St Lomans Mullingar Club Notes 01/07/2024:
Under 15 Boys Feile Peile Na nÓg:
Our under 15 boys represented us on a national scale last weekend when they visited Castlerea in Roscommon to compete in the National Feile Peil na nÓg. St Lomans Mullingar began with a defeat to Blessington (Wicklow) but wins over Moyle Rovers (Tipperary) and Maghera Cloone (Monaghan), saw them top their group on scoring difference. The blues qualified for the semi-final where they were defeated by St Colmcille’s (Meath) who would go on to convincingly win the tournament.
A huge well done to all our players and their mentors who represented us with distinction on a national scale and should be extremely proud of their efforts. Thanks to all the parents and all sponsors for their support of the team also. This is the second year in a row where we have represented Westmeath and it’s a huge honour.
ACFL Division 1 League Final:
St Lomans Mullingar 1-11 Coralstown Kinnegad 0-11
Last Sunday evening capped a great weekend for the club when our senior side won our first league title since 2017. The match saw a repeat of last year’s county final when St Lomans Mullingar took on Coralstown Kinnegad with our opponents conquering all before this stage. Kinnegad outscored the blues by five points to one in the first twenty minutes. Ronan O’Toole with the solitary Lomans score with Josh Gahan, Brian Cooney and a treble from Darren Giles giving Kinnegad an early lead. Danny McCartan and John Heslin opened their accounts either side of a Wayne Fox score to leave three points between the teams at the interval.
The Saints came out strong in the second half and wiped out the lead within five minutes scoring four points to Kinnegad’s one, Peter Foy and an O’Toole treble doing the damage for Lomans to tie the match. On forty minutes, the blues turned Kinnegad over and sprung a counterattack, John Heslin found Fola Ayorinde who went off at blistering pace and went passed three Kinnegad defenders and fired a rocket into the top corner from twenty yards out for a truly sensational goal in TEG Cusack Park.
The Sides then traded scores with Heslin and substitute TJ Cox pointing for Paddy Dowdall’s side. Dan Leech and Callum Cruise hit back for Coralstown but their points were cancelled out by Heslin and a superb placed ball from Sam McCartan. The county champions ran out three-point victors. David Whelan lifted the trophy for our first league win in seven years and is just rewards for the strong league form we have shown since Paddy Dowdall took charge as manager.
A huge well done to the players and management who continue to give us great days and will be delighted with their year to date three weeks before the serious business of Senior championship kicks off. With many absentees for the blues, every player stood up last Sunday.
Sean Kelly, Nathan Lally and Rory Sheahan all perfomed well, as did the whole defence as a unit. John Heslin, Sam McCartan, Ronan O’Toole, Danny McCartan and Peter Foy all stepped up particularly in the second half. Heslin was superb in his fielding and distribution. However, for a moment of pure magic as well as some top-class fielding, Fola Ayorinde is the man of the match, and his goal is one of the best Cusack Park has seen. Lastly a huge congratulations to the players and management whose attention now turns to Athlone on July 19th.
Team; Rory Matthews, Sean Kelly, Nathan Lally, Oisín Hogan, Enda Gaffney, David Whelan, Rory Sheahan, Sean Flanagan, Fola Ayorinde (1.00), Sam McCartan (0.01, 0.01 45), Ronan O’Toole (0.04, 0.01f), Peter Foy (0.01), Kelvin Reilly, John Heslin (0.03, 0.03f), Danny McCartan (0.01). Subs used; TJ Cox (0.01), Tristan Graham, Cillian Plunkett
ACFL Division 3 league final:
St Lomans Mullingar 2-09 Killucan 0-12
Last Saturday evening Galway beating Dublin in Croke Park was not the only underdog story in gaelic football. Our division three side, short several players called up for first team duty took on Killucan’s first team in the league final. Killucan though short a couple of players were still effectively a senior team facing a junior team in championship terms in TEG Cusack Park. The early rain subsided, and conditions were perfect for an exciting game of football.
The Blues were out of the blocks quickly, Mark Tunney and Cillian Plunkett opening their accounts with super scores. Tristan Graham opened his account before a great team move culminated in Seanaí Bracken racing through the centre and placing a beautiful finish into the Killucan net to give his team a six-point lead. Sam Smyth got Killucan off the mark, but Daniel McCann cancelled this out with a free. The sides traded another score before the interval, McCann once again on target giving the Mullingar side a six-point cushion at the break.
Killucan were out of the traps early in the second half with three quickfire points to leave three between the teams. Mark Tunney’s second point from play settled the blues somewhat, but two Eoghan Ahern points for Killucan left two between the teams. McCann added a beautfilly struck placed ball to increased the lead to three but Killucan fought back responding with three points in quick succession and it looked as though the favourites would push on and complete the comeback.
However, it was Adam Carroll’s men who finished the stronger, Seanai Bracken and Mark Tunney adding to their tallies to give their team breathing space. Eamonn Cunneen once again halved the deficit and there was only one point separating the sides with two minutes of normal time left. The Blues then won a free on the halfway line with Daniel McCann taking it, the entirety of the Lomans contingent in Cusack Park pleaded with McCann to keep the ball and play it backwards. Daniel thankfully didn’t listen and played an exquisite long ball into Tadhg Kenny who powered a low shot past David Bryan to more than likely seal victory.
Killucan added a late score, but it was a mere consolation as Lomans ran out three-point victors. A wonderful achievement for a young Lomans side who started with ten players under 20 years old. It was a manic game at times with lots of turnovers, which led to great excitement. Getting promoted to division two is a brilliant achievement but it’s always nice to add silverware especially in Cusack Park. We in Lomans take our Junior side just as seriously as our seniors, so we hope this can inspire great attendances at our junior championship matches commencing in a few weeks’ time.
An excellent team performance saw several players excel. Ethan Browne, Tristan Johnson and Seanaí Bracken all performed notably. Cillian Plunkett dominated the middle of the park. Tristan Graham’s big game experience was key especially coming down the home straight. Man of the match could probably be argued between Mark Tunney and Daniel McCann. Tunney was excellent and scored three points from play. However, McCann just about earns his accolade purely for his inch perfect pass for the decisive goal. Finally, congratulations to the players and management team of Adam Carroll, Adrian Charles, Derek Devine and Richie Cleary. The lads will be hoping to carry the momentum into the Junior Championship.
Team; Dano Fitzsimons, Ethan Browne, Riley Sheahan, Tristan Johnson, Tom Dorr, Ciaran Smyth, Seanaí Bracken (1.01), Cillian Plunkett (0.01), Ryan Jones, Tristan Graham (0.01), Mark Tunney (0.03), Shane Mulderry, Daniel McCann (0.03, 0.02f), Eoghan Kenny, Tadhg Kenny (1.00). Subs used; Adam O’Connor.
Senior B Ladies Championship:
St Lomans Mullingar 0-04 The Downs 2-06
Last Thursday evening saw our senior b campaign begin with a defeat at home to the downs on an awful night for football. The wet conditions were the main factor in the first half with only three scores registered in the entirety of the first half. An early downs goal and point saw them take the lead with Paige Matthews responding for the hosts from a placed ball with just three points between the sides at the interval.
Two early second half points for the saints saw them reduce the deficit to the minimum, Paige Matthews and Phoebe Harte registering the scores. The visitors kicked on though scoring 1-03 in a ten-minute spell where the home side were reduced to fourteen players. Matthews responded with another free but two late Downs scores saw them run out eight-point winners for a finish. A strong Downs side were deserving winners over a youthful Lomans team.
To end on a positive note, it was great to see Katie Dunne returning from her long injury spell and back in a blue jersey. Katie performed as well as anybody on the pitch at centre-half back. Jane McKenna, Eve Scally, Julie McLaughlin and Paige Matthews all did relatively well on a difficult night for the home side.
Team; Jane McKenna, Emma Derham, Eve Scally, Ava Cummins, Ellen Kilmurray, Katie Dunne, Ally Brennan, Annie Kilmurray, Julie McLaughlin, Lauren McCormack, Paige Matthews (0.03,0.03f), Kate McDonell, Rachel McKenna, Phoebe Harte (0.01), Sandra McGrath. Subs used; Evie Kilmurray, Anna Sheehy
Under 15 Boys Feile:
Golf Classic:
Thanks to all who supported our annual golf classic in Mullingar golf club on Friday 21st June. Special thanks to the organisers and to Mullingar golf club for having us.
Club Lotto:
Draw Date: Monday 17th June
This week’s jackpot: €3,300.00
Numbers drawn: 6,15,19,23
No Jackpot winner
Lucky dip winders (€50 each): Andrew McKenna and John O’Toole
Draw Date: Monday 24th June
This week’s jackpot: €3,400.00
Numbers drawn: 12,16,21,28
No Jackpot winner
Lucky dip winders (€50 each): Gary Devine and Claire Hannon
Next week’s jackpot: €3,500.00
Next Week’s Draw Date: Monday 1st July
Remember it could be you!
Condolences:
St Lomans Mullingar wish to extend our condolences to the Smyth family following the passing of Johnny Smyth, (Tallaght and late of Nobber, Co. Meath)
Johnny’s grandson Ciaran played the full match yesterday in the division 3 final less than 24 hours after losing his grandfather. A tremendous show of character in such difficult circumstances
Ar dheis de go raibh a anam
