Controversial last-gasp goal propels Mullingar Shamrocks to Flanagan Cup semi final

Brian Guerin emerged as the Mullingar Shamrocks hero when his late, late goal won the day for his adopted club at the end of a pulsating Flanagan Cup quarter-final against old rivals Garrycastle in TEG Cusack Park last Saturday afternoon.

Michael Monaghan looked set to be the headline-maker when he kicked a great point to put the former Leinster champions ahead with four minutes of injury-time played. The signal had been for ‘a minimum of four’ and, understandably, the local side played on with a degree of urgency from the resultant kick-out, and were duly rewarded for their never-say-die attitude when the Cork native found the net with just seconds remaining. The contrast in the demeanour of the respective players and their mentors after the final whistle said it all, and it is Micheál Burke’s troops who have advanced to a daunting penultimate round clash with The Downs.

Shamrocks had the aid of a breeze blowing towards the scoreboard end of Westmeath GAA headquarters and they started in fine style with a brace of unanswered points in the opening five minutes, courtesy of Jordan Warde (after a very patient first-minute move) and the ever-threatening Dean Moore, either side of some typically-astute defending from Marc Eivers at the other end. Conor Cosgrove (from a tight angle) and Moore (a routine opportunity) then traded points from frees.

Cathal Mannion halved the deficit in the ninth minute. Some three minutes later, goalkeeper Sean Brennan came forward to dissect the posts with a superb two-pointer taken from the ground. The lively Ben Donegan (a low-trajectory shot) and Moore (another routine free) exchanged points, leaving the men in red and green ahead by 0-5 to 0-4 at the end of a somewhat dull opening quarter,

Gary Dolan’s charges increased their lead to four points with three unanswered white flags by the 19th minute raised by Michael Monaghan (a free), Mannion (a classy solo score), and Jamie Carroll (when a goal looked a possibility). The men in a changed strip of black jerseys with a green trim responded in identical fashion via Moore (after a lucky break of the ball in the build-up), Warde (after great work by Donnacha Maguire), and sub Lorcan Smyth (very soon after his introduction). A point exchange between Donegan (a quality score) and Paddy Fagan (compensating for a couple of earlier misses) left Garrycastle ahead by 0-9 to 0-8 at the interval.

Great work by Guerin enabled Fagan to equalise some 80 seconds after play resumed. Hard-working full back Dillon Matthews came forward in the 34th minute to thunder a shot off the crossbar and an immediate deflection resulted in a ‘45’ which Ross Corroon converted in style. Former Westmeath star James Dolan almost nonchalantly edged Garrycastle ahead (0-11 to 0-10) with a two-pointer from play.

However, the Mullingar men replied with a great goal from Brendan O’Reilly (when teed up by Fagan) and a delightful point from Moore, to take a one-goal lead with 40 minutes on the clock. The action was now coming thick and fast, and sub Jason Nugent made an instant impression when he found the net, moments after a great catch by Shane Ormsby was wasted by a poor pass. Corroon came forward to rifle over a great two-point free, leaving Mullingar Shamrocks ahead by 1-13 to 1-11 midway through the second moiety.

Moore and Cosgrove traded points from frees – the losers were claiming a penalty for their place kick – and when John O’Reilly (his first) and Fagan (his third) added points, Shamrocks looked well in control with a four-point lead (1-16 to 1-12) with eight minutes of normal time remaining. However, the new rules mean that a game can change in the blink of an eye, and a quickfire brace of two-pointers from the boots of sub Andrew Monaghan (via the crossbar) and his brother Michael tied up the scoring by the 57th minute.

Both sides missed chances in a nerve-racking finale. It fell to Michael Monaghan to keep his composure in what looked likely to be the last action of the contest to kick a great angled point with just over four minutes of added-time played. However, the game continued and a patient Shamrocks move ended with Guerin firing the ball low to the net from close range after great work by Ormsby and Matthews. Understandably, there was joy unbridled in the winners’ camp when the final whistle sounded, in sharp contrast to a feeling of devastation in the Garrycastle ranks.

Scorers – Mullingar Shamrocks: D Moore 0-6 (3f), B Guerin, B O’Reilly 1-0 each, P Fagan, R Corroon (1 2ptf, 1‘45’) 0-3 each, J Warde 0-2, J O’Reilly, L Smyth 0-1 each.

Garrycastle: M Monaghan 0-4 (1 2pt, 1f), J Nugent 1-0, C Cosgrove (2f), C Mannion, S Brennan (2ptf), B Donegan, J Dolan (2pt), A Monaghan (2pt) 0-2 each, J Carroll 0-1.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Ross Corroon; Adam Glynn, Dillon Matthews, Marc Eivers; Brendan O’Reilly, Efe Siode, Brian Guerin; Shane Ormsby, Daragh Daly; Donnacha Maguire, Paddy Fagan, John O’Reilly; Jordan Warde, Denis Corroon, Dean Moore. Subs used: Lorcan Smyth for D Corroon (inj., 19), Conn O’Hanlon for Siode (54).

Garrycastle: Sean Brennan; Jack Mulvihill, Jack Donohue, Matthew Guiheen; James Dolan, Mark McCallon, Gary McCallon; Cian McCarthy, Eoin Mulvihill; Ben Donegan, Eoin Monaghan, Cathal Mannion; Jamie Carroll, Conor Cosgrove, Michael Monaghan. Subs used: Jason Nugent for E Monaghan (41), Andrew Monaghan for Carroll (48), Rory McGowan for Mannion (51), John Gaffey for J Mulvihill (51).

Ref: Alan Coyne (Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall).