Dolan's absence no hindrance to Garrycastle

The much anticipated rematch of last year's county finalists turned out to be a damp squib in more ways than one in Cusack Park Mullingar on Sunday evening last.On a miserable evening weather-wise, it was the champions, Garrycastle who served notice of intent, if it were needed, that they are fully intent on winning three in a row after dismantling what many consider to be their nearest rivals.They did so without talismanic forward Des Dolan and with a display of utter ruthlessness that must have every other Senior club wondering how to stop them in their quest. That being said Shamrocks were extremely poor and looked nothing like the side that won this year's division one of the League and in fact lay down rather tamely and gave up the ghost long before the final whistle. It was as poor a Shamrocks display in many a long day and Ray Smyth's charges will do well to recover from this mauling while for Anthony Cunningham and his men it was business as usual and his tactical positioning and game plan was spot on as his charges won as they wished and on Sunday nights display it is hard to figure who will stop them in their quest for immortality.The game had an almost surreal start as neither side looked interested in the contest and the very small attendance was treated to some very poor fare. A Lorcan Smyth free opened the scoring for Shamrocks after Adam Corroon was fouled. Conor Cosgrove equalised with a marvellous point for the champions but Simon Quinn restored Shamrocks lead with a score after Adam Corroon was denied a goal by Cathal Mullin.It was the last time Shamrocks would lead and Garrycastle completely took over from that point - two Cosgrove frees putting them ahead and then James Duignan with another free when it looked as if a goal was on.Nonetheless the Shannonsiders didn't have to wait long for the green flag as John O'Shaughnessy picked up a loose ball and made his way to goal along the end line and faced limited resistance before managing to squeeze the ball to the net for an opportunist goal.Shamrocks could have regrouped minutes later when Denis Corroon looked odds on for a goal but again Mullin came to Garrycastle's rescue with a great stop. Cosgrove added another pointed free after Paddy Mulvihill was brought down and at this stage it was all Red and Green but they could not convert to scores and just before the break Ciaran Curley, Denis Corroon and Quinn combined to set Lorcan Smyth up for the final point of the half with Garrycastle leading 1-5 to 0-3.The game needed a spark to bring it to life, especially from Shamrocks but on the evening the batteries of the Mullingar side looked flatter than the weather and it was again Garrycastle who made the opening with a super score from Seanie Donoghue who took a short '45 with Duignan to increase the champions lead.Shamrocks best player Adam Corroon pulled one back with a superb point from a narrow angle but Duignan nullified that with another converted free after a foul on Cosgrove. Fiachra Spellman had entered the fray for Shamrocks and his introduction had an immediate effect as he pointed superbly from long range.At this stage it looked as if the Mullingar side would make a game of it but that was washed away when Paddy Mulvihill found Cosgrove and the corner forward hit a majestic strike to the back of the net to completely finish the game as a contest even at that early stage. Lorcan Smyth pointed a free to restore some pride but Garrycastle were in no mood for favours and a fisted point for James Dolan restored their supremacy.Adam Corroon finished the Mullingar side's scoring with another fine individual point that marked him out as Shamrocks best player but Paddy Mulvihill cancelled that out with his only score of the game as he simply stroked the ball over the bar under no pressure at all.Darragh Daly missed a glorious goal chance for Shamrocks after Corroon set him up while at the other end Rory McGowan missed and even easier chance when put clean through by Paddy Mulvihill.The game was fizzling out top its inevitable conclusion when Shamrocks Aonghus Smyth was shown a second yellow and then a red for what looked like back chat with the referee and the rout was completed when Enda Mulvihill scored one of the simplest points he will ever score against a tired and demoralised Shamrocks defence and the final whistle came almost to the rescue of Shamrocks as it did to the relief of GarrycastleScorers: Garrycastle: Conor Cosgrove 1-4, 3 frees, John O'Shaughnessy 1-0, James Duignan 0-2, 2 frees, Enda Mulvihill, Sean Donoghue, James Dolan and Paddy Mulvihill 0-1 each. Shamrocks: Lorcan Smyth 0-3, 2 frees, Adam Corroon 0-2, Simon Quinn and Fiachra Spellman 0-1 each.Garrycastle: Cathal Mullin, John O'Shaughnessy, John Gaffey, Alan Fox, Enda Mulvihill, Doran Harte, Karl Henson, Sean Donoghue, David O'Shaughnessy, Rory McGowan, James Dolan, Robbie Shine, Conor Cosgrove, Paddy Mulvihill, James Duignan. Subs: Conor Harrington for Fox 50 mins, Alan Daly for Shine 55 mins.Mullingar Shamrocks: Philip Shaw, Eddie Moore, Davy Gavin, David Miller, Michael Curley, Kieran Gavin, Aonghus Smyth, Daragh Daly, Donal O'Donoghue, Ciaran Curley, Lorcan Smyth, Simon Quinn, Adam Corroon, Denis Corroon, John Ganley. Sub: Fiachra Spellman for Moore 41 minsReferee: Sean Carroll, The Downs.