Shamrocks come from behind to see off Kinnegad

Mullingar Shamrocks came from four points down to overcome Coralstown-Kinnegad by four points in an entertaining Ladies Senior Football Championship encounter in Kinnegad last Thursday.

The hosts made a flying start, racing into a three-point lead inside the opening five minutes, but Shamrocks gradually worked their way back into the contest before taking control in the second half.

Coralstown-Kinnegad stormed out of the blocks thanks to a high press, while Shamrocks struggled to get the ball out of their own half.

Played in 25-degree heat, Kiara Giles struck first for the hosts with a powerful free from distance. They won the Shamrocks kickout and Giles sent a ball in to Sarah O’Sullivan, who kicked over a tidy score.

Kirsten Massey sent a great ball over the defender to find Therese Murray in space, who took a few steps before kicking over to put Kinnegad three clear inside the opening five minutes.

Shamrocks finally escaped their own half and went looking for a score down the other end, finding joy through a nice point from Honor MacNamara. A second score followed after Mairead Newman was fouled, with Anna Jones converting the free. MacNamara added her second through another placed ball moments later.

Both sides exchanged wides before the hosts had a breakthrough when Emer Fogarty rattled the net from close range after a great ball in from Sarah O’Sullivan.

They went four points clear after 15 minutes when Kiara Giles sent over a well-taken free.

Shamrocks responded through Chloe Smullen, who kicked to the net after pouncing on a breaking ball to reduce the deficit to a single point. Karen Hegarty levelled the match with a great score in acres of space.

Anna Jones broke away from two defenders and struck over under pressure to put Shamrocks ahead. Kirsten Massey levelled proceedings with a strong kick down the left wing, which was quickly cancelled out by another placed ball from Jones.

Sarah O’Sullivan then levelled the match at 1-6 apiece with a point from play, sending both sides into the break level.

Both sides held each other scoreless for the first ten minutes of the second half. The deadlock was broken by Chloe Carney, who was fouled from close range for Kinnegad and converted the free herself. Carney hit the crossbar moments later as she searched for a goal.

Susanna Buckley, the engine room of Shamrocks throughout, sent a good ball into Karen Hegarty close to goal, with the forward striking to the left of the keeper and into the net to put Shamrocks two points clear.

The hosts responded with a point from play from Kiara Giles before the water break. Shamrocks, finding their footing in the match, struck again through Honor MacNamara, which was quickly cancelled out by another point from play from Giles.

Anna Jones went looking for a goal and forced a 45 from the keeper’s hands, which she converted herself for two points to put Shamrocks three clear. Substitute Caoimhe Farrell then scored from play in the 55th minute to secure the win before the match died out.

It was a strong performance from Shamrocks, who showed a good mix of talented young players and experienced hands as they recovered from their slow start.

Coralstown-Kinnegad showed signs of what they are capable of but will need to improve in their remaining two group matches if they are to avoid the drop.

Scorers – Mullingar Shamrocks: H MacNamara 0-3, A Jones 0-5 (0-2f, 0-2 45s), C Smullen 1-0, K Hegarty 1-1, C Farrell 0-1

Coralstown-Kinnegad: K Giles 0-4 (0-2f), S O’Sullivan 0-2, E Fogarty 0-1, C Carney 1-0, K Massey 0-1, T Murray 0-1

Mullingar Shamrocks: Holly McCormack, Eve Hynes, Siobhan O’Donnell, Chloe Swarbrigg, Carla-Rose Blackman, Melek Fagan, Susanna Buckley, Jenna Kelly, Anna Jones, Annemarie O’Reilly, Mairead Newman, Zara Corroon, Honor MacNamara, Chloe Smullen, Karen Hegarty. Subs: Sinead Sweeney for E Hynes.

Coralstown/Kinnegad: Jenny Doyle, Donna Kiernan, Amie Giles, Aileen Murtagh, Tori Coyne, Marie Cooney, Laura Lyons, Aileen Brannock, Kirsten Massey, Emer Fogarty, Shannon Lyons, Sarah O’Sullivan, Chloe Carney, Therese Murray, Kiara Giles. Subs: Ella Cooney for S O’Sullivan, Aine Brannock for D Kiernan, Niamh Farrell for L Lyons, Andrea Goggins for S Lyons.

Referee: Michael Gordon (Shandonagh).