Shay Murtagh Precast Westmeath Senior Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 1-14 Garrycastle 2-6.

What this means is that relegation to intermediate ranks has been removed from our championship equation and the other results this weekend means that our last match of the league section against Moate All-Whites becomes a play-off for a place in the quarter final and promotion to Section A of the championship. A worthwhile prize.

This did not seem likely at half-time as Garrycastle battled to a 2-5 to 0-5 lead. Garrycastle scored in the first minute when goalkeeper Seán Brennan pointed a 45 and three minutes later the Shamrocks defence failed to deal with a lobbing ball that was finished to the net by James Sheerin. Jordan Warde responded for Shamrocks with a good point from a mark; Brennan pointed his second free, an effort that was matched by a Paddy Fagan point from play. The highly effective Mickey Green pointed as did Cathal Mannion from a free to extend the Garrycastle lead (1-4 to 0-2) after fifteen minutes. The concession of the free earned Davy Coyne a black card and a ten-minute spell on the sideline for the corner back. Three minutes later the Shamrocks defence was carved open and Eoin Mulvihill finished to the net for Garrycastle’s second goal. The goal began with a needless turnover back in the Shamrocks full-forward line. Overall, Shamrocks coped well with the numerical disadvantage; Dean Moore pointed after a great run by Efe from deep in defence and Denis Corroon pointed from a free. Garrycastle goalkeeper, Sean Brennan pointed from a 45 to give his side a six-point interval lead (2-5 to 0-5).

The Shamrocks mindset was adjusted at the interval and a more attack-minded approach was evident from the restart. Conn O’Hanlon charged out of defence and travelled deep into Garrycastle territory before passing to Jordan Warde who shot to the net for a vital score. Paddy Fagan added a point and suddenly the gap was just two points. Jack Donoghue, who received a yellow card for his illegal tackle, halted another great run by Efe. Donoghue was just back on the field after a black card transgression and the second infraction was enough to secure a red card and reduce Garrycastle to fourteen players.

Black + Yellow = Red or even Yellow + Black = Red in ordinary and higher level maths all players should note for future reference.

Denis Corroon pointed from the resultant free and Alan Cashman added another point from play. Efe Siode made another spectacular gallop up-field and this time completed the run by scoring himself and Denis Corroon added another point from a free. Another Paddy Fagan point extended the lead before Garrycastle had their only score of the second half, a point from substitute Ben Kilkenny. Shamrocks were in total control now and finished with points from Jordan Warde, Dean Moore and John O’ Reilly (who combined with brother Brendan ) to secure a vital victory.

Mullingar Shamrocks: : Eoin Doran; Marc Eivers, Efe Siode (0-1), Davy Coyne (Brendan O’ Reilly); Killian Daly, David Gavin, Conn O’Hanlon; Denis Corroon (0-4), Conor O’ Brien; Lorcan Smyth, (Zach Aherne), Patrick Fagan (0-3), Alan Cashman (0-1) [John O’Reilly, 0-1]; Dean Moore (0-2), Jordan Warde (1-2), Ollie MacNamara.