Moore points Shamrocks to win in Mullingar derby

Mullingar Shamrocks 1-11 St Loman's, Mullingar 1-10

A match-winning point in the dying seconds from Dean Moore saw Mullingar Shamrocks take the spoils in the local derby against St Loman’s at Lakepoint last Friday night.

In the cold March night, the strong attendance was treated to a mixed game where there were moments of brilliance combined with prolonged side-to-side possession. With some great battles across the pitch emerging throughout the contest, the game really sparked in the final quarter before some key decisions and errors created the final drama.

Two opening scores for Shamrocks came from Denis Corroon frees, one from each side following fouls on Moore and the excellent John O’Reilly. It would take until the tenth-minute for Loman's to draw level as a quickfire double from Shane Dempsey, both from play, made it two apiece.

The final pass was letting Shamrocks down as Loman's made key turnovers in defence. Peter Foy, having already committed several fouls, went into Brendan Keena’s notebook inside the opening fifteen before Emmett Walsh put the green jerseys ahead, 0-3 to 0-2. Conor Regan should have found the net at the other end moments later, but he smashed the post following Mark Tunney’s layout. On 20 minutes it was the turn of O’Reilly to do likewise at the other end as his effort came back out off the base of the post with Jason Daly beaten.

Dempsey provided the score of the game eight minutes before the break. Fielding a long-ball, the pacey forward spun Efe Siode, threw two dummies before swinging an effort over from distance. There was still much excitement left in the half, however. Firstly, linesman Eoin Gorman spotted a 3v3 infringement by Shamrocks. From the resulting plays, Peter Foy launched a two-point effort which drew great cheers from the home support. The joy was short-lived for the Longford man as just before the whistle he was sent-off. Feeling he was fouled in the act of shooting, he voiced displeasure to the referee and despite the efforts of teammates to restrain him, Foy was dismissed. A last gasp fisted point from Oliver McNamara meant it was Loman's who led, 0-5 to 0-4, at the break.

John Heslin and Conn O’Hara were introduced at the break but it was Shamrocks who came out of the traps fastest, Alan Cashman kicking a nice point inside the opening minute before Siode and Conor O’Brien combined before Dean Moore fired over.

A foul on Dempsey allowed Heslin strike an easy free before the woodwork was hit, yet again. This time Heslin the architect but Mark Tunney could only hit the crossbar with the green flag waiting. Shamrocks broke from there and John O’Reilly settled for a point when a goal may have been on. The next attack was overshadowed by roaring calls from all in blue around the ground to a potential 3v3 infraction by Shamrocks, but it mattered little to them as Dean Moore took advantage to blast home. The goal stood and Shamrocks led 1-7 to 0-7 with 20 to go.

Heslin then saw his 45 evade everyone and hit the crossbar as the drama increased. A great pass from David Whelan set Heslin free to point as his impact was becoming more substantial. Conn O’Hara and Oliver McNamara exchanged scores before another 3v3 call, correctly this time, looked to have turned the game.

Heslin, very cleverly, jogged alongside the ref to the point of the free before blasting towards goal without warning. Liam English failed to keep out the effort and Shamrocks conceded a soft goal. Level at 1-8 each, Seán Daly popped up to score before teammate Tunney did likewise and with two minutes left it was 1-10 to 1-8 in favour of the home side.

The drama did not end there. Loman's, down to fourteen men, only required two players in attack but for a brief period only had one. Enough time, however, for it to be spotted and Denis Corroon opted to take the free from outside the arc. His two-pointer bringing it level before a final push saw Davy Gavin tee up Dean Moore for the winning point in added time. Shamrocks win by the slimmest margin in a very entertaining contest.

Scorers – Mullingar Shamrocks: D Moore 1-2, D Corroon 0-4 (2f, 1 2ptf), O McNamara 0-2, A Cashman, J O’Reilly, E Walsh 0-1 each. St Loman’s: J Heslin 1-2 (1-1f), S Dempsey 0-3, P Foy 0-2 (2pt), S Daly, M Tunney, C O’Hara 0-1 each

Mullingar Shamrocks: Liam English; Dillon Matthews, Efe Siode, Davy Coyne; Brendan O’Reilly, Davy Gavin, Killian Daly; Conor O’Brien, Alan Cashman; Conn O’Hanlon, John O’Reilly, Emmett Walsh; Oliver McNamara, Denis Corroon, Dean Moore. Subs used: Callum Rigney for Walsh (43), Adam Glynn for Coyne (injured, 46), Neil Hannigan for J O’Reilly (59).

St Loman’s, Mullingar: Jason Daly; Ethan Brown, Nathan Lally, Andrew Daly; Oisín Hogan, David Whelan, Seán Daly; Riley Sheahan, Conor Regan; Tadgh Kenny, Peter Foy, Mark Tunney; Chris Gilbert, Shane Dempsey, Cian Daly. Subs used: John Heslin for Kenny (h-t), Conn O’Hara for Daly (h-t), Fola Ayorinde for Gilbert (50), Tristan Graham for Whelan (53).

Referee: Brendan Keena (Ballynacargy).