Minor Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 0-10 Tubberclare 2-10

A bad evening at the Springfield office for our Minor football team on Monday evening as they went under to Tubberclare with a display that disappointed. With the assistance of a significant, wind Shamrocks with points from Alex Sheerin, Padraig Casey and two from Ryan Kelly led by 0-4 to 0-2 at the interval.

A fine pointed free from Daire O’Connor reduced the deficit early in the second half but this was matched by an effort from play by Paul Keating. It would be another twenty-five minutes before Shamrocks scored from play again. Points by Taylor Slevin and Paul Keegan and a scrambled goal by Tommy Farrell earned Tubberclare a lead they never subsequently lost. Conor Heffernan responded with a couple of pointed frees but when a dipping shot from Tommy Farrell found the net the game was effectively over. A class goal and it had to be a good shot to beat Shamrocks goalkeeper Adam Buckley who had a great game between the posts for Shamrocks. Safe handing, a few timely advances, a few good stops and good restarts were all part of Adam’s repertoire on the night.

Every picture tells a story and the two action shots (taken midway through the second half) attached to this report on Mullingar Shamrocks Facebook page illustrate Shamrocks’ difficulty on the night – Tubberclare defended in the modern fashion and Shamrocks were unable to unlock the puzzle presented by a massed defence. Turnovers were the inevitable result. On 11 occasions, in the second half, the ball was turned over and 1-3 was scored directly from these reverses of possession and a second half score of 2-8 to 0-6 in favour of Tubberclare.

Ryan Kelly kicked a great point from play and Conor Heffernan added two more from frees to complete the Shamrocks total.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Adam Buckley; Adam Glynn, Tye Masterson, Hugh O’Sullivan Sexton (Ben Sheerin); Ben McNamee, Peter Finch, James Flynn; Donnacha Maguire, Callum Rigney Clyne; Ryan Kelly (0-3), Conor Heffernan (0-4), Paul Keating (0-1); Padraig Casey (0-1), Alex Sheerin (0-1), Gavin Pierce (Matt Shaw).

Fogra: It was good to welcome Paddy and Killian Rouse back to Springfield from their Dubai home. Killian played for our Under-13s last year. Gary was overheard telling Paddy we have a Junior B game tomorrow night!