St Lomans Mullingar Club Notes 03/06/2024:
ACFL Division 1:
St Lomans Mullingar 2-12 Milltownpass 1-10
St Lomans travelled to Milltownpass last Saturday evening on a scorching evening where they knew that a victory would more than likely be enough to reach another league final. The hosts got the first score right from the throw in, but it was one-way traffic for the next twenty minutes. The blues hit 1-08 without reply to wrestle control of the match. Shane Dempsey hit two points either side of an Enda Gaffney point.
Kevin Regan and Peter Foy also opened their accounts before Dempsey hit his fifth point in just twenty minutes. Gaffney was once again on the scoresheet when he drove through the centre and powered his shot past the keeper to give the saints a commanding ten-point lead. The home side came back strong though and punished some slack defending scoring 1-03 unanswered to leave four between the teams at the interval.
The second half was much more nip and tuck with both sides matching each other blow for blow. The teams exchanged three scores each with another three for Dempsey. The crucial moment came when Kelvin Reilly won the ball back and played aninch perfect pass to Dempsey, who had acres of space ahead of him. Dempsey did the necessary and cooly rounded the keeper and finished to the net to give the visitors the breathing space they craved. Milltown pass hit back with three late scores but Dempsey would have the last word with a free to leave the final winning margin at five points.
Paddy Dowdall and his team will be delighted to get the win and be very pleased with the intensity of the first twenty minutes. Equally though the Mullingar men will be disappointed that they let their opponents back into a game which really should have been over in the first half. Nevertheless, it was great to get a win, especially without several key players.
This win coupled with other results means the only team that can reach thirteen points, are Mullingar Shamrocks whom Lomans have the head-to-head over. Therefore, for the second year running the final will be St Lomans Mullingar vs Coralstown Kinnegad. Last year’s championship runners up have been unstoppable this year winning all eight games thus far. This game will be played on the weekend of the 29th June in a repeat of last year’s county final.
On the night the Lomans defence held firm for much of the match with Sean Kelly and Darragh O’Keefe standing out. Enda Gaffney performed well in midfield and contributed 1-01. Kelvin Reilly was excellent and got stronger as the game went on, his experience was vital in seeing out the victory. Man of the match though was undoubtedly Shane Dempsey, the blues sharpshooter contributed a total of 1-09 and was too hot to handle for Milltownpass.
Our final league match is against Tyrrellspass in two weeks’ time with date and venue to be confirmed. This game is something of a dead rubber with both sides fate already secured. However, this fixture has thrown up some tasty encounters over the last decade and it would be surprising if this wasn’t the case again.
Team; Rory Matthews, Ciaran Smyth, Darragh O’Keefe, Sean Kelly, Conor O’Donoghue, Jack Geoghegan, Rory Sheahan, Sean Flanagan, Enda Gaffney (1.01), Eoghan O’Keefe, Kelvin Reilly, Peter Foy (0.01), Tadhg Kenny, Kevin Regan (0.01), Shane Dempsey (1.09, 0.04f). Subs used; Chris Gilbert, Tristan Graham, Conor Regan.
ACFL Division 4:
St Lomans Mullingar 1-12 Caulry 1-10
Last Tuesday evening our third side welcomed Caulry to Home Instead Lakepoint Park with the hosts needing a victory to be sure of survival in division 4. A strong Caulry side started the stronger with three scores from Alan Malynn, Liam Malynn and Thomas Dunning. The Blues got off the mark when a long ball in was flicked on by Frank Kavanagh to find Shane Mulderry who finished well to draw the sides level.
The visitors responded with an unanswered 1-3 leaving the Saints six behind and with a mountain to climb. However, the Mullingar side came on strong before the interval with five points on the spin courtesy of Shane Mulderry, and doubles from Fola Ayorinde and Daniel McCann respectively. Only the minimum separated the teams at the half-time whistle.
The sides traded four scores each for the first twenty minutes matching each other blow for blow. An Ayorinde double, Daniel McCann and Mark Tunney’s score from play doing the damage for the blues. With the away side a point up with ten to play. Richie Cleary’s men had to dig deep for victory.
Three late scores decided it, Daniel McCann levelled it with a super point from play, before Fola Ayorinde saw the home side in front with a perfectly measured 45. Mark Tunney had the last word with an excellent point from play which turned out to be the insurance score as Lomans ran out two point victors.
It was a great performance from the saints, considering Caulry brought a number of senior players to Lakepoint Park. The likes of Ethan Brown and Senan Russell performed very well in defence. Fola Ayorinde and Daniel McCann did the damage up front and featured heavily on the scoreboard. However, purely for the ground he covered and how well he did defensively in the second half, Tadhg Kenny has a strong case for man of the match. Kenny won back possession several times at key stages for his team.
Finally congratulations to our team and management, on retaining division 4 status once more. Since being promoted in 2019, our third side has remained established in the division ever since. Thanks to the management team of Richie Cleary and Adrian Charles for their hard work. This team started out in division 7 over a decade ago and has progressed immensely ever since and has often served as a learning ground for future senior stars.
Team; Adam O’Connor, Tritsan Johnson, Senan Russell, Jack Tyrrell, Ethan Browne, Conor Regan, Tom Dorr, Nedas Bielicas, Tadhg Kenny, Mark Tunney (0.02), Eoghan Kenny, Shane Mulderry (1.01), Daniel McCann (0.03), Fola Ayorinde (0.05, 0.02f), Frank Kavanagh. Subs used; Ross Clinton, Fionn O’Hara, Ciaran Smyth.
ACFL Division 3:
St Lomans Mullingar 3-11 Maryland 0-14
A rocket from Ryan Jones and two goals from captain Fola Ayorinde help Lomans to a good win.
Team: Dano Fitzsimmons, Tristan Johnson, Nathan Lally, Ethan Brown, Cillian Plunkett, Ciaran Smyth, Tom Dorr, Ryan Jones, Conor Regan, Shane Mulderry, Chris Gilbert, Tristan Graham, Tadgh Kenny, Fola Ayorinde (C), Daniel McCann. Subs used: Eoghan Kenny, Mark Tunney, Adam O'Connor, Mark O'Gara.
Under 14 Boys division 1 final:
Congratulations to our U14 boys and management who secured the Division 1 league title after a thrilling 3-8 to 2-9 win over Mullingar Shamrocks in Springfield this evening in front of a large and vocal attendance.
First half goals from Shane Canning, Sam Geoghegan and Billy Lambden gave us a 3-3 to 2-3 lead at the break. The hosts reduced that lead to a single point with minutes remaining but Michael Brennan and Cathal Kilmurray fired over crucial points and the boys showed proper grit and determination to hold off their opponents and land the league honours.
Special mention to defenders Eoin McGinley, Sean O’Connell and Dovas Virketis who performed brilliantly in the full back line, showing the art of defending is alive and well. Commiserations to our gallant opponents who played their part in a compelling final. No doubt these sides will serve up another classic when they meet in the championship later in the summer.
Panel: James McHugh; Eoin McGinley, Sean O’Connell, Dovas Virketis; Paidi Slevin, Jack Daly, Michael Long; Michael Brennan, Shane Canning; Billy Lambden, Cathal Kilmurray, Killian Raleigh; Senan Brody, Sam Geogeghan, Matthew Tully, Conor Raleigh, Harry Brennan, Cian McDonnell, Declan Bourke, Adam Mulligan
Club Lotto:
Draw Date: Monday 27th May
This week’s jackpot: €3,000.00
Numbers drawn: 8,13,21,26
No Jackpot winner
Lucky dip winders (€50 each): Kevin O’Hara and Adam Carroll
Next week’s jackpot: €3,100.00
Next Week’s Draw Date: Monday 3rd June
Remember it could be you!
Condolences:
St Lomans Mullingar wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the Ahern family following the passing of Anastasia Ahern, (née Bergin) Burke’s Hill, Birr, Offaly
We also wish to extend our condolences to the McKenna family following the passing of Peter McKenna - Marlinstown, Mullingar and formerly Castlepollard and Delvin, Co Westmeath
Ar dheis de go raibh a hanam
