Leinster Senior Club Championship Quarter Final:
St Lomans Mullingar 1-20 Killoe Young Emmets 1-10
Last Sunday our senior men travelled to Longford to take on Killoe in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park. The clubs share several connections, not only former blues manager Luke Dempsey who delivered three championships and a Leinster final appearance. Their chairman, Declan Rowley was also at the helm in 2013 for our first senior title in fifty years. An extremely heavy spell of rainfall took place before throw-in but thankfully the sun came out just in time for the match to begin.
Danny McCartan got the opening score of the day via a mark after claiming a pin-point pass from Ronan O’Toole. Dennis McGoldrick quickly cancelled it out for Emmet Og before the Westmeath champions took complete control. A John Heslin free followed by points from play via Ronan O’Toole and the McCartan brothers Danny and Sam extended the Saints lead. Ronan O’Toole then broke through the heart of the Killoe defence before cooly finishing into the corner of the net. Sam McCartan pointed from play, followed by Shane Dempsey opening his account stretched the gap further.
Heslin added to his tally with a free, as did Sam McCartan with a beautifully struck 45. Dempsey increased his total with another excellent score to cap off an exquisite twenty minutes of football, which saw Lomans lead by 1-10 to a single point. Luke Dempsey’s charges ended the drought with scores from Paddy Moran and Micky Quinn. It was another Dempsey point that had the last word of the half however, with Shane pointing to sum up a breathtaking first half display from Paddy Dowdall’s men.
Dempsey continued where he left off after the interval with another from play. Young Emmets hit back with consecutive scores from Daniel Mimnagh and a Mark Hughes free. The Mullingar men responded via another O’Toole point and a beautiful left footed curler from John Heslin. Mark and Michael Hughes hit back with points for Killoe to reduce the deficit. Lomans then hit another scoring spree, Sean Flanagan after initially receiving a blow to the head got up and got on the end of a move to power the ball between the posts which got a great reception from the travelling support.
Three more points on the bounce via Sam McCartan, Heslin and Dempsey increased their advantage. Killoe who were reduced to fourteen men at this stage, managed to plug away with a quickfire goal and point courtesy of a Paddy Kiernan point and a superb Daniel Mimnagh goal. Danny McCartan rounded off a great individual performance with a mark. The Longford men (reduced to thirteen men at this stage) hit two late scores to make the scoreline slightly more respectable, before Heslin had the last word from a placed ball for Paddy Dowdall’s men to end ten-point victors.
Killoe were surprisingly poor it must be said but the blues were sensational. The opening twenty minutes were magical. The first third of the game especially was an exhibition of attacking football. The intensity was set from the start with the saints animalistic in the tackle, before breaking at superb speed, the passing and movement was breathtaking and our sharpshooters up front were as efficient as ever. A local described the first half as “champagne football” which was hard to argue with. The second half was a professional display where the Lake County side never entertained the idea of a comeback.
From Jason Daly in goals to the fifth substitute Gerry Grehan Lomans were outstanding all over the park. All the defenders got the better of their men, in particular David Whelan, Jack Geoghegan and Oisín Hogan were all fantastic. Sean Flanagan got through a mountain of work in the middle of the park. Sam McCartan was a machine who covered every blade of grass and contributed heavily on the scoreboard. Peter Foy justified his inclusion with a phenomenal display from the veteran.
Ronan O’Toole dictated proceedings, as did skipper John Heslin who ran the game and controlled the pace of the match. Shane Dempsey and Danny McCartan were electric up front and gave the Killoe defence nightmares all afternoon. The link-up play between the entire team was majestic. In terms of man of the match, you could take your pick from Heslin, O’Toole, Dempsey or the McCartan brothers. Purely for the fact he scored the goal, O’Toole possibly marginally shades it.
We now face the prospect of Leinster finalists in 2021, Naas travelling to TEG Cusack Park in two weeks’ time. A home semi-final in Leinster is not something that comes around often. Our support last Sunday was phenomenal, but we need to step it up a notch for the semi-final which promises to be an extremely tough encounter. So keep the bunting up, get your Lomans gear and get behind the lads at 1.30pm on the 19th of November.
Team; Jason Daly, Eoghan Hogan, Darragh O’Keefe, Oisín Hogan, Jack Geoghegan, David Whelan, Enda Gaffney, Sean Flanagan (0.01), John Heslin (0.05, 0.04f), Peter Foy, Sam McCartan (0.04, 0.01 45), Kevin Regan, Danny McCartan (0.03, 0.02 mark), Ronan O’Toole (1.02), Shane Dempsey (0.05, 0.04f). Subs used; Tristan Graham, Kelvin Reilly, Fola Ayorinde, Ryan Jones, Gerry Grehan.
Under 19 Boys Championship Final:
St Lomans Mullingar 1-06 Coralstown Kinnegad 3-09
Last Saturday afternoon our under 19 side faced off against Coralstown Kinnegad in a repeat of the senior final for a chance to the be named under 19 champions. Liam Daly opened the scoring for Kinnegad before a second minute goal from Scott Clynes saw the blues endure a nightmare start. Daniel McCann settled the saints down with a double from placed balls, but they were cancelled out by Rory Cole and Brian Cooney. Jack McCann hit back for the Mullingar side with a super strike from range, but Clynes found the net again for Kinnegad which was a real sucker punch for Robbie Kenny’s team. Daniel McCann replied with a pointed free followed by Liam Daly’s second point to leave six between the teams at the interval.
The saints started the second half strongly and a comeback looked on when Thomas Meehan found the net with a super finish but unfortunately hopes of a fightback were short-lived when Liam Daly’s effort at a point fortuitously dropped into the net to restore the six-point lead. After this Kinnegad comfortably ran out deserving winners hitting five unanswered points. Cillian Plunkett and Daniel McCann hit back from placed balls to reduce the arrears, but they turned out to be consolations as Kinnegad were confirmed as nine-point victors.
Congratulations to Coralstown Kinnegad who were more than deserving winners and have now claimed the title for a third year in a row. For our lads, they weren’t fancied to make a final but a superb win in Moate was the highlight of their year. There was no lack of effort from the blues who gave it their all, sometimes you’re just beaten by the superior team. On the day the likes of Nathan Sleator, Jack McCann and Thomas Meehan stood out for the saints.
The most important thing is that these lads get involved with the senior/junior set up in 2024. Finally, a big thanks to all the players for their hard work, as well as the management team of Robbie Kenny, Johnny Plunkett, Paul Leonard and Seamus Tunney.
Team: Callum Butler Dolan, Tom Dorr, John Casey, Nathan Sleator, Jack McCann (0.01), Ciaran Smyth, Eoghan Kenny, Cillian Plunkett (0.01, 0.01f), Seanai Bracken, Daniel McCann (0.04, 0.04f), Tadhg Kenny, Shane Mulderry, Mark Tunney, Ross Clinton, Thomas Meehan (1.00). Subs used; Eoin Meehan, Mikey Weir, Byron Graham, Robbie Cleary, Adam Brady.
AGM:
Our AGM will take place on Wednesday 22nd November at 8pm in the clubhouse.
All members are welcome to attend.
Underage Fundraiser:
Underage fundraiser table quiz!
Friday 10th November at 8.30pm in The Chambers
Please attend if possible
Club Lotto
Draw Date: Monday 30th October
This week’s jackpot: €2,400.00
Numbers drawn: 3,1,14,24
No Jackpot winner
Lucky dip winders (€50 each): Lorraine Poynton and Sam McCartan
Next week’s jackpot: €2,500.00
Next Week’s Draw Date: Monday 6th November
Remember it could be you!
Condolences:
St Lomans Mullingar wish to extend our condolences to the Lynch and Sharry family following the passing of Nancy Lynch (née Fagan) – Kilmaglish, Knockdrin, Mullingar, Co Westmeath
Ar dheis de go raibh a hanam
