Garrycastle end Shamrocks’ season with two-point win

Garrycastle 4-7, Mullingar Shamrocks 1-14

Garrycastle secured their first win of the season in an enthralling bottom-of-the-table clash against Shamrocks in the Village Barn Senior Championship in Springfield on Thursday evening, August 31.

After a disappointing start for both sides - Garrycastle losing their opening three games and Shamrocks managing just a single draw from two games - it was a must-win encounter for Shamrocks to keep faint playoff hopes alive. That jeopardy was clear on the pitch, and both teams produced 60 minutes of back-and-forth football.

The visitors led for most of the contest, their four goals ultimately leaving Shamrocks with too much to do. The Mullingar side battled bravely, inspired by an outstanding 10-point haul from Karen Hegarty, but they fell just short in their late push for a goal, with the final whistle sounding at a two-point margin.

On a cloudy evening threatening rain but otherwise cool conditions, Garrycastle struck inside the opening minute when Lorraine Duncan latched onto a ball outside the square and finished calmly to the corner.

Shamrocks hit back quickly, Hegarty feeding Grace Daly for a neat point. At the other end, Grace Halligan opened her account from a free after five minutes, beginning what became a fascinating duel with Hegarty, who equalised almost immediately after with a free of her own.

After 12 minutes, Aislinn Kelly’s shot rattled the crossbar for Garrycastle, but Duncan reacted quickest to tap over. Shamrocks responded instantly through a fine effort from Susanna Buckley, before Mairead Newman’s surging run, one of many she produced throughout the game, ended with Hegarty converting another free from the 21-yard line.

Halligan edged Garrycastle back in front with a fine score from play on 15 minutes and doubled her tally five minutes later from a free won by Lorraine Duncan’s strong run. Hegarty again replied, driving a long-range effort over, and then converted another free after Mairead Newman was fouled to narrow the gap to the minimum.

It looked like the sides would go in with just a point between them, until Garrycastle’s Shannon Mulvihill was hauled down in the square. The referee pointed to the spot, and Kacey Mulvihill dispatched the penalty to the bottom corner.

The half-time whistle sounded moments later with Garrycastle four points clear, 2-5 to 0-7.

Shamrocks started the second half brightly, with Mairead Newman pointing after good work from Sarah Geoghegan, before Hegarty landed a monster effort from distance.

However, Garrycastle steadied themselves with a Kacey Mulvihill point, only for half-time substitute Clara Thornton to make an immediate impact, kicking the ball to the net with her very first touch to level the match at 2-6 to 1-9.

Hegarty’s free nudged Shamrocks ahead for the first time after 38 minutes, but their lead was short-lived as Shannon Mulvihill fired home Garrycastle’s third goal at the other end.

Clodagh McCahey then won a Shamrocks kick-out and burst forward to land an inspirational point, stretching the gap again.

Hegarty, flawless from frees all evening, brought Shamrocks back into it once more, but Halligan responded with a free of her own before delivering the decisive blow.

After McCahey won another kick-out and linked with Aislinn Kelly, Halligan ruthlessly buried Garrycastle’s fourth goal. That six-point cushion with just over ten minutes left proved unassailable for the hosts.

Shamrocks kept battling, however, with Buckley pointing from play, her second of the match, and Hegarty adding two more frees, but despite their late pressure they couldn’t find the goal they needed.

In the end, Garrycastle’s ability to raise green flags proved the difference, and while Shamrocks played some excellent football, their season continues without a win.

It means Shamrocks will host St Joseph’s next week knowing their campaign is already over, while Garrycastle’s season is also finished, their fate sealed before this clash.

Both sides will count themselves fortunate that, with the championship expanding to 10 teams next season, there is no relegation this year.

Scorers - Garrycastle: L Duncan 1-1, G Halligan 1-4 (0-2f), K Mulvihill 1-1 (1-0pen), S Mulvihill 1-0, C McCahey 0-1. Mullingar Shamrocks: K Hegarty 0-10 (0-7f), S Buckley 0-2, C Thornton 1-0, M Newman 0-1, G Daly 0-1.

Garrycastle: Ellen Parker, Rebecca Sleator, Aimee Duncan, Aoife O’Brien, Cadhla Kelly, Ailish Mannion, Donna Molloy, Clodagh McCahey, Jessica Frawley, Eve Murphy, Grace Halligan, Aislinn Kelly, Shannon Mulvihill, Lorraine Duncan, Kacey Mulvihill. Subs: Mandisa Ni Chluaid, Jane Byrne.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Katie Kelly, Melek Fagan, Siobhan O’Donnell, Sinead Sweeney, Eve Hynes, Chloe Swarbrigg, Jodi Aherne, Rachel Cheevers, Mairead Newman, Susanna Buckley, Karen Hegarty, Zara Corroon, Sarah Geoghegan, Holly McCormack, Grace Daly. Subs: Aideen Langtry, Clara Thornton.

Referee: Barry Nea (Killucan).