Shamrocks Shield success

Mullingar Shamrocks always looked the likely winners in last Tuesday"s Féile Shield final at Cusack Park.A succession of early points had the lads in green ahead by 0-7 to 0-2 after 21 minutes. In truth, goals looked inevitable and three duly arrived before the end of the first moiety. Paddy Fagan"s first had an element of luck about it, but his second was a wonderful solo effort. Ryan Blundell added a third in injury-time, again his powerful shot giving Paddy Duncan no chance. At the break, the winners were firmly in control, leading by 3-9 to 0-2.The Downs are renowned battlers in all grades of football and the boys in the famed black and amber jerseys started the second half in style, with Luke Loughlin (now operating in attack) producing a soccer-style goal which Cristiano Ronaldo would have been proud of. Midway through the half, Loughlin added his second, following good work by Dean Daly and Derek Conroy. However, Shamrocks continued to chip in with regular points and they were well worth their 14-point winning margin.Mullingar Shamrocks: Conor Bracken; Brendan O"Reilly, Sean Lee, David Coyne; Nathan Gavin, Mark Hegarty, Darren Keena; Ricky McCarthy (0-3), Conor O"Brien (0-1); Ryan Blundell (1-0), Paddy Fagan (2-4), Jordan Ward; Dylan Cannon (0-4), Sean Scally (0-1), Darren Carter. Subs: Ciaran Mullen (for Scally), Luke Byrne (0-1) (for Carter), David Culkin (for Blundell), Danny Purcell (for O"Reilly), Michael Joyce (for Keena).The Downs: Paddy Duncan; Peter Murray, Dean Moran, Niall Corcoran (0-1); Mark Kelly, Dean Daly, Ryan Briody; Sean Cullen, Luke Loughlin (2-0); Ian Murtagh, Jake Cahill, Neeson Moore; Ian Martin, Jack Cully, Derek Conroy. Subs: Benny Groome (for Cully), Gearóid Sheridan (for Briody), Shane Conroy (for Corcoran), Shane Nugent (for D. Conroy), Mark McCormack (for Moore), Andrew Dalton (for Cahill).Referee: Michael Riggs (Milltownpass).Footnote. After the game, John Weir, Westmeath GAA Minor Board chairman, presented the shield to the winning Mullingar Shamrocks, Ricky McCarthy (on the day) and Jack Quinn (injured for the final).