Shamrocks edge derby thriller with decisive scoring burst

Mullingar Shamrocks 1-10, St Loman's 0-12

Mullingar Shamrocks produced a rousing finish to snatch a one-point victory over near-neighbours St Loman’s, in a highly competitive Westmeath Junior 1 Football Championship clash at Lakepoint Park on Friday evening.

In ideal conditions, the second-string outfits of these senior clubs served up a derby that ebbed and flowed, with momentum swinging dramatically in the closing stages. St Loman’s held the upper hand for long spells and led by 0-7 to 1-1 at half-time, their lead built on the steady influence of centre back Ciarán Smyth, the driving runs of wing back Tom Dorr - who chipped in with two excellent points from play - and the accurate finishing of Daniel McCann.

Smyth’s fine take in the air led to Senan Russell pointing in the 14th minute for the saints, who appeared to be growing into the contest.

Shamrocks’ first-half lifeline came in the seventh minute when Efe Siode’s teasing ball across the square was fisted home by Trevor Keena, amid suspicions around a possible square-ball infringement. The home side were architects of their own downfall, giving away possession after some slack hand-passing in their own half of the pitch.

A fine point from Gavin Pierce briefly put Shamrocks ahead on 18 minutes, but veteran Paddy Dowdall - decorated with 15 senior medals in both codes - levelled matters before Dorr and McCann ensured the home side went in three clear at the break.

Loman’s twice pushed four points ahead after the restart. The home support was evident when vastly experienced wing back Russell kicked a terrific point three minutes in, while a superb point by Tadgh Kenny, whose effort clipped the inside of the upright, made it 0-9 to 1-2.

However, Shamrocks wrestled back control around the middle third where Alan Cashman and Nathan Smith grew increasingly influential, while Davy Coyne’s reading of the game at centre back was a standout feature. And wing forward Emmett Walsh swooped for a couple of vital scores.

Four unanswered points, shared between Pierce (free), wing forward Walsh (two) and Cashman - who fisted over - brought the sides level at 1-6 to 0-9.

A brilliant two-point free from McCann in the 50th minute - the game’s only such score - nudged Loman’s back in front, before Pierce landed a great point for the visitors in the 51st minute, after Cashman and sub Nathan Cornally combined. When Ryan Jones and Dowdall split the posts in quick succession to open a two-point gap (0-12 to 1-7), the hosts were in control of proceedings.

Jones swooped after a slack Shamrocks kickout, while Dowdall shot over with the left boot after the home side turned the ball over in the opposition half. Momentum was with the boys the blue at this stage, with five minutes of normal time to play.

However, there was another twist as Shamrocks summoned one last surge. Cashman, McCabe, Pierce (free) and Siode all found the target in a high-intensity finale, with Siode’s point in the third minute of added time proving the match-winner. St Loman’s had strong claims for a free when Dowdall was bundled over late on, but play continued, while Cashman was unlucky to be penalised for ‘steps’ in midfield. It was that kind of tense finish where marginal decisions were a feature of the play.

The contest had its share of derby bite and moments of controversy, but also underlined the positive side of the enhanced playing rules, with strongly contested restarts and turnovers fuelling some enthralling end-to-end passages of play.

Both sides look capable of troubling the likes of Ballinagore, St Joseph’s and Ballynacargy in the race for junior football honours later in the summer.

Scorers - Mullingar Shamrocks: G Pierce 0-4 (2f),T Keena 1-0, E Walsh and A Cashman 0-2 each, N Carnally, L McCabe and E Siode 0-1 each. St Loman’s: D McCann 0-5 (1tp free; 3f), S Russell, T Dorr 0-2 and P Dowdall 0-2 each, R Jones and T Kenny 0-1 each.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Philly Shaw; Ryan Blundell, Efe Siode, Con Fitzpatrick; Donal Lane, Davy Coyne, Pierce Corroon; Alan Cashman, Nathan Smith; Emmett Walsh, Neil Hannigan, Callum Rigney; Gavin Pierce, Trevor Keena, Matthew Shaw. Subs: Nathan Cornally and Matthew Siode for Hannigan and Lane (h-t), Luke McCabe for Shaw (48), Ciaran Kiernan for Rigney (50), Eddie Moore for Corroon (54).

St Loman’s, Mullingar: Rory Matthews; Tristan Johnson, Gerry Grehan, Rory Doonan; Tom Dorr, Ciaran Smyth, Senan Russell; Riley Sheahan, Nedas Bielcas; Mark Tunney, Ryan Jones, Tadgh Kenny; Daniel McCann, Paddy Dowdall, Tomas Meehan. Sub: Ethan Brown for Tunney (inj. 5).

Ref: Eoin Gorman (St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge).