Mullingar Shamrocks 0-12 Garrycastle 1-8:IN WINTRY conditions in Mullingar yesterday afternoon, the reigning Leinster champions, Garrycastle, were dethroned as Westmeath title-holders by Mullingar Shamrocks in a niggly county final replay, in which 12 players (six from either side) were yellow-carded.

The challengers started brightly and were two points ahead with just two minutes on the clock.

However, wind-assisted Garrycastle got into their stride and rattled over four unanswered points by the 12th minute, three of them (including two frees) from the boot of marquee forward Dessie Dolan.

Approaching the end of the first quarter, last season’s All-Ireland finalists pounced on a Shamrocks defensive error to fire home a great goal, Dolan teeing up his cousin James who rifled the ball low to the net.

Shamrocks edged the remainder of the first half, with Ciarán Curley influential in their attack, and the scoreboard at half-time read Garrycastle 1-6 Mullingar Shamrocks 0-6.

Conor Cosgrove increased Garrycastle’s lead from a converted free within a minute of the restart, but it was to be a full 32 minutes before they added to their total.

Matthew Guiheen spurned a glorious chance of a goal for the holders early in the half and, now with the wind at their backs, Mullingar Shamrocks chipped away patiently at the lead and were rewarded with a couple of terrific long-range points from play by the outstanding Seán Daly and then substitute Anthony Clinton.

The sides were on level terms as the countdown clock turned to zero before Seán Daly put the champions-elect ahead from a tricky 25-metre free.

The same player then doubled Mullingar’s advantage with a sublime point from play, forcing Dessie Dolan to try and blast a goal from a 25-metre free in the final minute of added-time in an attempt to snatch victory for the holders.

However, the former All Star’s rasping shot was deflected over the crossbar.

In the dying seconds, Shamrocks captain, Kieran Gavin (who was the victorious DCU skipper in the Sigerson Cup earlier in the year) effected a vital catch to ensure his side bridged a 12-year to bring the county title back to Mullingar.

MULLINGAR SHAMROCKS: R Tyrrell; A Purcell, K Gavin, E Moore; P Joyce, D Gavin, M Curley; D Corroon (0-1), D O’Donoghue; K Daly, S Daly (0-5, one free), S Quinn; J Ganley, C Curley (0-4, three frees), L Smyth (0-1). Subs: A Clinton (0-1) for Quinn (38 mins), D Daly for Joyce (42 mins), D Miller for Purcell (60 mins).

GARRYCASTLE: C Mullin; M McCallon, E Mulvihill, G McCallon; K Henson, D Harte (0-1), J Gaffey; A Browne, P Dillon; M Guiheen, P Mulvihill (0-1), E Monaghan; C Cosgrove (0-2, two frees), J Dolan (1-0), D Dolan (0-4, three frees). Subs: A Fox for G McCallon (23 mins), S O’Donoghue for Dillon (43 mins), C O’Neill for Harte (49 mins), D O’Shaughnessy for Guiheen (56 mins)

Referee: D Maher (Ballynacargy).