LGF Minor Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 4-11 Shandonagh 2-9

It is doubtful if playing the minor football championship in winter is part of the blueprint for the future development of LGF in Westmeath but the players of Mullingar Shamrocks and Shandonagh enjoyed the best of winter sunshine for this encounter. Clear blue skies and very little wind, conditions were ideal for football.

Shandonagh were comfortably ahead at the interval (2-5 to0-4) and Mullingar Shamrocks interest in this championship was quickly evaporating. We had lost to Ballycomoyle (5-5 to 1-5) in the opening round so a second defeat would lead to elimination.

The girls responded magnificently; Shandonagh were held scoreless and goals from Tamara Molloy and a cracker from Máiread Newman as well as three points edged Shamrocks into a one-point lead at the second water break. Apart from the fluid attacking play there was also some superb defending typified by some great blocking and tackling. In the final quarter Jodi Aherne Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton and Chloe Smullen kicked fine points and Tamara notched her second goal. Shandonagh staged a recovery and kicked two points to reduce the deficit. At his stage, a brilliant Katie O’Dowd save proved to be the crucial moment of the quarter (Yes, Katie is Terry’s granddaughter and Terry was there to lend his advice as was our new treasurer Ciara Keegan to cheer on the girls). In the next attacking movement Chloe Smullen soloed through the Shandonagh defence and finished the ball to the net. A six-point swing in a matter of minutes ended the brave Shandonagh challenge.

A great display by the girls.

Next weekend the girls play The Downs in what is effectively a championship semi-final. Match arrangements to follow later.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Katie O’Dowd; Phoebe Cadwaladar, Sadhbh O’Brien, Eve Byrne; Eve Hynes, Sinead Sweeney, Sophie Russell; Máiread Newman, Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton; Alessia Hassett, Mia Gilligan, Jasmine Haugh; Chloe Smullen, Jodi Aherne, Leah Glynn, Tamara Molloy.