St Lomans GAA Club Notes 09/10/2023:
Shay Murtagh Senior Championship Final:
St Lomans Mullingar 0-09 Coralstown Kinnegad 0-07
The 1st of October saw the sun set on the Westmeath senior championship for 2023. The two best teams this season, St Lomans Mullingar and Coralstown Kinnegad would battle it out for the Flanagan cup on a beautiful autumn day. The atmosphere in TEG Cusack Park was electric with huge waves of support for both sides. The Blues were the bookies favourites after having so much experience in finals over the last number of years compared to Kinnegad who were making their first county final appearance in over twenty years.
The sides faced off three times this year, drawing in both the league and group stage of the championship and the other a victory for Kinnegad in the league final. Despite all the media speculation of this being a one-sided affair, everybody in St Lomans were aware that this was never going to be easy and would go down to wire, which Paddy Dowdall, Ronan O’Toole and John Heslin all reiterated after the game.
The game was always going to be cagey, Jack Cooney and Paschal Kelleghan at the helm for Coralstown have built their campaign on being strong in defence which has worked brilliantly for them. St Lomans also defended in numbers as really it was what the game required, although it may not have pleased the neutrals. The first score came after five minutes courtesy of Sam McCartan after his strong run and accurate left footed effort bisected the posts. The Saints found their groove in the middle of the first half with a further three scores added courtesy of two placed balls from John Heslin either side of a super score from Shane Dempsey.
Sam McCartan added to his tally after twenty minutes with a beautiful score, this time with the outside of his right boot. Kinnegad got off the mark shortly after with Eoin O’Brien doing the damage. Paschal Kelleghan’s side would have been disappointed the deficit was not smaller with his team hitting several first half wides. However, at half time the gap was four points, and the Mullingar side would be playing into a fair wind in the second half, so everything was still up for grabs.
Coralstown started the second period with a huge degree of intensity and hit four unanswered scores to level the match with twenty minutes to play, their scores coming courtesy of Liam Daly, Darren Giles (free) and a Shane Fleming double (free and a mark). Crucially Lomans responded quickly in regaining the lead thanks to a superb score from Kevin Regan. Darren Giles levelled proceedings once more momentarily, but Heslin responded in kind to see the pendulum swing back in the Blues’ favour.
Brian Cooney pointed from a free to tie it up once again and with five minutes to play it was all in the balance. John Heslin hit another perfectly executed free to see Paddy Dowdall’s side get their noses in front just before injury time. Kinnegad searched for an equaliser and at one stage a dangerous ball looked destined for the net, but Jason Daly brilliantly claimed under severe pressure. In stoppage time Kelvin Reilly, found his fellow substitute TJ Cox who accelerated away from the Kinnegad defence at great speed and confidently converted what turned out to be the insurance score. A late goal was all that could save Coralstown Kinnegad but the last play saw Kelvin Reilly intercept a pass emerge out of defence with the ball. Referee Alan Coyne blew the full-time whistle which was met with elation from all in blue.
Not one for the purists but that doesn’t take away the satisfaction for all our players, management, and supporters. The victory was hard-fought, and the saints showed tremendous character in the closing stages. After losing a four-point lead, our lads had their backs against the wall, but they bounced back even stronger and finished the game well. It’s been a feature of this team that they’ve finished strong all year, and this was the case again last Sunday.
On the day the blues had several impressive performers to thank. Eoghan Hogan, in his breakthrough season was exceptional once again and never gave his opponent an inch of space. Darragh O’Keefe along side him was also excellent and he has been a model of consistency this season. Sam McCartan a leader in this team was another contender for player of the match, he covered so much ground, was involved throughout, and hit two scores from play. Ronan O’Toole although not featuring on the scoresheet, he was at the heart of the attack and his leadership was crucial in earning another senior medal in the same week he earned an all-star nomination.
John Heslin kicked four points from placed balls at crucial stages and watching him the last decade, all the blues supporters never doubted him for a moment. Our captain’s leadership and experience were key, particularly in the closing minutes. Man of the match though, was our vice-captain David Whelan. Whelan patrolled the defence brilliantly and snuffed out numerous attacks all afternoon. Whelan, Heslin and Kelvin Reilly now all move onto seven senior football medals as a player which is another fantastic achievement.
It must be said, commiserations to Coralstown Kinnegad who have been brilliant throughout this year. After going through the unspeakable pain of losing a teammate so tragically early in the year, they absolutely did their club proud in 2023. Many of the Kinngead side also last their grandfather during the week after the passing Of Dermot Cooney (father of Jack), all at St Lomans Mullingar extend their condolences to his family. With Cooney and Kelleghan at the helm, along with a young team there’s no doubt they’ll be competing for many honours in the years ahead.
After last year’s defeat to The Downs, there was a lot of pain in Lakepoint Park. However, after playing his last senior game in last year’s final, our own Paddy Dowdall took up the manager’s job and assembled a brilliant management team. A huge thanks To Paddy, Phillip Wolfe, Niall Spain, Frank Aughey, David Geoghegan, Joe Matthews, Alan Bracken, Paul Devine and Gary Devine for their work with team. The feel-good factor in the club at the minute is great to see and they’ve been instrumental in setting the tone. Dowdall adds to his fifteen senior medals as player across both codes with another as manager in his first season!
After appearing in a ninth successive final St Loman’s Mullingar now move on to ten county finals alongside the Downs. Three of these have been claimed in the last four years, six in the last 8 years and seven in the last eleven years. This group have brought us our most successful spell in history and we’re so lucky have this bunch of players that continue to excel year after year, and we should never take success for granted.
We now begin a Leinster campaign in three weeks’ time where will the face the Wexford champions, who our playing their semi-finals next weekend. Details will be announced closer to the time, but please get behind the lads in Leinster. Finally, a huge thanks to all the supporters who turned out in Cusack Park last Sunday, it was great to see so much blue on the TG4 camera’s!
Team; Jason Daly, Eoghan Hogan, Darragh O’Keefe, Oisín Hogan, Jack Geoghegan, David Whelan, Kevin Regan (0.01), Enda Gaffney, John Heslin (0.04, 0.04f), Tristan Graham, Sam McCartan (0.02), Danny McCartan, Ronan O’Toole, Shane Dempsey (0.01). Subs used; TJ Cox (0.01), Kelvin Reilly, Conor O’Donoghue.
Clarkes Bar Junior Championship Final:
St Lomans Mullingar 1-07 Kilbeggan Shamrocks 1-08
The day before our senior championship victory our juniors were also looking to claim silverware when they took on Kilbeggan Shamrocks. The weather couldn’t have been more contrasting to the day after, with heavy rain making conditions extremely difficult for both sides. Kilbeggan started the brighter and pointed early on through Niall Carey before Shane Mulderry got the blues on the board at the ten-minute mark. Shamrocks regained their lead quickly through a double from Nigel Scally. David Morgan momentarily reduced the arrears from a placed ball but two pointed frees from Shaun Pidegon saw the favourites go three up. Tadhg Kenny opened his account on the stroke of half time to leave two between the teams at the interval, which the Mullingar side would have settled for considering how much of the play was with Kilbeggan shamrocks.
The third quarter was undoubtedly the strongest for Robbie Kenny’s side who hit two points in quick succession to level proceedings, courtesy of Chris Gilbert and Seanaí Bracken. Then came a moment of individual brilliance when Bracken went on a blistering run through the heart of the Kilbeggan defence, sold the defender a beautiful dummy solo before firing high into the net via the crossbar. Cian Daly increased the gap to four points with just ten minutes to play and the saints were firmly in the driving seat.
However, the experience of Paul Fennell proved vital in the closing stages as he kicked three unanswered points for the Shamrocks to see the deficit reduced to the minimum. David Morgan responded with second free of the day to leave Lomans with a two-point lead heading into injury time. Robbie Kenny’s men would suffer the ultimate heartbreak when a goal mouth scramble in injury time saw the ball deflect into the back of the net, handing Kilbeggan the victory and leaving the blues crestfallen.
The devastation was clear amongst the players, supporters and management at the full-time whistle with many understand reduced to tears. It really felt cruel as the Blues were in the driving seat and by their own admission should have ended the game as a contest after missing a couple of chances to increase their lead in the closing stages. However, we shouldn’t focus on the negatives as this side has come a long way and has been fantastic for the development, particularly for our younger players many of whom are only into the first year of adult football.
There were many heroic performances in defeat such as the Captain Sean Kelly, Shane Mulderry and Adam Lynch. However, head and shoulders above the rest was Seanaí Bracken who was the outstanding player on the pitch, and he didn’t deserve to be on the losing side, the highlight of his performance being that stunning goal. The likes of Bracken, Mulderry and McCann are only just out of minor and have had a superb first year getting to play alongside multiple senior winners such as Paddy Dowdall, Shane Flynn and David Morgan.
We should never forget that the Junior side is where a lot of our current senior players started before, they made their breakthrough. It is also no coincidence that we won senior championships in 2020, 2021 and 2023, where our junior side reached two finals and a semi-final. The outlier being 2022 where we were eliminated at the group stage of the junior championship. The future is most certnaily bright and having two teams on county final weekend is something we should be proud of. We have several young talents who will push on next year and there is no reason why we shouldn’t be competing for a junior title in 2024.
A big thank you to all the players for their hard work this year and particularly the commitment to senior training. Huge thanks to the management team of Robbie Kenny, Adrian Charles, Adam Carroll, Richie Cleary and Derek Devine for their devotion of time and effort during the year. Massive thank you to all the supporters who turned out in Cusack Park and supported the lads this year. Finally, congratulations to Kilbeggan Shamrocks on their victory and we wish them the best of luck in next year’s intermediate championship.
Team; Dano Fitzsimons, Sean Kelly, Nathan Lally, Ethan Brown, Eoghan Kenny, Shane Flynn, Seanaí Bracken (1.01), Conor Regan, Paddy Dowdall, Shane Mulderry (0.01), Eoghan O’Keefe, Adam Lynch, Chris Gilbert (0.01), David Morgan (0.02, 0.02f), Tadhg Kenny (0.01). Subs used; Cian Daly (0.01), Cillian Plunkett, Daniel McCann, Rory Sheahan, Ciaran Smyth.
Village Barn Ladies Senior Championship semi-final:
St Lomans Mullingar 2-05 The Downs 2-08
Our seniors’ ladies sensational season came to an end last weekend in Shandonagh just two hours before our senior men’s final. The black and amber started strongly with 1-03 in the first period compared to a single Lomans point courtesy of Ciara Blundell. The Saints hit back after fifteen minutes when Ciara Blundell was sharpest and on hand to convert a rebound into the Downs net. Katie and Caoimhe Kilmurray both opened their accounts to briefly level the contest, but another Downs goal saw them regain the lead. Four unanswered points saw The Downs extend their lead, but Shannon Breslin hit back on the stroke of half time to leave just two scores between the sides.
Scores were at a premium in the second half with the first twenty minutes seeing just one point each, Ciara Blundell getting the score for the Mullingar side. Young Shannon Breslin found the net with five minutes to go after excellent link-up with Katie Kilmurray to set up an exciting finish. The Blues pushed for a late goal to try force extra-time, but The Downs defence held firm which saw Ciaran Kilmurray’s side just fall short on the day.
Firstly, congratulations to The Downs who were undoubtedly deserving winners, their physicality and slightly more experienced side proved too strong for the youthful Lomans Ladies. The likes of Megan Dowdall and Niamh Nolan proved decisive for the Black and amber. It must be said conditions were extremely difficult in Shandonagh after heavy rain which made free-flowing football nearly impossible. It wasn’t ideal for the Lomans ladies to play so close to the senior men’s final but a big thank you to The Downs for accommodating us with an earlier throw in which was hugely beneficial for players and supporters. Best of luck to The Downs in the final.
On the day our girls struggled to get their attacking system but nevertheless were ultra-competitive throughout. Experienced players such as Ciara Blundell, Muireann Scally and Sandra McGrath were probably the standout performers for Lomans, as well as Shannon Breslin who has been outstanding in her debut season.
As disappointing as the result was it must be said our Ladies have had a fantastic year after winning just a single match last year. Our girls have enjoyed super wins this year over Moate All Whites, Killucan, Mullingar Shamrocks, Garrycastle and St Mary’s Rochfortbridge. Our youthful side, with some experience blended in spots were brilliant all year and played fast attacking football, the highlight coming with a win in Rochfortbridge. Ciaran Kilmurray’s side ended the game on Sunday with three fifteen-year-olds on the pitch and several more still in their late teens, so they are certainly a team for the future. Not to mention the fact that captain Katie Dunne and Lucy McCartan will have recovered from long-term injuries in 2024.
A big thank you to all the players for their hard work and dedication throughout the season, their improvement and progress has been remarkable to watch. A massive thank you to the management team of Ciaran Kilmurray, Gary Devine, Timmy Murphy, Alan Bracken, Andrea Martin, Brian Tyrell and Stephanie Kilmurray for their devotion to the ladies this year. Finally, thanks to all our supporters for getting out and supporting the girls this year. Our under 14 and under 16 girls have recently reached their finals so there is still silverware up for grabs , as well as our minor girls, so plenty more football to come.
Team; Fiona Keating, Keelie Mulderry, Muireann Scally, Sandra McGrath, Lara McCartan, Megan Ennis, Ellen Kilmurray, Annie Kilmurray, Vicky Carr, Aileen Martin, Caoimhe Kilmurray (0.01), Ciara Blundell (1.02, 0.01f), Shauna Traynor, Shannon Breslin (1.01), Katie Kilmurray (0.01). Subs used; Jayne Charles, Laura Murphy.
Fixtures:
Friday 13th October:
MJS Building and Development U15 Football Div 1 Championship Semi Final
St Lomans Mullingar vs The Downs at 6.45pm in Home Instead Lakepoint Park
Sunday 15th October:
MJS Building and Development U13 Football Div 4 Championship Semi Final
St Lomans Mullingar vs Delvin at 5pm in Delvin
Sponsors:
St Lomans Mullingar would like to thank all those who contributed sponsorship to the club in the lead up to the county final weekend. In particular Sherry Fitzgerald Davitt & Davitt, Kerrigans Bar Great Oaks Plumbing & Heating, The Chambers, Manguard Plus, The Bridge Bar, Tony Robinson, Clarke’s Bar, Adrian Charles Power Washing, Gaffney Car Sales, Murrays Bar and KC Sports. Your continued support and generosity now and in the past is greatly appreciated.
Thanks also to everyone who helped in getting the club ready for county final weekend, those who helped putting up flags and bunting and everyone that contributed behind the scenes to a memorable weekend for the club.
Lastly to our fantastic supporters you were the 16th man and helped create great noise and a wonderful atmosphere on county final day. The team and management are grateful for you being there and hope you will be with us again on Sunday 22nd October when we start our Leinster Club Championship campaign
Under 15 Division 2 shield final:
St Lomans Mullingar 4-12 St Michael’s 1-06
Well done to our div 2 under 15’s side that won the shield in Devlin
This team has really improved and matured over the year and after being placed from division 4 league to division 2 championship in the one year and holding our own is testament to the lads
U14 Division one ladies Championship semifinal
St Lomans 4-10 Mullingar Goldsmith Girls 4-7
St Lomans travelled to Tang to take on Goldsmith Girls in the division 1 semifinal in less-than-ideal conditions.
In what has been an up and down season so far, the girls saved their best performance of the year for today. 2 points down at half time after playing with the wind the girls had to dig deep to stay in the game. It was this huge effort from everyone and not giving up that got Lomans over the line scoring the winning goal in injury time. Every one of the girls were fantastic, as we now contest a third division 1 final in a row where we will face Garrycastle.
Congratulations:
Congratulations to our own Ronan O’Toole who has been nominated for an all star following his superb performances for Westmeath this season
Club Lotto:
Draw Date: Monday 25th September
This week’s jackpot: €1,900.00
Numbers drawn: 8,11,21,26
No Jackpot winner
Lucky dip winders (€50 each): Caroline Lancaster and Michael Dalton
Draw Date: Monday 2nd October
This week’s jackpot: €2,000.00
Numbers drawn: 1,16,17,21
No Jackpot winner
Lucky dip winders (€50 each): Eoghan O’Keefe and Darragh O’Keefe
Next week’s jackpot: €2,100.00
Next Week’s Draw Date: Monday 9th October
Remember it could be you!
Condolences:
St Lomans Mullingar wish to extend our condolences to the Fay family following the passing of Oliver Fay, Ardivaghan, Walshestown South, Mullingar
St Lomans also offer our condolences to the Nagle family following the passing of Kelly Nagle, Glascorn, Ballinea, Mullingar, Westmeath
We also extend our condolences to the Kirby family following the passing of Pauric Kirby, Dooragh, Lake Road, Castletown Geoghegan, Westmeath
Ar dheis de go raibh a n-anamacha
