Mullingar Shamrocks will be hoping it is a case of third time lucky as they booked their place in the county senior decider for the third year running thanks to a 3-7 to 1-10 win over neighbours St Loman’s last Sunday.
Loman’s started brightly and raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after 12 minutes. A Ciaran Curley goal brought Shamrocks right back into contention and they held a 1-6 to 0-7 half-time lead with wind advantage to come.
Both sides were reduced to 14 in the opening half with Donie O’Donoghue and Ciaran Kilmurray both seeing red.
Shamrocks got the perfect start to the second half with a deflected goal and a similar major at the three quarter mark left them in a commanding position. A late converted penalty from John Heslin narrowed the gap to three points but the green side of Mullingar held on to set up a repeat of the last two county deciders.
The outcome of their likely appeal into the sending off of Donie O’Donoghue could have a big bearing on their chances against the reigning champions given that they already have to make do without the services of midfielder Darragh Daly.
Garrycastle are worthy favourites to collect their fourth title on the trot but Shamrocks cannot be dismissed lightly. An interesting final lies in store yet again.
