Maryland secure quarter final place with vital draw against Shamrocks

A Brian Melody point four minutes into stoppage time denied a determined Maryland team what would have been a merited victory at Cusack Park last Sunday evening - but a draw in this pulsating encounter was enough to put the 2008 intermediate champions into the quarter-finals. In the end, it was Shamrocks who were more than fortunate to get anything from this game as their second-half effort was poor in the extreme after they had lorded the play in the first half. The straight red card given to Gareth Doyle for an off-the-ball incident really set them back on their heels as the Drumraney side came looking for blood and found the Shamrocks rearguard wanting. Indeed, Maryland could have and should have been out of sight before that Melody score as they missed two gilt-edged chances to put daylight between the sides late in the game. However, at the final whistle they celebrated knowing that their win was enough to see them through while the Shamrocks players trudged off almost like a team defeated. Their challenge for the Flanagan Cup took a huge dent with this lacklustre display, while for Maryland it's another step on the ladder. Maryland should have had a goal early on when Callum McCormack had just Philip Shaw to beat but dragged his shot just wide of the post. A pointed free by David Martin did put Maryland ahead, but Shamrocks took over completely after that and points from Shane Colleary, Darren Moore and Brian Melody put them two ahead. Shamrocks looked in cruise control as they played some lovely football and tore the Maryland defence apart. A superb Damian Reynolds point got one back for Maryland but Melody restored the two-point gap from long range after a fine Shamrocks move. The game then took a major turn when after Maryland goalie John Murray had brilliantly stopped a Darren Moore pile driver, Anthony Clinton picked up the pieces and rattled the back of the net for a super goal. James Reynolds got one back for Maryland but it was damage limitation at this stage and, after Colleary found Clinton with a super pass, the midfielder slotted over another point. But just when it seemed that Shamrocks would pull out of sight they gave away a needless free and David Martin converted again to leave the half-time score 1-5 to 0-4 in Shamrocks' favour. After the break, Brian O'Sullivan added a free and it looked as if the Mullingar club would ease home, but they did not score for the next 14 minutes as Maryland began to fight for their survival and show their battling qualities. Callum McCormack got the ball rolling with a super strike and then John Reilly added another after a simple move. McCormack was then through on goal but unfortunately his shot went over rather than under the bar. The momentum had now swung completely in the Drumraney's side favour. They were rewarded for their tenacity and took the lead when full-back Eoin Farrell stormed up the field and when Reilly crossed the call Farrell was on hand to fist to the net for an uplifting goal that rocked Shamrocks back on their heels. O'Sullivan levelled matters for Shamrocks from a rather easily conceded free but the game then took another twist when Shamrocks midfielder Gareth Doyle was sent off for an off the ball incident, and Maryland took this as a sign to go for the jugular. Kieran Martin caught and struck from long range a superb point and that was followed closely by a mistake from the Shamrocks defence and Ronan Moran pointed superbly to put two between the sides again. A foul on Michael Curley when he looked clean through left Darren Moore with an easy chance to get one back from a free, before Maryland immediately went down the field and had two great chances to put the game out of Shamrocks' reach, but David Martin was guilty of two dreadful misses. These missed chances nearly came back to haunt his side as a fabulous Shamrocks move ended with sub Cian O'Leary shooting for goal, only to be denied by a wonderful save from John Murray in the Maryland goal. It was all hands to the pump now for Finbar Egan's charges as Shamrocks laid siege to the Maryland goal but, after two near misses, it looked like they would hold on. But just when time seemed to be up in the darkening gloom, up popped Melody to level matters and seconds later referee Damian Maher blew the final whistle. Maryland celebrated as if they had won the title while the Shamrocks players slipped wearily off the field after an epic encounter that swung to and fro. Melody was Shamrocks' saviour and possibly their best player overall, but Michael Curley and Darren Moore ran him close. The defence was creaky to say the least but Clinton and Doyle won the midfield battle and Shane Colleary was another to play his heart out, but they lacked the conviction and panache of earlier games. Kieran Martin and Callum McCormack led the fightback for Maryland and John Reilly was a constant threat up front, while Eoin Farrell's goal capped a superb hour for him. But it was their will to win that carried them home and they battled manfully when the chips were down and at least deserved the draw and possibly were a little unlucky not to get more. SCORERS - Mullingar Shamrocks: Anthony Clinton 1-1, Brian Melody 0-3, Brian O'Sullivan (2f) and Darren Moore (1f) 0-2 each, Shane Colleary 0-1. Maryland: David Martin (2f) and Callum McCormack 0-2 each, Eoin Farrell 1-0, Damian Reynolds, James Reynolds, Kieran Martin, Ronan Moran and John Reilly 0-1 each. Mullingar Shamrocks: Philip Shaw, David Miller, Kieran Gavin, Aaron Purcell, Conor Twomey, Donal O'Donoghue, Michael Curley, Anthony Clinton, Gareth Doyle, Darragh Daly, Shane Colleary, Brian Melody, Brian O'Sullivan, Lorcan Smyth, Darren Moore. Subs: Denis Corroon for Twomey (39 mins), Cian O'Leary for Daly and Ciaran Curley for Smyth (45). Maryland: John Murray, Philip Rainey, Eoin Farrell, Conor Farrell, Christy Grimes, John Cunningham, Darren Malynn, David Reynolds, Damian Reynolds, James Reynolds, Kieran Martin, Ronan Martin, John Reilly, Callum McCormack, David Martin. Subs: Ronan Farrell for Grimes (39 mins), Declan Nugent for Damian Reynolds (59). Referee: Damien Maher (Ballynacargy).