Mullingar Shamrocks aim to bridge ten year gap

Ten years after they last collected the blue riband of Westmeath football, supporters of Mullingar Shamrocks were confident this week that the Flanagan Cup will find a new home come next Sunday evening.Having beaten reigning champions, Garrycastle in the final group game in the campaign, there is an air of optimism that lightning will srike twice in Cusack Park, Mullingar. However, it is confidence rather than cockiness asone knows better than wily maestro, Ray Smyth that it will take a supreme effort to wrest the county crown from the Shannonsiders.An inspiring figure, Ray has been at the helm of many clubs, in both football and hurling, over many years and he has the happy and uncanny knack of being able to drive teams over the winning lineWithout doubt Mullingar Shamrocks are transformed team since his arrival in Springfield and their championship record alone this season speaks volume for his professional approach.A tentative opening encounter saw them just edge out St. Malachys in The Downs while Tyrrellspass were seen off in round two. A 2-7 apiece draw with Castledaly took some of the momentum from the campaign but in the final series of games, they were that bit sharper.They lowered The Downs colours in the penultimate tie before inflicting an 0-11 to 0-6 defeat on Sunday’s opposition.An automatic place in the semi-final was secured and it was The Downs who emerged to face them. The men in black and amber, a jersey to which Ray Smyth gave magnificent service, put up a tremendous fight and it was the goal poaching ability of Cian O’Leary which powered Shamrocks home. Garrycastle, for their part also looked impressive in the group stages and but for blip against Shamrocks, were unbeaten. They opened with a goal to spare over Tyrrellspass, 2-11 to 1-11, then inflicted an eleven point defeat on The Downs before overcoming St. Malachys 0-15 to 2-6. They were in sparkling form when turning over Castledaly on a 1-13 to 0-3 scoreline before that solitary defeat.In the quarter final they ended the hopes of near neighbours, triumphing by 0-14 to 0-9 before facing Killucan in the sem-final. This was a ding dong affair with the Saffrons looking handily placed at the interval. Whatever Anthony Cunningham said to his charges at the break was inspiring in the least as they re-emerged a team reborn and scraped home on a 3-12 to 1-13 scoreline.So the scene is set for Sunday’s showdown.Smyth, a master in motivation, will have been working on his plan for this big clash. He will no doubt have identified weaknesses in the Garrycastle armoury but at the same time, he will looking for nothing less than 100 per cent from his charges.He has a nice blend of youth and experience and he will be hoping that established stars like Donal O’Donoghue, Anthony Clinton, Fiachra Spellman and the aforementioned Cian O’Leary will rise to the challenge and lead by example. Certainly, O’Donoghue knows what it is like to lift the Flanagan Cup and the hunger is there for another slice of the winning cake.On the banks of the Shannon, Anthony Cunningham will have been no less thorough in his preparation and he has plenty of talent and experience at his disposal. Dessie Dolan is an undoubted threat and when you throw custodian, Cathal Mullin, defenders John O’Shaughnessy and Doran Harte, tenacious midfielder Seanie O’Donoghue and experienced forwards like Paddy Mulvihill, James Duignan and Alan Daly into the mix, it is a formidable side.Who will emerge as winners on Sunday? Shamrocks will be hoping to repeat the outcome of their earlier meeting this summer while Garrycastle’s experience will have a big bearing. Should the Mullingar men get up a head of steam early and impose themselves, they will be difficult to dislodge.Certainly, the Shannonsiders cannot afford an opening 30 minutes like against Killucan or otherwise the Flanagan Cup will again be pride of place in the trophy room in Springfield.The man in the middleTaking charge of his first Westmeath Senior Football Final on Sunday is Ballynacargy’s Damien Maher. A widely known and respected journalist, Damien is one of the younger brigade of referees in the county and he has been officiating for a number of years now. An unobtrusive official, he is wished every success on Sunday.