Rochforts-Four Star Pizza our Latest Sponsors ...

Mullingar Shamrocks would like to thank Tomas Nally and Tommy Nally of Rochforts-Four Star Pizza for their recent generous sponsorship of a new set of jerseys  for our minor and under-17 teams.

Tommy Nally is one of Mullingar Shamrocks most loyal supporters and has been a club sponsor for over three decades and it is great to see Tomas, a former Mullingar Shamrocks player,  continuing the tradition.  The new set of jerseys also carry the Good2Talk (G2T) logo ... Good2Talk is a Mullingar based counselling and psychotherapy service that has helped clients in dealing with various types of trauma and therapy issues including depression, bereavement, bullying, addictions, anger management and much more.

 Westmeath Senior Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 1-8 St Loman's 0-10.

Shamrocks recent dominance over St Loman's in senior championship football continued with this one point victory in the fourth round of the league section of the championship. St Loman's playing against a strong wind dominated the first half and led at the interval by 0-6 to 0-2.

However, the Shamrocks defensive structure survived intact with Micheál Curley and Dónal O'Donoghue outstanding   and the four points deficit could have been greater. T. J. Cox pointed in the first minute, John Heslin and David Windsor added two more points in the opening ten minutes. Loman's also kicked three wides during this spell, an indication of their early dominance. Denis Corroon pointed a free in the twelfth minute after a foul on Simon Quinn. Simon was also involved in Shamrock's next significant bout of play. A great pass found fullback Kieran Gavin who raced through the Loman's defence and released Darren Keena who was fouled in the act of shooting. The resultant penalty was brilliantly saved by Jason Daly who got a hand to Dean Moore's well struck shot. John Heslin pointed two more frees before Simon Quinn pointed from play in the twenty-fifth minute. Paul Whelan pointed in the time added on to leave the boys in blue comfortably ahead at the interval (0-6 to 0-2).

A more purposeful Shamrocks emerged from the dressing rooms after the tea break and Marc Eivers pointed shortly after the restart with Simon Quinn again doing much of the spadework. The Loman's response was immediate and Sam McCartan shot over the bar when presented with a great goal-scoring opportunity. In another significant moment, Ronan O'Toole's involvement ended when he received a second yellow card for his efforts. Denis Corroon pointed two frees- the second a superb low trajectory effort from the right hand sideline kicked with the outside of the boot into the strong wind. Shamrocks  were menacing at this stage; John Heslin pointed a free so too did Denis before Sam McCartan pointed from play to restore St Loman's three point lead in the twenty-first minute.  Simon Quinn had retired injured in the fifteenth minute and the loss to Shamrocks was a great one.

There was lots of more drama to come. Tye Adamson who replaced Quinn was fouled in the penalty zone and Dean Moore bravely stepped forward for his second penalty of the night. Dean held his nerve, won the battle of minds with Jason Daly, sent the goalkeeper in the wrong direction, and knocked in the equalising goal, his third successive championship goal. Almost immediately Dean kicked a point to send Shamrocks into the lead for the first time of the evening (1-7 to 0-9). Daragh Daly tore through but the final pass went astray. In the twenty-third minute Kelvin Reilly departed on a double yellow and Loman's responded with an equalising  point from T. J. Cox. Efe replaced Brendan O'Reilly and with his first significant play of the game kicked Shamrocks into the lead.

This proved to be the last score of the evening. Efe, was in a great goal scoring position shortly afterwards but the  vital pass never arrived. Shamrocks were totally on top at this stage but a number of attempts at scoring the hero point, by boys eager to impress, ended in predictable failure. The drama continued, a massive John Heslin effort rebounded off the post; Billy Flynn received a second yellow card for  a bout of all-in off-the-ball wrestling with T. J. Cox (this was allowed back in 1884) - one of the highlights of the night was Billy's battle with T. J; St Loman's were awarded a 45 from the right sideline and as John Heslin's great effort curved into the goalmouth, it was Kieran Gavin who rose highest and the man with the safest pair of hands in the business collected safely. It was the last play of the evening. Shamrocks were one point winners and safely into the play-off stages of the 2019 senior championships.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Philly Shaw; Eddie Moore, Kieran Gavin, Billy Flynn; Killian Daly, Michael Curley, Brendan O'Reilly (Efe Siode, 0-1); Denis Corroon (0-4), Daragh Daly; Simon Quinn (0-1), Dónal O’Donoghue, Marc Eivers (0-1); Darren Keena (Ciarán Curley), Dean Moore (1-1), Paddy Fagan (Dillon Matthews).

Intermediate LGF Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 6-15 Clan na Gael 1-6.  

Clan na Gael were no match for Mullingar Shamrocks in this intermediate LGF match played in Springfield on Thursday evening.

It was a great team performance by Shamrocks decorated by a brilliant individual performance by Karen Hegarty who turned in her best performance since suffering her cruciate injury three years ago. This was an individual display by Karen that had everything that is good in LGF. Speed, score-taking and score making, accurate free taking and unselfish tackling and work rate. The watching Westmeath team manager, Seán Finnegan must have been impressed.

Mullingar Shamrocks led at half-time 3-9 to 1-3. Karen scored an incredible 3-6 with Emma Morris adding two points to the total and Michelle Buckley a point. Any doubts about the final result were dispelled immediately after half-time when Carole Finch goaled and Karen added another point. Sarah Geoghegan added two more points, the first after collecting a Susanna Buckley shot that rebounded from the crossbar. Emma Morris then stepped up to score the goal of the night when she soloed through the Clan na Gael defence from the 50 metre line. What made this a really special goal was Emma's sidestep that began the run when she skinned her marker in the smallest of spaces. Wonderful skill.

Karen Hegarty pointed a free and then scored her fourth goal of the night  when she finished a great team move to the Clan na Gael net.  Carole Finche's role in this goal is worthy of mention as Carole sacrificed her own what was little more than a tap-in-goal to pass to the inrushing Karen. Definitely the most unselfish moment and play of the night. Karen pointed again and with her first touch of the might substitute Holly McCormack added the final point of the evening as the darkness and the rain began to descend.

So a match of many positives, one of which was the return to active service of Carla Thornton after the best part of a year's absence. Welcome back Carla.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Isabelle Clinton; Lorna Morris, Liveta Lazauskaite, Sophie Hegarty; Máiread Newman, Tara Fagan, Chloe Swarbrigg; Laura Whitlelaw, Michelle Buckley (0-1); Susanna Buckley, Emma Morris (1-2), Allison Bane; Sara Geoghegan (0-2), Karen Hegarty (4-9), Carole Finch (1-0).

Replacements (all played): Áine Melody, Rachel Hannigan, Teresa Connell, Orianna Quinn, Holly McCormack (0-1), Clara Thornton, Ciara Keegan.

Debbie: A Superb Ambassador in Croke Park ...

The Mullingar Shamrocks support for the GAA's Healthy Club initiative and its quality programme and the enthusiasm of our Healthy Club Officer Joan Ormsby was recognised by the GAA powers-that-be. Joan was invited to Croke Park for a brief pitch side interview at half-time in the Mayo-Dublin All-Ireland semi-final on Saturday. Shamrocks and Ballyboughal GFC were the two clubs chosen to represent the initiative.

Mullingar Shamrocks Healthy Club interventions include the Na SeamrÓigi concept, health information village, recipes for success, sport your mind for coaches and the designation of Springfield as a no-smoking venue.

Unfortunately for Joan, she was unable to accept the invitation as she is on a well deserved family vacation in Venice, so our executive member Debbie Newman and  chairperson of our ladies committee delivered the Healthy Club message in Croke Park and was interviewed pitch side by Marie Crowe. Debbie was a wonderful ambassador for Mullingar Shamrocks and the Healthy Club initiative and delivered the message with eloquence and clarity before the 80,000 who attended.

The Rehearsals continue ...

The rehearsals for The Sound of the Musicals continued  on Sunday in The Clubhouse with Greg and Shane as  the stars of Les Miserables, The Commitments, The Greatest Showman and Mamma Mia were put through their Musical paces by the wonderful Greg.

 Fixtures

Under 16 Championship, Mullingar Shamrocks v Multyfarnham, Monday, 12 August in Multyfarnham at 7.00 pm.

Minor Championship, Mullingar Shamrocks v  Athlone, Wednesday, 14 August in Athlone at 7.00 pm.

Junior Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks v St. Loman's, Friday, 16 August, in Springfield at 7.00 pm

Senior Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks v Tyrrellspass, Sunday 18 August, Cusack Park at 7.00 pm.

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