ACL Div.3: Mullingar Shamrocks 1-9 Garrycastle 2-6.

A draw was a fair result in what was a decent ACL Div. 3 match in Springfield on Sunday morning in conditions that were far from ideal with the ball skidding around like slippery eel making control difficult. Goals win matches and goal chances not taken can be costly but on this occasion Shamrocks salvaged the draw after creating at least five goal chances that were not converted. A great first half move that involved several of the younger players ended with Pádraic McKenna's shot crashing off the post was the move of the game. It deserved better; on other occasions good goalkeeping by the Garrycastle keeper denied Shamrocks. Garrycastle opened the scoring with a point but Shamrocks dominated over the opening fifteen minutes and with points by Tye Adamson (0-3), Trevor Keena (0-1), Ross Corroon (0-1) and Dillon Matthews, after a trademark solo-run, secured an 0-6 to 0-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. However some loose defending proved costly and with goals from Dylan Keegan and Adrian Keenan, Garrycastle went in at half-time leading by 2-3 to 0-6.

They added two points to this lead after the restart, Marc Eivers had a good volley saved at the expense of a 45 before Pearse Corroon sparked the Shamrocks revival with a goal that is an early candidate for the goal of the year. The 45 was taken short to Pearse who soloed in from the wing before he let fly a left footed dipping shot that ripped to the net. A pointed free extended the Garrycastle lead which was neutralised by a Tye Adamson point from play (2-6 to 1-7). Marc Eivers, looking good in a forward position, kicked a neat point to reduce the deficit to the minimum and with time expiring Pearse Corroon delivered the pass which Dillon Matthews spectacularly volleyed over the bar for the equalising score. A good morning workout ended to the satisfaction of both teams. It was good to see Keith Moore back in action and complete a match injury free for the first time since early last year and good too to see James Shaw and David Miller back, the latter after a lengthy sabbatical. And it was great to see the number of young players who lined out and performed well.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Killian White; Eamonn Breslin (James Shaw), Mark Butler, Cormac Murphy; Jack Kelly (David Miller), James Grogan, Brendan O'Reilly (Jack Gillen); Pádraic McKenna and Ross Corroon (0-1) [Nathan Smith]; Keith Moore, Marc Eivers, Pearse Corroon (1-0); Tye Adamson (0-5), Dillon Matthews (0-2), Trevor Keena (0-1) [Gary Corroon].