Shamrocks edge out Cill Óige in epic battle

Mullingar Shamrocks 4-15 Cill Óige 3-16 (AET)

In what was an absolutely enthralling battle, there was joy for Mullingar Shamrocks and heartbreak for Cill Óige in this U16 Division 2 football final in Milltown last Saturday.

Shamrocks eventually prevailed after extra-time, despite Cill Óige having led by seven points in the second half of normal time and by six when the game moved into the encore.

Two outstanding individuals really lit up this roller coaster of a final which kept providing thrills and spills. Colm Clinton scored 3-11 for Shamrocks, his goals coming from two frees and a penalty, while Alex Mullen Adamson contributed 3-6 from play for Cill Óige.

Mullen Adamson and Clinton may have been the leading lights, but there was a strong supporting cast on both sides. Indeed, all the players deserve credit for serving up a thrilling spectacle, which was refereed in capable fashion by Eoin Gorman.

Though Cill Óige were left to rue some ill luck and the concession of two goals from frees, the way Shamrocks refused to give up was admirable as they found a way to win without one of their key players, the injured Hugo Corroon.

With conditions at Sean Doolin Park mild and dry with little or no wind, the early stages provided little hint of the fireworks that were to come later.

Shamrocks looked much the better team for large spells of the first half, but they paid for the price for failing to finish some gilt-edged goal chances. Mullen Adamson found the net with Cill Óige's first genuine goalscoring opportunity close to the interval, and this helped the Rosemount/Castledaly combination into a half-time lead of 1-4 to 0-6.

Mullen Adamson scored 1-3 in the opening half, with Clinton supplying all bar one of Shamrock's tally. The Mullingar side played the more cohesive football in the first half with Shay Leahy involved in several good moves, but Mullen Adamson almost single-handedly dragged his side back into contention.

Finding themselves in front after being largely outplayed, Cill Óige started the second half strongly. Darragh Deegan became more influential, landing five points (including a brace of two-pointer frees from either side of the pitch). With Mullen Adamson (two) and Alex Pillion also raising white flags, this productive spell left them 1-12 to 0-8 ahead by the 52nd minute.

Yet Clinton continued to show the way for Shamrocks, setting up Nathan O'Reilly for a 54th-minute goal which revived their hopes.

Oliver Keane sent over two points, the second of which could easily have been a goal and, suddenly, there was only two between them (1-12 to 1-10). A point from Charlie Dolan steadied Cill Óige, before Clinton replied with a hard-earned score.

With his side still two points down deep in stoppage time, Clinton went for a goal from a close range free and the ball was deflected into the net.

Cill Óige managed to win the resulting kickout and that player again, Mullen Adamson, led the rescue mission, clipping over the equaliser off his less favoured left foot. And a full-time score of 2-11 to 1-14 meant extra-time was required.

Two goals in quick succession by Mullen Adamson put Cill Óige 3-14 to 2-11 ahead three minutes into extra-time. The Rosemount youngster punished a defensive lapse to palm the ball to the net for the first of his double salvo.

With the energetic Josh Duffy tireless in his efforts and Daniel Murphy a strong presence around midfield, things were looking good for the southern outfit. But it was a case of where there's Clinton, there's hope for Shamrocks, as he sent over a two-pointer and a free to halve the deficit.

Indeed, the teams were level again at half-time in extra-time. Ryan McNamee was denied a goal by a superb last-ditch block by Dara Fox but the Cill Óige defender couldn't avoid handling the ball on the ground, giving Clinton the chance to put away the resulting penalty to make it 3-14 apiece.

Points by Callum Sludds (a fine score under pressure) and Deegan (a free) gave Cill Óige a two-point lead in the second extra-time period. They again looked the more likely winners but after Clinton moved his side closer, his 76th-minute long range free went all to the way to the net, with Cill Óige keeper Fionn Higgins perhaps deceived by an attempted flick from a Shamrocks player.

Still the drama continued, with Mullen Adamson denied a fourth goal by a splendid save from Conor Matthews.

The gap was still two points which meant Cill Óige needed a two-pointer (to force a replay) or a goal to win it. Deegan opted to attempt a two-pointer after Shamrocks were pinged for a 'three up' breach but his effort dropped short, and the Mullingar rearguard held firm in the face of valiant Cill Óige efforts to conjure a winning goal.

Player of the match: Alex Mullen Adamson (Cill Óige). When presenting the trophy to Mullingar Shamrocks captain Sean Hickey, Westmeath Coiste na nÓg secretary Barry Kelly deviated from the norm by mentioning the "extraordinary" performances of the two number 14s. For scoring 3-6 from open play, his fielding and ability to glide past opponents, Mullen Adamson just about gets the nod ahead of Shamrocks attacking ace Colm Clinton.

Scorers - Mullingar Shamrocks: C Clinton 3-11 (2-5f, 1-0pen, 1tp); N O'Reilly 1-0; O Keane 0-2; D Ryan and S Leavy 0-1 each. Cill Óige: A Mullen Adamson 3-6; D Deegan 0-7 (2tpf, 2f); A Pillion, C Dolan and C Sludds 0-1 each.

Mullingar Shamrocks - Conor Matthews; Padraig Regan, Oisín Gavin, Harry Tilson; Manus Kelly, Zak Masterson, Rían Sheeran; Sean Hickey (captain), Nathan O'Reilly; Oliver Keane, Shay Leavy, Darragh Ryan; Charlie Murtagh, Colm Clinton, Ryan McNamee. Subs used: Darragh Daly, Conor Walsh, Theo Kelly, MJ Burke. Rest of panel: Dylan Byrne, Luke Kelly, Ruairí Kelly, Conan Kelly, Fionn Ledwith, Rory Thornton, Cian Traynor, Sam Phillips. Mentors: Seamus Wallace, Derek Sheeran, Adrian Regan, Oliver Keating.

Cill Óige - Fionn Higgins; Tadgh Buckley, Michael Fox, Kieran Loddick; Mal Keavney, Matthew Marsh, Brian McCormack; Josh Duffy, Daniel Murphy; Alex Pillion, Darragh Deegan (joint captain), Callum Sludds; Oscar Casey, Alex Mullen Adamson, Charlie Dolan (joint captain). Subs used: Dara Fox, Nathan Marsh, Graham Slevin, Josh Miley. Rest of panel: Ryan Larkin, Cormac Buckley, Eoin Keenan, Jack O'Brien, Michael Loddick, Michael Finan, Eoin Duffy, James Nea, Joe Murray. Mentors: Gordon Duffy, Alan Deegan, Micheal Fox, Ben O'Brien.

Referee - Eoin Gorman (St Mary's, Rochfortbridge).