Moore the master as Caulry men lose out to Shamrocks

Mullingar Shamrocks 4-11 Caulry 2-11

This Westmeath SFC opening round clash brought together this year’s ACFL Division 1 champions and a team which was relegated with some heavy defeats in the process. Ultimately the result went as expected with Mullingar Shamrocks claiming victory over Caulry in Moate last Saturday evening, but not without some interesting twists and turns along the way.

Caulry recovered from a shaky start quite impressively and actually led 2-7 to 2-3 at half-time. However, Shamrocks struck for two more goals in the second period and this proved their winning margin in the end.

Westmeath manager Mark McHugh was among the attendance, but Shamrocks boss David Martin was a conspicuous absentee, having made plans before the start of the championship was put back. For their part, Caulry sorely lacked the presence of Senan Baker (currently abroad in the USA) and Conor McCormack (injured).

With heavy rain falling early on at Hogan Park, the recent spell of warm weather soon became a distant memory for the decent-sized attendance. When the Mullingar side forged 1-2 to 0-0 ahead inside the opening nine minutes, one wondered if Caulry were going to suffer a heavy defeat - just like they did to the same opponents in this year’s Division 1 league campaign.

The Shamrocks’ goal came from raiding defender Adam Glynn (eighth minute), either side of a brace of points from the threatening Dean Moore.

Yet championship action is so often a radically different beast than league fare and Caulry soon showed their capabilities. Colin Murphy’s two-pointer was a much needed lift (14th minute) and despite the setback of conceding a second goal - Moore the provider for Alex Sheerin to punish Caulry for a sloppy turnover - the Mount Temple/Baylin men had now found a foothold.

In the 20th minute, Tiarnán O’Donovan set up a chance for Stephen Connolly and the latter scored a superbly taken goal. Shortly afterwards, there was a great goal chance at the other end but Moore’s shot came off the post. Caulry goalkeeper Jack Connaughton then did well to deal with a dangerous high ball.

The sides were level 2-2 apiece by the 22nd minute, Connolly pouncing for his second goal after O’Donovan’s point attempt hit the upright. Wearing number 9, Connolly had moved into the inside forward line where he caused Shamrocks plenty of trouble. Connolly’s shot came back off the stanchion which left some observers initially thinking his effort went wide.

Luke Buckley followed up with a rousing two-pointer to put Caulry ahead for the first time. Moore replied with a point (his shot crept just inside the post) before Murphy landed his second two-pointer. Caulry now led 2-6 to 2-3 and they had yet to raise a white flag. Buckley changed that statistic before half-time, giving Nigel Dineen’s charges a four-point advantage at the interval.

Shortly after the restart, Shamrocks wing-forward Killian Mooney raised an orange flag and, by the 43rd minute, the sides were level at 2-9 each. Connolly (a free) and Brian Doyle (a fine individual score from a player who was influential in the second half) were the Caulry men on target during this spell.

At the other end, Moore and Sheerin supplied a brace of points each, with some in the Caulry camp adamant that one of those Moore points (a close range free) went wide. Ironically, Moore felt he deserved a white flag with an effort from open play which was flagged wide moments later.

On 44 minutes, Shamrocks, struck for their vital third goal. Veteran Denis Corroon got a good flick to a kickout and the ball landed invitingly into the path of Sheerin. The latter headed goalwards and passed across to his double act partner Moore, who palmed it to the net.

Thereafter Caulry were chasing the game. Defender Sean Clinton came forward to fist over a point (when there was half-chance of a goal), with hugely promising Shamrocks netminder Adam Buckley landing a ‘45’ in reply.

As Caulry tried to respond, Doyle set up Shane Lawless for a splendid point but this proved their last score. Shamrocks full-back Dillon Matthews was then very unlucky to see his goal attempt hit the butt of the far post.

Yet the Springfield based outfit made sure of their victory when, after Connaughton was unable to deal with an effort from youthful substitute Paul Keating, Brian Guerin swept the ball gleefully to the net (55th minute).

A very harsh free was awarded against Caulry’s Tadhg Baker for ‘steps’ when he was clearly playing the ball, before Ty Masterson embellished Shamrocks’ deserved victory with a composed point.

Man of the match: Dean Moore (Mullingar Shamrocks). Carrying on the involvement of the renowned Moore clan, Dean (despite being heavily strapped) was always a threat to the Caulry defence and he scored 1-5. He was ably supported by Alex Sheerin. Stephen Connolly's two goals gave Caulry genuine hope in the first half, while Colin Murphy, Luke Buckley and Brian Doyle had some good moments.

Scorers - Mullingar Shamrocks: D Moore 1-5 (0-1f); A Sheerin 1-2; A Glynn and B Guerin 1-0 each; K Mooney 0-2 (tp); T Masterson and A Buckley (‘45’) 0-1 each. Caulry: S Connolly 2-1 (0-1f); Colin Murphy 0-4 (2tp); L Buckley 0-3 (1tp); B Doyle, S Lawless and S Clinton 0-1 each.

Mullingar Shamrocks - Adam Buckley; Adam Glynn, Dillon Matthews, Efe Siode; Ty Masterson, Brendan O’Reilly, Brian Guerin; Shane Ormsby, Críostóir Ormsby; Donnacha Maguire Davy Gavin, Killian Mooney; Dean Moore, Denis Corroon, Alex Sheerin. Subs: Ben Sheerin for Siode (h-t); Paul Keating for Mooney (45 mins); Dylan Franzoni for Gavin; Donal Lane for Franzoni (inj., 61).

Caulry - Jack Connaughton; Sean Clinton, Kevin Maguire, Cormac Murphy; Tadhg Baker, Olan Healy, Damien Dolan; Sean Murphy, Stephen Connolly; Brian Doyle, Shane Lawless, Tiarnán O’Donovan; Oisín Shortall, Colin Murphy, Luke Buckley. Subs: Dean Martin for Dolan (46 mins); Eoin Fox for Shortall (52); Eoghan Grennan for S Murphy (60).

Referee - Paul McCaughey (Milltown).