Minor League Div. 1 Final: Mullingar Shamrocks 2-13 St Loman’s 1-13
In a sensational finish, Mullingar Shamrocks snatched victory from the jaws of extra-time and the result of the day scenario. When Eoin Meehan pointed a free to bring the sides level at 1-13 each extra time looked inevitable. However, in a finish reminiscent of the recent Donegal-Mayo championship encounter, goalkeeper Tom McCawley was sharp with the restart. Ben Sheerin gained possession and attacked before parting to Ted Aherne who continued the momentum. Ted’s delivery was collected by Killian Mooney who took a few steps, opted for the difficult option, and buried the ball in the back of the St Loman’s net. In Leaving Cert terms, he took the Higher Level paper. It was the last kick of the game and secured the Division 1 League title for Mullingar Shamrocks.
What a difference a win makes someone commented after the game as the photographs were taken and the victory savoured. It was a tough way to lose for a St Loman’s team who battled hard and fought back into the game to level matters as the game entered lost time. It was a match between lads who are friends and team mates from school and other codes and was played accordingly with just a few yellow cards issued by referee Declan Nugent. Several of the players join forces on Saturday with the St Oliver Plunkett’s Club for the equivalent hurling league final. For now, the boasting rights belong to the Shamrocks boys but the championship is around the corner and at the end of the day that is what matters.
Ted Aherne and Ross Tully exchanged points in the opening minutes before Ronan Byrne hit a brilliant point from the left wing. Sean Byrne equalised for St Loman’s after Ross Tully split the Shamrocks defence only to see his shot rocket back from the crossbar. Byrne collected the rebound and pointed. Eoin Meehan kicked a two-pointer before Ted Aherne pointed from play (0-4 to 0-3).
At this stage, St Loman’s took control of the game, helped to a certain extent by the number of turnovers gifted by Shamrocks, and built a 1-7 to 0-3 lead, thanks to a goal from Mikee Weir and points from Eoin Meehan (0-2), and Conor Caffrey. It might have been greater as Tom McCawley saved brilliantly when Weir galloped through the middle for the second time. Tom’s performance between the posts was one of the highlights of the evening and his handling of the ball was impeccable particularly in the second half when a number of tricky situations were handled in style. Tom was a very able deputy for the absent Adam Buckley in what was his first game at Minor level. We live in interesting times for observing Mullingar Shamrocks goalkeepers! Ted Aherne with a brilliantly hit 45 into the wind narrowed the gap and a Killian Mooney pointed free manufactured by Pádraig Casey brought the interval score to 1-7 to 0-5. It wasn’t a bad position for Shamrocks as St Loman’s had controlled much of the first half play but some good defending kept the score in check.
Conor Maleady extended the St Loman’s lead from the restart but Ted Aherne responded immediately with a pointed free from outside the arc and the gap was reduced to just four points with wind advantage with Mullingar Shamrocks. Sean Byrne pointed for St Loman’s. A Killian Mooney skyscraper transformed into the most dangerous ball in Gaelic football when it dropped short and on a wet and windy evening the threat was even greater as it dropped under the bar and into the net for a welcome goal. Keith gained possession from the restart and pointed and after the 6 opening minutes the scoreboard read 1-9 to 1-8 in St Loman’s favour. A Sean Plunkett point restored the St Loman’s lead to two points, a Hugo Corroon point narrowed the gap before Rory McCaul equalised in the 14th minute. A minute later Ted Aherne repeated his two-point score exploit this one almost a carbon copy of the first one and a vital score as it secured a two-point lead for Shamrocks (1-12 to 1-10) after outscoring the boys in blue 1-7 to 0-3 over fifteen minutes. The scoring rate dropped in the final quarter. Ross Tully, one of the most impressive players on the field pointed for St Loman’s as did Ted Aherne for Shamrocks (1-13 to 1-11). The possibility of extra-time was mentioned at this stage. The fortunetellers were almost right as Conor Casey pointed for St Loman’s and Eoin Meehan kicked the equalising free. However, there was time for one last play and enough time for Shamrocks to create the winning score.
Full marks to both sets of players for serving up a fine game on a night when wind and rain made conditions difficult for football. Well done to the Shamrocks management team of Derek Sheridan, Paul Christie, Aaron Purcell, Ryan Blundell and Colin Farrell for their hours of work with this group of players. The quality of their management was evident from the fact that Shamrocks began the game without a number of players who might be regarded as certain starters but as Brian Cody once said when you have 15 players on the field you are short no one. And, Criostóir Ormsby returned to play his first game for several months after being out of the game for several months with knee and hand injuries. He showed that the high fielding ability is alive and well.
Mullingar Shamrocks: Tom McCawley; James Ryan, Ty Masterson, Zak Coyne; Charlie Foy, Ben Sheerin, Jack Toal (Tom Daly); Criostóir Ormsby, Rory McCaul (0-1); Killian Mooney (2-2), Padraig Casey, Paul Keating (Gareth Sweeney); Hugo Corroon (0-1), Ted Aherne (0-8), Ronan Byrne (0-1). Other Panelists: James Davitt, Ruairí Kilmartin. Unavailable (Injury, holidays etc): Adam Buckley, Callum Bolger, James Flynn, Andrew Gavigan, Liam Heffernan, Ben McNamee, Andrias Opala,
In a sensational finish, Mullingar Shamrocks snatched victory from the jaws of extra-time and the result of the day scenario. When Eoin Meehan pointed a free to bring the sides level at 1-13 each extra time looked inevitable. However, in a finish reminiscent of the recent Donegal-Mayo championship encounter, goalkeeper Tom McCawley was sharp with the restart. Ben Sheerin gained possession and attacked before parting to Ted Aherne who continued the momentum. Ted’s delivery was collected by Killian Mooney who took a few steps, opted for the difficult option, and buried the ball in the back of the St Loman’s net. In Leaving Cert terms, he took the Higher Level paper. It was the last kick of the game and secured the Division 1 League title for Mullingar Shamrocks.
What a difference a win makes someone commented after the game as the photographs were taken and the victory savoured. It was a tough way to lose for a St Loman’s team who battled hard and fought back into the game to level matters as the game entered lost time. It was a match between lads who are friends and team mates from school and other codes and was played accordingly with just a few yellow cards issued by referee Declan Nugent. Several of the players join forces on Saturday with the St Oliver Plunkett’s Club for the equivalent hurling league final. For now, the boasting rights belong to the Shamrocks boys but the championship is around the corner and at the end of the day that is what matters.
Ted Aherne and Ross Tully exchanged points in the opening minutes before Ronan Byrne hit a brilliant point from the left wing. Sean Byrne equalised for St Loman’s after Ross Tully split the Shamrocks defence only to see his shot rocket back from the crossbar. Byrne collected the rebound and pointed. Eoin Meehan kicked a two-pointer before Ted Aherne pointed from play (0-4 to 0-3).
At this stage, St Loman’s took control of the game, helped to a certain extent by the number of turnovers gifted by Shamrocks, and built a 1-7 to 0-3 lead, thanks to a goal from Mikee Weir and points from Eoin Meehan (0-2), and Conor Caffrey. It might have been greater as Tom McCawley saved brilliantly when Weir galloped through the middle for the second time. Tom’s performance between the posts was one of the highlights of the evening and his handling of the ball was impeccable particularly in the second half when a number of tricky situations were handled in style. Tom was a very able deputy for the absent Adam Buckley in what was his first game at Minor level. We live in interesting times for observing Mullingar Shamrocks goalkeepers! Ted Aherne with a brilliantly hit 45 into the wind narrowed the gap and a Killian Mooney pointed free manufactured by Pádraig Casey brought the interval score to 1-7 to 0-5. It wasn’t a bad position for Shamrocks as St Loman’s had controlled much of the first half play but some good defending kept the score in check.
Conor Maleady extended the St Loman’s lead from the restart but Ted Aherne responded immediately with a pointed free from outside the arc and the gap was reduced to just four points with wind advantage with Mullingar Shamrocks. Sean Byrne pointed for St Loman’s. A Killian Mooney skyscraper transformed into the most dangerous ball in Gaelic football when it dropped short and on a wet and windy evening the threat was even greater as it dropped under the bar and into the net for a welcome goal. Keith gained possession from the restart and pointed and after the 6 opening minutes the scoreboard read 1-9 to 1-8 in St Loman’s favour. A Sean Plunkett point restored the St Loman’s lead to two points, a Hugo Corroon point narrowed the gap before Rory McCaul equalised in the 14th minute. A minute later Ted Aherne repeated his two-point score exploit this one almost a carbon copy of the first one and a vital score as it secured a two-point lead for Shamrocks (1-12 to 1-10) after outscoring the boys in blue 1-7 to 0-3 over fifteen minutes. The scoring rate dropped in the final quarter. Ross Tully, one of the most impressive players on the field pointed for St Loman’s as did Ted Aherne for Shamrocks (1-13 to 1-11). The possibility of extra-time was mentioned at this stage. The fortunetellers were almost right as Conor Casey pointed for St Loman’s and Eoin Meehan kicked the equalising free. However, there was time for one last play and enough time for Shamrocks to create the winning score.
Full marks to both sets of players for serving up a fine game on a night when wind and rain made conditions difficult for football. Well done to the Shamrocks management team of Derek Sheridan, Paul Christie, Aaron Purcell, Ryan Blundell and Colin Farrell for their hours of work with this group of players. The quality of their management was evident from the fact that Shamrocks began the game without a number of players who might be regarded as certain starters but as Brian Cody once said when you have 15 players on the field you are short no one. And, Criostóir Ormsby returned to play his first game for several months after being out of the game for several months with knee and hand injuries. He showed that the high fielding ability is alive and well.
Mullingar Shamrocks: Tom McCawley; James Ryan, Ty Masterson, Zak Coyne; Charlie Foy, Ben Sheerin, Jack Toal (Tom Daly); Criostóir Ormsby, Rory McCaul (0-1); Killian Mooney (2-2), Padraig Casey, Paul Keating (Gareth Sweeney); Hugo Corroon (0-1), Ted Aherne (0-8), Ronan Byrne (0-1). Other Panelists: James Davitt, Ruairí Kilmartin. Unavailable (Injury, holidays etc): Adam Buckley, Callum Bolger, James Flynn, Andrew Gavigan, Liam Heffernan, Ben McNamee, Andrias Opala,
