Last kick drama in Ballinagore
Mullingar Shamrocks 0-12 Loughnavalley 0-11
The final kick of the game in this thrilling and competitive Junior 2 quarter-final saw man of the match Gary Corroon coolly slot the winning point for Shamrocks that sealed his teams win and broke Loughnavalley hearts.
Down to 14 men from the 23rd minute, a Shamrocks side that was a mixture of youth and experience just about deserved this win, but Loughnavalley will have many regrets on not putting the town team away much earlier and the myriad of chances they spurned.
In the end their profligacy came back to haunt them and they will now have a long winter to plot their way out of this grade at last.
The Valley started the brighter and had the opening two scores of the game from a long range Jack Mulligan free and a beauty from Philly Smyth that saw them off to a flier. Gary Corroon got the first of his tally for the day from a free to settle Shamrocks somewhat, but Jack Dalton restored the Valleys two point advantage with a lovely score. Corroon from play and Philly Smyth from a free exchanged points before Shamrocks hit a purple patch and hit the next four without reply from three Corroon frees and the point of the half from John Ryan. At this stage, the town side took over.
Mulligan pulled one back for Loughnavalley from a free and then moments later Shamrocks were down to 14 after a straight red card for full forward Adam McCormack. It seemed like the player vented his frustration towards the referee after being denied what looked a certain penalty.
Loughnavalley upped the tempo with the extra man and another Mulligan free and a fine long-range Shane Doran strike saw them level heading into added time, but Shamrocks substitute Shane Colleary set up Corroon to push the Mullingar men ahead by one at the break on a 0-7 to 0-6 scoreline.
Half-time sub Matthew Maslin increased that lead for Shamrocks on the resumption, but they spurned a couple of great chances and the very impressive Jack Mulligan struck back for the Green and Golds with a superb strike. Doran drew them level moments later with an equally sublime effort and when Mulligan put them in front shortly afterwards with another excellent point, the tie looked to have swung completely. But the Valley could not build on the momentum and Shamrocks replied with a solo John Ryan point and then Shane Colleary, after a quick free with Peter Collins, that could easily have found the net.
Back came the Valley and after Doran had levelled again with another monster from downtown, Paul Newman soloed up the field and struck a pearler for the lead as we headed into the last quarter. Both teams looked out on their feet and first Maslin and then Collins spurned goal chances for Shamrocks, but the man of the hour Gary Corroon fisted them level with four minutes on the clock. It was end to end stuff as both sides looked for the winner, but in the 34th minute Jack Kelly was fouled and Corroon cemented his legendary status with a brilliant conversion to kick the winner, after a very entertaining game that could have went anyway.
Scorers - Mullingar Shamrocks: Gary Corroon 0-8 (5 frees), John Ryan 0-2, Shane Colleary and Matthew Maslin 0-1 each.
Loughnavalley: Jack Mulligan 0-4 (2 frees), Shane Doran 0-3, Philly Smyth 0-2 (1 free), Jack Dalton and Paul Newman 0-1 each.
Mullingar Shamrocks: Mikey Curley, William O’Reilly, Brian Reidy, Daniel Chukwemeka, James Shaw, Padraig McKenna, Jordan Edeh, Jack Kelly, Tomas Turks, John Ryan, Gary Corroon, Adam Boyle, Caoileann Walsh, Adam McCormack, Kieran Gavin. Subs: Shane Colleary for Turks (29 mins), Matthew Maslin for Walsh (H/T), Andrew Connaughton for Shaw (39 mins), Peter Collins for Boyle (44 mins).
Loughnavalley: Ryan O’Hehir, Jaye Ronan, Phillip McCabe, Bob Madden, Jack Mulligan, Paul Newman, Derek Newman, Jason Kiernan, Shane Doran, Cathal Elliffe, Kenneth Rigney, Shane Kennedy, Dereck Glennon, Philly Smyth, Jack Dalton. Subs: Alan Clarke for Glennon (H-T), Brian Buckley for Ronan (37 mins), Sean Ruane for Kiernan (43 mins), Paddy Hassen for Kennedy (58 mins), Kyle Gavin for Paul Newman (59 mins).
Referee: Derek Heffernan (Killucan).