Shamrocks maintain JFC winning streak
Mullingar Shamrocks 0-13, Coralstown/Kinnegad 0-9
Mullingar Shamrocks made it four wins out of four in this year’s junior 1 football championship with a hard earned victory over Coralstown-Kinnegad in Springfield on Friday evening.
Leading by 0-10 to 0-2 at half-time after a dominant second quarter, Shamrocks had a sluggish start to the second period and allowed a fired up Coralstown-Kinnegad team to gain the upper hand. In fact, if the visitors had shown greater composure in front of goals they could have secured a much-needed victory.
Coralstown-Kinnegad had the better of the opening exchanges but were unable to convert their dominance into scores due to some wayward shooting. In the third minute, Shamrocks’ keeper Philip Shaw was called into action when he saved Brian McGrath low shot. It wouldn’t be the last goal chance that the losing side failed to convert.
After being on the back foot early on, Shamrocks opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a well struck point from Alan Cashman. They doubled their lead minutes later with a point from player of the match Gavin Pierce.
As the half progressed, Shamrocks gained the upper hand with Cashman and Smith dominating the middle of the park and centre half back Donal Lane excelling in the playmaker/sweeper role.
They extended their lead to four points with overs from the lively Pierce and Hannigan, before Calum Lynch opened Coralstown-Kinnegad’s account in the 22nd minute with a fine point from wide on the right.
Shamrocks replied instantly with a point from Callum Rigney. This was quickly followed by two scores from Pierce, including the match’s first two-pointer.
At this stage Coralstown-Kinnegad were struggling to get a foothold in the match and when Trevor Keena pointed in the 27th minute to give his side an eight point advantage the game looked as good as over.
A pointed free from in the 28th minute from Lynch was the second and last score of a disappointing first half for the visitors, while Rigney closed Shamrocks’ first half account with a well-taken point in time added-on. Half-time score: Mullingar Shamrocks 0-10 Coralstown-Kinnegad 0-2.
If the first half belonged to Shamrocks, the same cannot be said the final 30 minutes in which they were outscored and outfought by Coralstown-Kinnegad.
Andrew Heduvan was moved up front for the second half and the tactical switch paid instant dividends when he punched Enda Leonard’s speculative lob in the Shamrocks’ goalmouth over the bar.
A point from Mark Giles and a lovely two-pointer from James Maxwell reduced the deficit to only four points with four minutes of the restart.
A brace of points from Pierce gave Shamrocks some much-need breathing space as the game entered the final quarter.
On 49 minutes, Coralstown-Kinnegad spurned another gilt-edged goal chance when Jack Quinn fired over from a very promising position.
Shamrocks responded with a second point from Rigney to give them a six-point cushion with 10 minutes to go.
Despite their best efforts - including a close range free kick from Lynch that was pushed onto the crossbar by Shaw - Coralstown-Kinnegad’s only score in the final exchanges was a pointed free from the same player in the 57th minute.
Scorers - Mullingar Shamrocks: Pierce 0-6 (1 2pt, 2f), Rigney 0-3, Keena 0-2, Cashman and Hannigan 0-1 each.
Coralstown-Kinnegad; Lynch 0-4 (2f), Maxwell 0-2 (2pt), Quinn, M Giles and A Heduvan 0-1 each.
Mullingar Shamrocks: Philip Shaw; Dylan Carey, Conor Fitzpatrick, Tadgh Sheridan; Peter Finch, Donal Lane, Pierce Corroon; Alan Cashman, Nathan Smith; Matthew Shaw, Neil Hannigan, Callum Rigney; Gavin Pierce, Luke McCabe, Trevor Keena. Subs used: Ciaran Kiernan for Hannigan, Matthew Siode for Carey.
Coralstown-Kinnegad: Clive Kiernan; Jack Quinn, Paul Maxwell, Darren Leech; John Kiernan, Luke Leacy, Andrew Heduvan; Brian McGrath, David Howe; Mark Giles, James Maxwell, Thomas Davis, Enda Leonard, Calum Lynch, Dylan Flynn. Sub used: Shane Giles for Dylan Flynn.
Referee: Paul McCaughey (Milltown).