Shamrocks goals take the spoils

On a quite miserable Tuesday evening last in Springfield, Mullingar Shamrocks secured their first minor Division 1 final place in a decade when they overcame the strong challenge of Moate All Whites.

In the gloom and rain, it was Shamrocks' ability to convert their chances that won the day here and despite having the lion’s share of possession, Moate simply could not turn that into scores. Shamrocks were clinical in front of goal and four majors at critical junctures in the game were the catalyst for the win. Two of those goals came from Moate defensive mistakes which only made the evening even more frustrating for the Whites.

This was a game played at high speed and high quality and indeed both teams should be delighted with the sporting manner in which they conducted themselves, but the old adage that goals win games was never proved more true.

Moate dominated the opening exchanges and after a couple of poor misses, they hit three frees in-a-row from Hagan Niall, Darragh Delaney and Darragh Madden and they looked in complete control. But in virtually their first attack, Mullingar Shamrocks Donnacha Maguire fly hacked the ball to the net to cancel that lead after some sloppy Moate defending. Madden from another placed ball restored the Whites advantage, but Conor Heffernan found Alex Sheerin with a brilliant crossfield pass and Shamrocks had a second green flag.

Gavin Pierce added a point from the next kick out to extend the advantage, but frees from Madden and Hagan seemed to have dragged Moate back into the game. However, in the shadow of the half-time whistle, Moate were again caught on the break when Maguire fed Pierce and he netted expertly for a third goal for the Mullingar men to lead by 3-1 to 0-6 at the break.

If the first quarter belonged to Moate then the third belonged to the home side as they used the wind advantage to add three excellent points from Pierce, Sheerin and the pick of the bunch from wing back Ben McNamee, while a Hagan free was the only reply from the Whites, who struggled with their execution. Moate wasted several chances thereafter as they went in search of scores and even had a man advantage when Shamrocks Peter Finch was black-carded, but in their haste to regain parity they were left exposed at the back.

And when Shamrocks broke, Ryan Kelly found that man Pierce again and he netted a brilliant second and his sides fourth to as good as seal the deal on 54 minutes. Moate did pull a goal back through a Jack Lappin soccer-style finish, after intense pressure, but Ryan Kelly settled the Shamrocks nerves with the point of the game. Not even a late Cian Whitney free for Moate could change the outcome: it was mere damage limitation at this stage as Shamrocks ran out comfortable six-point winners and we all headed for shelter to dry out.

Scorers – Mullingar Shamrocks: Gavin Pierce 2-2, Alex Sheerin 1-1, Donnacha Maguire 1-0, Ben McNamee and Ryan Kelly 0-1 each.

Moate All Whites: Darragh Madden and Hagan Niall 0-3 each (all frees), Jack Lappin 1-0, Cian Whitney (free) and Darragh Delaney (free) 0-1 each.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Adam Buckley, Ben Sheerin, Tye Masterson, Adam Glynn, Ben McNamee, Peter Finch, James Flynn, Ryan Kelly, Donnacha Maguire, Paul Keating, Conor Heffernan, Callum Rigney-Clyne, Gavin Pierce, Alex Sheerin and Ameen Hacini. Sub: Mata Puida for Buckley (58 mins).

Moate All Whites: Peter McDonald, Tadhg Heavin, Cian Whitney, Adam Dolan, Senan Gilroy, Aodhan Curran, Kian Egan, Darragh Madden, James Mitchell, Robbie Costello, Darragh Delaney, Jack Lappin, Aaron Claffey, Sean Mackey, Hagan Niall.

Referee: Barry Nea (Killucan).