Sharper Shamrocks edge out gallant Bunbrosna outfit

Gerry BuckleyMullingar Shamrocks 0-16Bunbrosna 1-8Despite a gallant fight by an understrength Bunbrosna side, Mullingar Shamrocks always looked to have a little in hand in their last group game of the Westmeath senior football championship at Cusack Park last Saturday evening, with Ray Smyth's charges now set to face Graham Geraghty's Castledaly in a quarter-final clash later in the month.The winners had more potency in attack than the Bun men and they scored some fine points, particularly when they were needed to give themselves some breathing space late in the contest. However, they will still need to improve if they are to be serious contenders for the Flanagan Cup. For their part, the blue and white-clad brigade are likely to be happy having secured senior status for 2012 after their promotion last year.A very small crowd made for a low-key atmosphere and the football was ragged early on until Aidan Finnan pointed a 50-metre free from his hands in the sixth minute. Lorcan Smyth, who was the outstanding player on show over the hour, equalised two minutes later with a delightful score from 30 metres after receiving Fiachra Spellman's pass. Peter Tormey edged the losers ahead with a trademark left-footed free from 35 metres, but three unanswered points had Shamrocks ahead by double scores (0-4 to 0-2) by the midpoint of the first moiety.The scores came from Simon Quinn (a 25-metre free), Aonghus Smyth (a terrific point from 45 metres after a patient move) and the latter's brother Lorcan (also at the end of an eye-catching move). A typically-brave block from Finian Newman then kept out a Lorcan Smyth goal attempt before Anthony Clinton opened his account with a neat finish to a flowing move.In the 20th minute, casual play by Darragh Daly allowed Fintan Finnan to set up Barry O'Mara and the corner forward shot smartly low to the net to tie up the scores against the run of play. Simon Quinn was wide from a scoreable free, but Peter Tormey had better luck from a placed ball at the other end to nudge the Bun men ahead. The latter was then narrowly wide from a difficult chance from open play.The green and whites finished the half the better, adding three points without reply from Lorcan Smyth (two - a right-footed score from play followed by a left-footed free from 30 metres) and Ciaran Curley (a classy point after doing well to make space). A very ambitious shot from Peter Tormey tailed wide in the last action of the half in the 32nd minute, leaving the scoreboard at the interval reading: Mullingar Shamrocks 0-8 Bunbrosna 1-3.A heavy shower during the half-time break made underfoot conditions slippery on the change of ends, but a gutsy Bunbrosna outfit made little of this by starting the second half in style, scoring three unanswered points in the opening six minutes, courtesy of Barry O'Mara (after a fine pass from Kevin Mitchell) and two converted close-range frees by Peter Tormey. These scores spurred the winners into action and they rattled over four points by the 42nd minute to take a three-point lead.Three of these came from the boot of Lorcan Smyth (a tremendous score from play and two frees from around the 25-metre mark), with Adam Corroon also getting his name on the scoresheet with a terrific point from near the stand sideline.Shamrocks almost doubled their advantage in their next move, when Kieran Gavin's pass picked out Fiachra Spellman whose powerful shot hit the crossbar and went off a defender at the expense of an unconverted '45'.The Mullingar men also missed two further chances from open play and were rueing this profligacy when Peter Tormey tapped over a routine free and the same player teed up Kevin Mitchell, whose low-trajectory shot went over Philip Shaw's crossbar and reduced the deficit to the bare minimum.Twelve minutes still remained, but it was the slicker Shamrocks side who outscored Bunbrosna by 0-4 to 0-0 in the closing stages to win with a bit to spare.The clinching scores came from Simon Quinn (two neat efforts from play), Ciaran Curley (a fisted point) and Lorcan Smyth (a 25-metre free) to qualify Mullingar Shamrocks for a tricky quarter-final clash with 2008 champions Castledaly.Mullingar Shamrocks: Philip Shaw; Eddie Moore, Davy Gavin, Micheal Curley; John Ganley, Kieran Gavin, Aonghus Smyth (0-1); Darragh Daly, Denis Corroon; Fiachra Spellman, Simon Quinn (0-3, 0-1 from a free), Anthony Clinton (0-1); Adam Corroon (0-1), Lorcan Smyth (0-8, 0-4 from frees), Ciaran Curley (0-2). Sub: Cian O'Leary (for D.Corroon, inj, 51 mins).Bunbrosna: John Casey; Conor Newman, Sean Walsh, John Kiernan; Finian Newman, Liam Mitchell, Conor Lyons; Liam Walsh, Aidan Finnan (0-1, from a free); Kevin Mitchell (0-1), Ray Carolan, Fintan Finnan; Peter Tormey (0-5, all from frees), Ken Conroy, Barry O'Mara (1-1). Subs: Padraic Walsh (for Conroy, 46 mins), Brian Maguire (for Carolan, 46 mins), Tommy Murphy (for Lyons, 58 mins), Johnny McCormack (for O'Mara, 59 mins).Referee: Declan Hogan (St. Mary's, Rochfortbridge).