Shamrocks leave it behind

Mullingar Shamrocks got their 2009 campaign underway on Saturday evening last against perennial rivals, Garrycastle in Cusack Park. This was a game of two halves really with Garrycastle dominating the first and Shamrocks the second but the wides tally of the Shamrocks will be a horror story to Paul Ahearne and the management team in Springfield. Time after time they worked the ball into scoring positions only to see it wasted terribly by bad shooting and poor decision making. But for the brilliance of diminutive corner forward Conor Moore then the Mullingar side could well have struggled to get anything out of the game.As it was Garrycastle will be the happier team as they know they escaped when in truth they should have been well beaten. Shamrocks county stars Donal O"Donoghue and Kieran Gavin looked well off the pace and possibly carrying injury which did not help and they will improve as the season goes on Shamrocks had the better of the opening exchanges but it was a fine individual score from James Dolan that stared the ball rolling when he converted a super score after soloing and passing his way through the Shamrocks defence. Des Dolan pointed another from a free on five minutes as Garrycastle gained the upper hand considerably.Brian O"Sullivan got one back for Shamrocks from a free but the game was blown completely apart when Doran Harte and Des Dolan combined to set Seanie O"Donoghue free and the veteran made no mistake fro close range to fire the ball to the net for a marvellous goal Conor Moore and Paul Dillon then exchanged points before O"Sullivan got one back for Mullingar from a free that was far too easily conceded. Des Dolan then had a wonderful gaol chance denied him by a wonderful save from Shamrocks goalkeeper Sean Maguire but he made amends when an excellent through ball led to another O"Donoghue point. Conor Moore was causing major upset though for Shamrocks and two of his passes led to scores from Cian O"Leary and Denis Corroon which ;left just two between the sides but Dolan restored the one score margin with a simple tap over that left the score at the break 1-5 to 0-5 in Garrycastles favour.After the break it was all Shamrocks as they tried to eat into the Garrycastle lead but their only reply was an O"Sullivan free kick. Dolan negated that with a free of his own but it was to be the last that the "Castle would score as they fought a defensive action for the last 25 minutes .In that time John Gaffey and James Dolan were magnificent and they thwarted many a Shamrocks attack but Mullingar were their own greatest enemies as they kicked wide after wide and it seemed to take the life out of them as the game went on. Simon Quinn got one back from a super through ball by Brian Melody but for every good move there were several poor ones and the Garrycastle defence lapped them up. O"Sullivan missed several close frees for Mullingar and they could have been out the gate at this stage but Denis Corroon found Quinn and he narrowed the gap to just a single score.Again Shamrocks pressed but could not find that killer touch and it looked as if Garrycastle would hold on but then Quinn found O"Leary who slotted over the equaliser .Shamrocks pressed hard for the winner but were denied late on by a great save from Cathal Mullen on a breaking ball in the square that avoided everyone and the game petered out into an honourable draw.For Shamrocks Moore was the star and he almost beat Garrycastle on his own while Corroon and Michael Curley were others to shine. Gareth Doyle is a find at midfield and the return of Anthony Clinton has certainly boosted their prospects.Some of the Shamrocks players looked well off the pace and with a break in the Championship coming up it will certainly benefit them but they have some serious work to do.Neither side will be happy with their performance and Garrycastle will wonder where they are going to find scores from if not Des Dolan. Their attack was pointless at times and lacked cohesion and but for cameos from Donoghue, Dillon and Harte they were bereft of creativity. At the back Gaffey and James Dolan were excellent while Mullen in goal did what was asked and at least they did not lose the game but they will need to improve and improve considerably if they are to have any say in the latter stages of the Championship.Scorers: Garrycastle -Seanie Donoghue 1-1, Des Dolan 0-3 2 frees, Paul Dillon and James Dolan 0-1 each. Mullingar Shamrocks - Brian O"Sullivan 0-3 3 frees, Cian O"Leary and Simon Quinn 0-2 each, Denis Corroon and Conor Moore 0-1 each.Garrycastle: Cathal Mullen, Mark McCallon, John Gaffey, Pauric Rhattigan, James Dolan, Karl Henson, Enda Mulvihill, David O"Shaughnessy, Aidan Browne, Seanie O"Donoghue, James Duignan, Doran Harte, Paul Dillon, Des Dolan, Robbie Fox Subs: Alan Daly for Mulvihill 48 mins, Donovan Hermbusche for Rhattigan 53 mins, Gary Dolan for Fox 55 mins.Mullingar Shamrocks: Sean Maguire, David Miller, Kieran Gavin, Aaron Purcell, Michael Curley, Donal O"Donoghue, Denis Corroon, Anthony Clinton, Gareth Doyle, Brian Melody, Simon Quinn, Brian O"Sullivan, Conor Moore, Shane Colleary, Cian O"Leary. Sub: Ciaran Curley for Colleary 40 mins.Referee Sean Sheridan,Tyrrellspass