Senior Football Championship: Garrycastle 1-14 Mullingar Shamrocks 0-9

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown was a popular phrase used by GAA scribes in less imaginative times but it's worth another spin to describe Mullingar Shamrocks standing after this opening championship match in Moate on Saturday night. The county champions crown is probably a little bit less secure after this outing  but it's early days yet there are four more matches in the group stages and qualification for the play off stages is the name of the game.

The sides were level at 0-2 each after ten minutes with Denis Corroon and Dean Moore on target for Shamrocks and Conor Cosgrove and Jason Nugent responding for Garrycastle. Kieran Gavin landed two great points both following magnificent fielding by Denis Corroon who was at his magnificent best at midfield on the night. Alex Gardiner and Jason Nugent pointed to level matters after twenty minutes. A great Philly Shaw save kept Garrycastle at bay and goalkeeper Seán Brennan was wide from the resultant 45. 

At this stage Garrycastle landed a few vital blows as Alex Gardiner and John Gaffey hit two points in quick succession; Shamrocks lost Alan Cashman to a shoulder injury and John Gaffey trundled up-field to score his second point before the referee blew for the interval break with Garrycastle leading on a scoreline of 0-7 to 0-4. 

Garrycastle began the second half with a pointed free from Conor Cosgrove before Dónal O'Donoghue and Micheál Curley pointed for Shamrocks to reduce the deficit to two points (0-8 to 0-6).  These were neutralised by two more great Conor Cosgrove frees from long range that extended Garrycastle's lead to four points. Dean Moore responded with a point from a free and one from play, Shamrocks lost Eddie Moore to a second yellow card; Eoin Monaghan pointed from the resultant free and added another almost immediately from the resultant kick-out (0-12 to 0-8).

Dean Moore pointed but in the final minutes Conor Cosgrove pointed from play, Alex Gardiner scored point number fourteen and rounded off his evening by converting an injury time penalty to score the game's only goal. At this stage Shamrocks were reduced to thirteen as Mark Butler dislocated a finger in his first piece of action after replacing the injured Aaron Purcell.

On a night that we lined out without Paddy Joyce, Paddy Fagan, Tye Adamson and Jordan Warde of our county champion team (but as Brian Cody might say we were missing no players, we had fifteen out there on the field)  we never matched Garrycastle's intensity or work-rate.  There will be other days and  nights.

It's always a special day when you make your senior championship debut for your club. Tonight two more players joined the ranks of those who have represented Mullingar Shamrocks in senior championship football. Congrats to Marc Eivers and Trevor Keena.

Memo to John Horan, President of the GAA for Dublin: there was no back pass to either goalkeeper in this  match.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Philly Shaw; Eddie Moore, Efe Siode, Killian Daly; Aaron Purcell (Mark Butler), Micheál Curley (0-1), Brendan O'Reilly (Pearse Corroon); Daragh Daly and Denis Corroon (0-1); Alan Cashman (Trevor Keena), Dónal O'Donoghue (0-1), Kieran Gavin (0-2) [Dillon Matthews]; Darren Keena (Marc Eivers) Dean Moore (0-4), Simon Quinn (Davy Gavin).   

Shamrocks New Alternative Jersey Unveiled ...

On Saturday evening Mullingar Shamrocks took the field against Garrycastle with the players wearing the club's new alternative set of jerseys for the first time (GAA clubs don't do away strips). These jerseys will be used in future when there is a clash of colours with the opposing teams. There will be some surprise that the jersey has a significant quota of blue but as Chairman Sean Hynes explained 'This is just not any random colour of jersey. The colours have significance and recognise the club's heritage and connection to the Pearse's club. This is the colour and type  of jersey that I wore when I first played for Shamrocks'. Sean and Terry O'Dowd are responsible for the new design and colour and of course the jersey was produced in consultation with  KC Sports. 

It also carries the Opt for Life logo.

The Pearse's Hurling Club was set up in November 1951 with Commandant Denis O'Callaghan, grandfather of the present Dublin star Con O'Callaghan, the club's first chairman. At a meeting of the Pearse's club in January 1953 it was decided to form a separate football club. The new club was Mullingar Shamrocks. The members of Pearse's were determined  that the footballers of Mullingar ‘would no longer be left orphaned and abandoned to be eventually lured away to the winter sodden fields of alien associations or to become the adopted children of a country club.’

For the next twenty-five years the two clubs affiliated as separate entities and successfully promoted hurling and football in Mullingar. Pearse's finest hour came in 1962 when the senior hurling title was won, the last (ever?) occasion a senior hurling title was won by a Mullingar  club. At the end of the 1968 season it was decided to join forces with Mullingar Shamrocks and between 1969  and 1973 the amalgamation was affiliated as Mullingar GAA Club. In 1974 it was decided not to enter any hurling teams in the Westmeath championships and the Mullingar Shamrocks name was restored and the club wore blue and white hooped jerseys for most of the 1970s.

This is the heritage recognised in the new alternative jersey set.

Under-10 Go-Games Blitz ...

Shamrocks’ under-10s faced visiting sides Ballycomoyle and Millmore Gaels on Monday evening and a fantastic hour’s football resulted with over 70 players in action from all 3 clubs. It was great to see 38 boys representing Shamrocks and each player can feel immensely proud of his efforts. The passing, shooting, tackling and blocking were highly impressive. The training drills on Saturday morning and Wednesday evening are clearly paying off. It was also great to see no fewer than 12 coaches in attendance, well done to everyone on a great evening’s fun. Thanks to Ciaran McCormack from Millmore Gaels and Mick Ginnell from Ballycomoyle for helping to coordinate the matches. Training continues on Wednesday evening from 7.00 to 7.45.

Under 12 LGF Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 2-7 St Paul's-Delvin 1-7

Mullingar Shamrocks Under-12 girls had a great win against Delvin-St Paul's on Tuesday evening in Springfield ... a great recovery after losing heavily to the same team earlier in the season.

Athleticism, text book tackling, marvellous goalkeeping, super attitude and long range point scoring kept the crowd enthralled. Shamrocks’ ability to grab game changing goals proved crucial as they carved out a 2-7 to 1-7 victory. Team manager Danielle Hope and selectors Peter Thornton and Robbie Boyle were delighted with their charges performance. An early goal by Aoife Cornally and points by Grace Hanley and Nicole Isis, who was superb throughout, established an early lead for the home side, one that they never subsequently relinquished and excellent defending by Sarah Ford, Aine Creagh and Ella Briody ensured a half time lead of 1-4 to 0-2.

St. Paul’s-Delvin began the second half in impressive fashion and four unanswered points reduced the shamrocks’ lead to the minimum margin. Half time sub Eabha Moran then produced the pass of the match when her pin point pass freed Zara Corroon whose finish was perfect. Shamrocks stood firm as their opponents tried mightily to get back on level terms but goalkeeper Abigail Molloy was sure in her handling and the match ended with shamrocks victors by 2-7 to 1-7.

 Shamrocks scorers were - Nicole Isis, 0-2; Grace Hanly,0-1; Aoife Cornally, 1-0; Linda Raeside,0-3;  Zara Corroon 1-0; Ella Moore, 0-1.

Well done girls and coaches.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Abigail Molloy; Áine Creagh, Sarah Ford, Seoidín Thornton (Katie Matthews); Rosie O Grady (Aoibhe O'Neill) , Munnazah Khan (Lavinia Matthews), Ella Briody; Robyn Meehan & Adibah Hamdan; Linda Raeside, Nicole Isis, Grace Hanly;  Aoife Cornally (Ella Moore), Zara Corroon (Captain), Róisin Nohilly (Eabha Moran).

Under-14 Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 10-10 St Loman's 2-7.

Mullingar Shamrocks Under-14 footballers turned on the style in Lakepoint Park on Thursday evening with this impressive victory against St Loman's.

The early exchanges were even with Alex Sheerin showing great sharpness up front and opening the scoring with a neat point. A pointed free  equalised for St Loman's and a goal from Harry Mannery established a lead for the boys in blue after fifteen minutes.

The next ten minutes were crucial and some excellent team and individual work decided the outcome. Shane Ormsby equalised with a goal; Matthew Shaw won possession from the resultant kick-out and transferred to Ryan Kelly who scored the first of his five goals on the night. Alex Sheerin, Gavin Pearse from a great swerve and sidestep, John Ryan had points before Ryan Kelly with two more goals completed his hat trick (3-4 to 1-2). Ryan's second goal was began with a great piece of high fielding interception by Shane Ormsby deep in defence. Another Shane Ormsby pass created a point scoring opportunity for Alex Sheerin. Ryan Kelly wasn't finished yet and scored two more goals before the interval with Shamrocks leading by 6-5 to 1-5.

Shamrocks added another 4-5 on resumption. Alex Sheerin added a point before Matthew Shaw who impressed at centre forward goaled. Shane Ormsby scored goal number eight before John Ryan took control of the scoring. The best Kilkenny footballer in Ireland 2-2 before fittingly Ryan Kelly and Shane Ormsby ended the evening with a point each to leave the final score Mullingar Shamrocks 10-10 St Loman's 2-7 in what was a great display that featured great defending, good movement and combination play.

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