County Senior Football Championship, Section B: Mullingar Shamrocks 3-11 Killucan 2-10.
Only one place to start this report. THE GOAL. From now on this match will be remembered as the Dillon Matthews Goal Game, a goal scored shortly after the first water break with Killucan leading by 1-3 to 0-5. No words can do justice to the powerplay, so we’ll have to wait for the video clip to appreciate the score in its full magnificence. Eddie Moore was involved in freeing the ball that Dillon collected in his right-full back position and like a running back in American football, Dillon took flight, switched to overdrive, and began a solo run that initially took him through the Killucan forward line. Dillon then slalomed through midfield his pace allowing him to avoid all would-be tacklers, and on towards the Dunne’s store end goal before curling a beautiful left-footed shot past David Bryan, one of the best shot stoppers in Westmeath football. The finish alone would constitute a great goal and when the long-distance solo run ingredient is added to the mix we have the perfect individual goal laced with artistic merit. In the middle of it all, referee Barry Pierce fell over and uniquely was the only one present in Cusack Park fortunate enough to have a worm’s eye view of the extraordinary score. Lorcan Smyth and John Heslin have scored wonderful individual goals in county finals, but this effort of Dillon Matthews is in a category all by itself. The goal of the century (at least).
The sides were level 0-5 to 1-2 at the end of the first water break. Dean Moore ended Shamrocks’ first attack with a fine point that began when Dillon Matthews filed high to end Killucan’s first attack, Dillon delivered to Lorcan Smyth whose first-time pass was collected by Deano who pointed from the wing. A Devin Hill free levelled matters before a fine Daragh Daly point pushed Shamrocks ahead. A tidy Philly Shaw kick-out began the move and one of Micheál Curley’s trademark surges created the opportunity for Daragh. Denis Corroon added another point. Lorcan Smyth also pointed – a super left-footed effort from out left, a replica of his effort against Rosemount. A move that began deep in defence was finished by Seanie Daly for Shamrocks fifth point, In between, Aaron Kiernan pointed a free and in the twelfth minute the same player sliced through the Shamrocks defence after Shamrocks wasted a glorious scoring opportunity and were punished from the needless turnover when Kiernan blasted past Philly Shaw to level matters (0-5 to 1-2).
A pointed sideline by Ciarán Doyle (not everyone can score from sideline shots in hurling and football) before Dillon Matthews scored THE GOAL. Ross Corroon pointed a 45 before points from Devin Hill and Ciarán Doyle narrowed the gap. Denis Corroon pointed before the half ended with a disallowed Killucan goal for a square ball infringement with Shamrocks leading by 1-7 to 1-5. Lorcan and Devin Hill exchanged points on the restart before Dean Moore added a point. Ross Corroon goaled to finish another fine combined move with Jack Gillen providing the final pass. A vital goal but Killucan retaliated almost immediately. Devin Hill pointed a free and then blasted a superb shot past Philly Shaw to cut the gap to two points (2-9 to 2-7). There was time for another Mullingar Shamrocks goal in this quarter as Micheál Curley exhibited some soccer skills that we haven’t seen before to deliver the ball to Denis Corroon. Denis moved through the Killucan defence, passed to Dean Moore who smashed the ball past David Bryan. Devin Hill pointed to bring the third-quarter score to 3-9 to 2-8 in favour of Shamrocks. The sides shared four points in the final quarter. Ciarán Curley had just arrived on the pitch when he pointed – serious skill in the execution as he lifted the ball over an attempted block; Seanie Daly point on the run to complete a patient move that involved several passes.
A good victory for Shamrocks, lots of good football played, several great individual performances, Mark Flynn and Jack Gillen made their first starts in senior championship football but forever this is the game of THE GOAL.
We’re back in the ball game, we play Caulry next and like today against Killucan this is another must win game.
Mullingar Shamrocks: Philly Shaw; Dillon Matthews (1-0), Eddie Moore, Mark Flynn; Pearse Corroon (Ryan Blundell), Micheál Curley, Brendan O’Reilly; Daragh Daly (0-1), Seanie Daly (0-2); Patrick Fagan (Zach Aherne), Lorcan Smyth (0-2), Denis Corroon (0-2); Ross Corroon (1-1) [Ciarán Curley 0-1], Jack Gillen (Jordan Warde), Dean Moore (1-2).
