Keena inspires Mullingar Shamrocks to eight-point win

Mullingar Shamrocks 2-12

Ballycomoyle 2-5

A weekend of All County Football League finals began with a whimper on Friday at TEG Cusack Park as Mullingar Shamrocks defeated a brave Ballycomoyle side to take the division six hounours.

In warm, calm conditions, Gary Corroon’s Mullingar side led by 0-8 to 1-3 at half-time and whenever Ballycomoyle threatened, they found an answer. Adrian Leahy’s first minute goal, after a slack clearance by the opposing ‘keeper, gave Ballycomoyle the ideal start, but Mullingar Shamrocks replied with six unanswered points in the following 17 minutes - Trevor Keena, Luke McCabe, Pearse Corroon and David Culkin all on the score sheet in dominant period.

Keena was the victors’ chief architect on the evening, really impressing from centre forward. His pace was always a threat and he tore through the heart of the Ballycomoyle defence to fire over the final point of the first half.

That ought to have set alarm bells ringing for manager Mickey Dan Murtagh, whose Ballycomoyle side were quite competitive in the third quarter. Only a point separated the sides, 0-8 to 1-4, when substitute Robbie Cooney took a pass from Kieran English and fired over in the 42nd minute.

But just when it seemed they had got to grips with the situation, Ballycomoyle were ripped apart again on 42 minutes and this time to devastating effect: from a kick-out, Keena took off on another strong, menacing solo run, covering all of 50 metres, before he finished superbly to the top corner of the net.

That proved the pivotal moment and Luke McCabe followed with a classy point, putting Shamrocks five clear, 1-9 to 1-4.

Ballycomoyle again showed spirited resolve and David Williams’ high punt from 45 metres found its way to the net as the Mullingar ‘keeper failed to deal with the situation. Williams then converted a free and at 1-9 to 2-5 it was game on again.

But when the question was asked, Mullingar Shamrocks found the answer: Keena’s industry led to a chance for substitute Ciaran Curley, who booted home a crucial goal from close-range.

Lively wing back Dillon Franzoni quickly added a point to put them five clear and McCabe converted a free before Neil Hannigan fired over when a goal looked on.

Ballycomoyle had been to the well once too often in this final and there was no time for them to recover, but they can take heart from a positive league campaign as they build towards the impending championship.

Mullingar Shamrocks hardly had a division six title at the top of their priority list, but they will be pleased nonetheless and team captain Dylan Carey accepted the trophy from County Committee chairman, Frank Mescall after the final whistle.

Scorers: Mullingar Shamrocks: L McCabe 0-6 (4f), T Keena 1-2, C Curley 1-0, B O'Reilly, P Corroon, D Culkin and N Hannigan 0-1 each.

Ballycomoyle: D Williams 1-3 (0-1f), A Leahy 1-0, N Breslin and R Cooney 0-1 each.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Mikey Curley; Eamonn Breslin, Matthew Siode, Dylan Carey; Dillon Franzoni, Brendan O’Reilly, Pearse Corroon; Donal O'Donoghue, James Larkin; Neil Hannigan, Trevor Keena, Matthew Ryan; Luke McCabe, Nathan Smith, David Culkin. Subs: Thomas Turks for O'Donoghue (h-t), Brian Melody for Ryan (37), Ciaran Curley for Smith (39), Ciaran Kiernan for Melody, inj. (44), Nathan Cornally for Culkin (59).

Ballycomoyle: Gary Lynch; Darragh Hannon, Billy Ryan, Kevin English; Kieran English, James McHugh, Luke Roddy; Eoin Daly, Mark McNicholas; Conor Lynch, John Egan TJ Higgins; Adrian Leahy, David Williams, Noel Breslin. Subs: Brian Caffrey for McNicholas, inj. (16), Robbie Cooney for Roddy (39), Warren Williams for Leahy (39), Alex Little for Lynch (44), Sean Óg Doyne for Higgins (46).

Ref: Ken Gunning (St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge).