Monday
Midlands 5
Cavan/ Monaghan 0
Two first half goals helped the Midlands run out comfortable victors on Monday in their opening group game.
In what was the ideal start the side wearing lilac took the lead with the opening attack when Daniel Blanc broke down the wing before firing home. The northern side then started to wrestle back momentum in this tie but couldn't level it. The main chances were coming on the break for the Midlands and eventually just before the twentieth minute Blanc doubled his tally after a mix up in the defence. After a lengthy stoppage due to the opposition goalkeeper being stretched off the game turned quiet as neither side could find a goal before the break.
The game was put to bed as a contest ten minutes into the second half when Ryan Coughlan fired home from a corner. With fifteen minutes left in the tie Blanc found himself in the prime positon to complete his hat trick. The final goal of this game was a penalty which was expertly converted by Kalvin Flynn.
This gave the Midlands the perfect start to the group.
Tuesday
Midlands 0
Clare 1
Clare snatched a late 1-0 victory over Midlands in a game where the visitors were clearly the better side but were left to rue missed chances and a single lapse near the end.
Midlands dominated large spells of the match, showing more composure on the ball and sharper movement going forward. They controlled possession and created multiple opportunities, but couldn’t find the breakthrough. Their attacking play was fluid, and they looked the more likely to score throughout. Clare, in contrast, struggled to impose themselves and spent much of the match defending deep.
Despite Clare’s pressure late on, Midlands’ goalkeeper delivered a superb performance, keeping his side in the game with a string of outstanding saves. He denied Clare from close range early in the second half and pulled off a brilliant diving stop in the 75th minute that looked destined for the top corner.
However, in the 88th minute, Clare struck. A quick counterattack caught the Midlands defence stretched, and a low cross found its way to Clare’s substitute, who made no mistake from six yards out.
It was a sucker punch for Midlands, who had done almost everything right except score. The result flatters Clare, who were second-best for much of the match but took full advantage of their late chance to seal the win.
Midlands 0
Waterford 2
Waterford secured a 2-0 win over Midlands thanks to two second-half goals, but Midlands can take pride in their performance as the better team throughout the match. Despite the loss, Midlands dominated possession and created the majority of chances, only to be denied by a brilliant performance from their own goalkeeper.
Midlands controlled the tempo from the start, moving the ball confidently and threatening Waterford’s defence on numerous occasions. Their attacking play was fluid and incisive, but they were repeatedly frustrated by their goalkeeper’s exceptional saves, who kept the scoreline respectable with a string of key interventions throughout the match.
Waterford, although limited in possession, proved clinical when it mattered most. Both of their goals came late in the second half, capitalizing on rare counterattacks that caught Midlands off guard. Despite Midlands’ dominance, those two decisive moments were enough for Waterford to secure the victory.
Midlands will feel hard done by given their superior performance and control during much of the game. Their inability to convert chances and the late goals conceded overshadowed a display full of promise. With their goalkeeper in top form and the team’s overall performance, Midlands have plenty to build on moving forward.
Wednesday
Shield Quarter Final
Midlands 1
South Belfast 0
Midlands secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Belfast in a tightly contested match, thanks to a brilliant first-half goal and a resolute defensive performance in the second.
From the start, Midlands showed great intent and control, dominating possession and creating several chances. Their hard work paid off midway through the first half when a well-crafted move ended with a superb finish from Cooper Lynch that gave them the lead. The goal highlighted Midlands’ attacking quality and clinical edge in front of goal.
After taking the lead, Midlands shifted their focus to maintaining discipline and organization at the back. South Belfast came out strongly in the second half, looking to break down the Midlands defense, but Midlands stood firm. Their defensive unit was well-structured and determined, successfully repelling wave after wave of pressure.
Despite South Belfast’s efforts to find an equalizer, Midlands held their shape and showed great resilience to protect their lead until the final whistle. The win was a testament to Midlands’ balance of attacking threat and defensive solidity, providing a solid platform to build on in upcoming matches.
Thursday
Shield Place Match
Midlands 0
Kilkenny 1
Midlands put in a strong performance but were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Kilkenny in a tightly contested match. Despite the result, the home side showed plenty of promise and created several good chances throughout the game.
The only goal of the match came just before the break, when Kilkenny’s MJ Carroll managed to find the net from a corner. It was a rare lapse in concentration for the Midlands defence, who had otherwise looked solid. Earlier in the half, the Midlands goalkeeper made two excellent saves to keep the scores level, showcasing sharp reflexes to deny Kilkenny further opportunities.
In the second half, Midlands pushed forward with renewed determination. They created several decent efforts, but the Kilkenny goalkeeper was equal to them, pulling off key saves to maintain his side’s lead. Midlands dominated much of the possession after the restart and kept Kilkenny on the back foot, but they were just unable to find the finishing touch.
It was a frustrating day in front of goal, but Midlands can take plenty of positives from the performance. With more clinical finishing, the result could easily have gone the other way. The team’s work rate and spirit were undeniable throughout the match.
Friday
Shield Place Match 19th/ 20th
Midlands 0 Pens 4
Longford 0 Pens 5
In what was always going to be a tight affair nothing could separate the local neighbors on Friday morning bar the dreaded penalties.
he first half saw promising early chances for both sides. Midlands had a golden opportunity just before the break, but their striker failed to convert from close range, sending the ball just wide of the post.
The second half was even more cagey, with both teams cancelling each other out in midfield and clear-cut chances proving rare. Midlands managed the only real effort of note after the restart, forcing a smart save from the opposing keeper midway through the half.
Despite plenty of effort and grit from both sets of players, the deadlock couldn’t be broken in regulation time. The game inevitably headed to penalties – the dreaded decider in such closely fought affairs. With nerves stretched and the pressure mounting, it came down to composure from the spot to separate the two sides after an evenly matched 90 minutes.
While there were no goals during open play, the match was a testament to strong defensive organization and disciplined football, leaving it all to be decided from 12 yards.
Midlands Penalties
1st Ryan Coughlan (Scored)
2nd Cooper Lynch ( Miss)
3rd Kalvin Flynn (Scored)
4th Ruadhan O’ Higgins (Scored)
5th Frank Pettit (Scored)
At the end of the tournament we got the thoughts of the coach Darren Whelan.
He explains how tournament football can be decided by the bounce of the ball or by the narrowest of margins. This was certainly the case for this side as if the luck had gone with them they could have finished my higher. “ It's all about the margins down here its only the kick of a ball in most of the group games and especially the knockouts.”
Whelna added that “ the boys performed well and did what the coaches asked of them from start to finish and that's all they could ask for in such a tough competition.”
Midlands Squad:Tadas Širvaitis Portlaoise AFC, Fionn Burke Mountmellick Utd, Diarmuid Sammon St. Joseph's Athlone,
Kaiden Monahan Killeigh FC, Ryan Coughlan Mullingar Ath,
Daniel Blanc Mountmellick Utd, Conal Buggy Tullamore Town,
James Brazón Walsh Island Shamrocks, Harry Doyle
Mountmellick Utd, John Duignan St. Joseph's Athlone,
Aaron Maher Tullamore Town, Kalvin Flynn Mullingar Ath,
Cian Mc Goldrick St. Joseph's Athlone, Harry Hewitt
St. Joseph's Athlone, Ruadhán O'Higgins St. Joseph's Athlone,
James Boland Birr Town, Fionn Macken St. Francis Athlone,
Cooper Lynch Kinnegad Juniors, Frank Pettit St. Francis Athlone,
Sean Norton St. Francis Athlone.
Manager: Tommy Hewitt
Coaches: Darren Whelan, Dermot Lennon, Oliver Sammon, Sean Óg Campbell.
Goalie Coach Conor Whelan
Physio Laura Doyle.
League Rep: Derek Collins.
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