornally].