This ACL Div.1 final is unlikely to be forgotten and the victory brings our confirmed number of league titles to 6. There may be a few more Mullingar Shamrocks titles waiting for rescue from oblivion. This final, played in TEG Cusack Park, continued the tradition of great battles and great recoveries when Garrycastle and Shamrocks collide.
During the week we sent out a type of SOS for information on Shamrocks league title wins. It’s unlikely that this final will be forgotten for some time as Garrycastle staged a great comeback to snatch a draw after Shamrocks had established what seemed to be a match winning lead. It wasn’t sufficient but Shamrocks refocussed in extra-time to win convincingly. This was a special win for Shamrocks characterised by the youthfulness of the team. Nine of the players were in the first months of their Senior football career – six of these players had just emerged from the Minor ranks. Five of the starting team were graduates of the recent Coláiste Mhuire Hogan Cup victory with Killian Mooney who kicked 0-5 a non-playing panellist in the All-Ireland victory. Dylan Franzoni, Alex Sheerin and Gavin Pierce are newcomers to the Senior grade. These young players received excellent support from the long serving Denis Corroon, Efe Siode, Dean Moore and Alan Cashman along with the middle generation of Brendan O’Reilly (captain), Brian Guerin, Trevor Keena Nathan Gavin, Dónal Lane and Dillon Matthews. A league by definition consists of a series of games and several others contributed during the campaign which marked a good start for the management team of David Martin, Kevin Burke, Gary Corroon and Ritchie Daly.
It was more than likely the first occasion that Shamrocks kicked 31 points in a Senior match and recorded an aggregate of 37 points and certainly this is the first time we have had 12 players contributing to the final tally.
It would be unfair to suggest that Shamrocks did their best to lose this final; this is what happens when youth and experience collide. The lesson no doubt will be invaluable. Mullingar Shamrocks cruised through the opening 30 minutes and established an 11 point lead (0-15 to 0-4) as the half drifted into injury time. The concession of 1-1 during this time gave Garrycastle some life support. Shamrocks opened with a superb Killian Mooney two-pointer. It was Cliffordesque in nature. Alex Sheerin added a point that began with a turnover deep in defence and a great Alan Cashman pass freed Alex who zipped through the Garrycastle defence for a fine score. Garrycastle responded with points from Eoin Mulvihill (0-2) and Óisin Mulvihill to draw level. Dean Moore (0-2), Ty Masterson and Killian Mooney added points before an Alex Gardiner pointed free reduced the deficit. From the restart Alex Sheerin added another point and when Adam Buckley’s 45 dropped short some good defensive play by Dean Moore ended with Denis Corroon kicking a superb outside of the boot two pointer (0-10 to 0-4). The trend continued: Dillon Matthews and Criostóir Ormsby combined in a move that ended with Dillion shooting just over; Criostóir pointed in a move that included a superb chip pick-up by Denis Corroon and a pass to Alex Sheerin; one of Adam Glynn’s great breaks from defence ended with another Alex point; Alex pointed again to bring Shamrocks tally to 0-15 as half time approached. A goal from Michael Monaghan and a point from Alex Gardiner in injury time didn’t ring any alarm bells and after a fine display by the very young Shamrocks team the scoreboard read 0-15 to 1-5 at the break.
Garrycastle began the second half with two points from Oisín Mulvihill within a minute – the second coming directly from the restart. Dean Moore responded with a pointed free and Adam Buckley stepped up and kicked a fine free worth two points which was followed by another Dean Moore pointed free to extend the lead to 10 points after 12 minutes of the half. However, in the modern game as has been shown on numerous occasions, no lead is secure and Mullingar Shamrocks players were to discover this over the next twenty minutes. A fortuitous goal for Garrycastle began the revival when a long delivery from midfield caused some confusion in the Shamrocks defence as Efe, Adam Buckley and Garrycastle’s Alex Gardiner combined to produce the score that Garrycastle needed. One of those conceded but not created goals. Shamrocks responded with points from Killian Mooney direct from the goal restart and a superb run from Dillon Matthews ended with another Dean Moore point (0-21 to 2-7). It proved to be our final score of normal time. Alex Gardiner pointed and James Dolan kicked a two-pointer to reduce the gap to a dangerous 5 point. Points from Eoin Monaghan, Mark McCallon, a very patiently created two-pointer by Conor Cosgrave and a last gasp equaliser from the great veteran John Gaffey brought the game into extra-time with the scoreboard reading (2-15 to 0-21). During this period of dominance, Garrycastle kicked some spectacular wides.
All’s well that ends well and Shamrocks inspired by a brilliant extra-time performance from Brian Guerin took control from the start. Deano pointed (a man in Supermacs in Rathowen, commented on Sunday’s morning “That young Moore is good enough to start for the county”), Adam Buckley converted a 45 and from the restart Criostóir fielded and burst through the middle and the run was finished by Donal Lane for Shamrocks third point. Efe after a typical meandering run parted to Trevor Keena who placed Alex Sheerin and the Garrycastle net bulged. Deano pointed again as did Paul Keating after a brilliant piece of fielding by Brian Guerin. Brian followed with a point of his own. In between, Alex Gardiner kicked three points for Garrycastle and half-way through the extra period of time Mullingar Shamrocks were leading on a 2-18 to 1-27
scoreline.
Óisin Mulvihill hit the first point following the restart but a great turnover engineered by Trevor Keena set Criostóir Ormsby free and Brian Guerin was on hand to finish to the net for Shamrocks second goal. Brian Guerin fielded the restart and delivered to Paul Keating who finished in style for his second point. Conor Cosgrove’s goal for Garrycastle was too late to impact on the final outcome. Deano looped around from the end line for his final point of the evening and Shamrocks finished as they started with Gavin Pierce kicking a superb two-pointer off the left boot with an effort that matched Killian Mooney’s opening effort and brought the final scoreline to 2-31 to 3-20.
Mullingar Shamrocks: Adam Buckley (0-3); Efe Siode, Adam Glynn, Dillon Matthews (0-1) [Ben Sheerin]; Brendan O’ Reilly, Ty Masterson (0-1), Dylan Franzoni (Nathan Gavin); Brian Guerin (1-1), Criostóir Ormsby (0-1); Denis Corroon (0-2)[Gavin Pierce, 0-2], Alan Cashman (Trevor Keena), Alex Sheerin (1-4); Killian Mooney (0-5) [Donal Lane, 0-1], Dean Moore (0-8), Davy Gavin (Paul Keating, 0-2).
