Shield success

Cathal Mullaney

St Molaise Gaels and Castleconnor were the winners of the Shield finals held at the Sligo GAA Centre of Excellence at Scarden last Thursday evening.

St Molaise Gaels had a comfortable win over Shamrock Gaels in the Division One Shield final, on a comprehensive scoreline of 7-21 to 2-7. The north Sligo outfit were in control throughout and in Alan McLoughlin they had a real threat up front. Indeed, the winners will feel hard done by not to have made the knockout stages of the cup competition, given that they won two of their three group games, but this silverware will provide some consolation.  

St Molaise Gaels: A McLoughlin; C Clancy, D Kearney, E Farrell; D Gallagher, C Colreavy, J Reynolds; D Oates, S Snee; A Shaw, A McLoughlin, R Keegan; J Sexton, D Elliot, C Herron. Subs: L Towey, A Hoey.

Shamrock Gaels: S Hailstones; P Harrington, B Tuohy, Aaron Kelly; Alan Kelly, D Murphy, C Morrisroe; C Carroll, E O’Connell; D Lyons, C McDermott, D Kerins; M Kerins, D Hailstones, L Flynn.

Referee: K Henry

Meanwhile, in the Division Two Shield final, Castleconnor put in a hard-working display to emerge as winners in an entertaining encounter against Coolera/Strandhill, 1-13 to 2-4.

1-6 to 1-2 ahead at the break – with Luke Munnelly netting the winners’ goal – Castleconnor withstood a spirited fightback from Coolera/Strandhill to hold on for a six-point win. Impressive for the west Sligo side over the hour were Cian Barrins, Seán Carrabine and James Boland.

Castleconnor: K Healy; E Kilcullen, S Durkan; J Boland, C Barrins, B Foody; J O'Hora, S Carrabine; M Cahill, L Beardshall, E Beardshall; L Munnelly, Niall Judge.