Shay Murtagh Senior Football Championship Final Replay:
St Lomans Mullingar 1-15 The Downs 2-12 AET
St Lomans Mullingar win 3-0 on penalties
It took more than two and a half hours of football in less than a week for St Lomans Mullingar and The Downs to be separated. It was spot kicks in the end which decided the destination of the Flanagan cup for 2024. TEG Cusack Park was once again packed to the rafters for another thrilling afternoon’s football between the two best teams in the county. After a thrilling draw the previous Sunday where Eoghan Hogan rescued a replay with the last kick of the game, all in attendance in Cusack Park where expecting another tightly contested cracker and they were not left disappointed.
The replay began with the defending champions netting early. A high ball in towards Fola Ayorinde was punched clear by Trevor Martin, however it only went as far as the onrushing Shane Dempsey and on his return from injury Dempsey found the top right corner brilliantly, giving his team the perfect start. Phillip Martin got the Downs off the mark before Sean Flanagan cancelled it out with an excellent score at the far end. The sides then traded a couple of scores each. Luke Loughlin and Kevin O’Sullivan’s points were wiped out by two marks courtesy of Fola Ayorinde and a brilliantly executed effort from John Heslin. The teams continued to exchange blows with Loughlin’s double being bookended by scores from Heslin and Jack Geoghegan. At the half time-whistle the blues lead by three points.
The Black and amber got off the mark early in the second half through Andrew Kilmartin but Danny McCartan replied to open his account for the afternoon. With the saints in relative control, given the closeness of the match, The Downs were then awarded a penalty after Niall Mitchell fell to the ground. The resulting penalty was emphatically dispatched by Loughlin. Loughlin pointed again afterwards to briefly give his side the lead before substitute TJ Cox equalised. Ian Martin doubled his account for the challengers but John Heslin levelled matters with a close-range free. Then a superb point from Ronan O’Toole off his weaker foot crucially gave his side the lead in the final quarter.
There was no hope of the 2022 Champions giving up the chase however with Ian Martin and Luke Loughlin adding to their tallies to give the downs the advantage with just three minutes remaining. As was the nature of this match they were not ahead for long, this time it was Sam McCartan who tied up the match when he blasted over. Both sides searched for a winner in the closing stages. With the last play of the game, Enda Gaffney produced a heroic block, but the rebound fell to Eanna Burke and it looked as though the corner back had won the game with the score of his life. However his effort fell short and a combination of Jason Daly and Ronan O’Toole managed to clear, sending the game to extra time.
The Mullingar side began the first period of extra time the better with Heslin adding to his tally before a stunning score from Kelvin Reilly doubled the lead. Then Ian martin netted his second goal after a great save initially by Jason Daly denied Jonathan Lynam. Not for the first time you could be forgiven for thinking that the Downs’ name was on the trophy. Thankfully, the players thought no such thing. Kelvin Reilly stepped up with a monster point, if you thought his first was good, this was even better! Matthew Cunningham put his side ahead at half-time in extra time with a wonderful score.
Paddy Dowdall’s side continued to thrive in adversity and levelled proceedings at the start of the half, with an ice-cool, long-range free from Heslin. Niall Mitchell got off the mark in injury time with a free before Ronan O’Toole doubled his tally with an excellent score. Both sides searched frantically for a winner but the final whistle was blown for a second time, somewhat prematurely as everybody was expecting one last play but penalties was to be the way to separate the sides.
Nerves were jangling in TEG Cusack Park as for the first time in the history of the Westmeath senior football championship, the final was to be decided by spot kicks. Five Lomans players bravely volunteered, they were John Heslin, Ronan O’Toole, Sam McCartan, Danny McCartan and TJ Cox. The patron held their breath, first up was Luke Loughlin and after scoring a penalty in normal time his effort was brilliantly saved by Jason Daly. Sam McCartan was up first for Lomans and he expertly dispatched to swing the pendulum towards the county champions.
Downs full-back Charlie Drumm stepped up next but once again Jason Daly managed to foil the black and amber. Ronan O’Toole’s turn was next and he coolly converted, at this point there was growing confidence among the Lomans supporters that it was to be their day. Kevin O’Sullivan stepped up for the Downs and fired over giving John Heslin the chance to put the Flanagan cup in his hands for an eighth time. The man himself stepped up and as always he delivered finding the net and confirming that St Lomans Mullingar were Westmeath senior football champions for the eleventh time.
Nobody could say they didn’t get their money’s worth over both Sundays and penalties although exciting, it is a particularly cruel way to lose but thankfully we came out on the right side on this occasion. Firstly commiserations to a brilliant Downs team who pushed us to the pin of our collar, unfortunately somebody has to lose and they did so in the most agonising of circumstances but there is no doubt they will be right back again next year.
On the day the blues have many players to thank for their excellent performances. Darragh O’Keefe was fantastic at full-back and managed Niall Mitchell brilliantly with the full-forward only contributing one point from play over two hours of football. Over both games it’s hard to pick out anybody better than O’Keefe. Sam McCartan was excellent as was Kevlin Reilly. Reilly so rarely gets the plaudits but he is criminally underrated. Reilly’s display along with two brilliant extra-time points was crucial in winning his eighth senior football medal ( and his fourteenth in both codes).
In the forwards Heslin and O’Toole contributed vitally. Shane Dempsey bravely played through injury and even not fully-fit still managed to find the net. In goals Jason Daly was outstanding, over the years he has barely put a foot wrong in between the sticks and at the weekend he was the hero with two brilliant penalty saves. Last Sunday though the man of the match in my opinion was Jack Geoeghegan, there were many candidates but Geoghegan’s physicality and strength while still covering so much ground was superb. Along with some excellent fielding and a brilliant point gives him the accolade. Special mention to Luke Loughlin of The Downs ,who performed marvellously in defeat.
This win marks an eight senior title in twelve years, a decade of county finals, four Flanagan cups in five years and it puts the blues in third position in the roll of honour. Victory sees Lomans just one clear of their opponents on the day and two behind Mullingar Shamrocks in second. It’s also an eighth Flanagan cup for David Whelan as well as Heslin and Reilly, which we believe has either equalled a record or is just one shy of a record. Another man breaking records as usual is the man at the helm Paddy Dowdall, after a career of fifteen medals over both codes (nine hurling and six football), he has now delivered another two as manager. Not only a club legend but he has transitioned seamlessly into the hot seat and his work with the whole club not just the seniors are to be applauded, as is Ciaran Kilmurray’s on the ladies side of the club.
There are so many people to thank for this success. Firstly, thank you to the management team of Paddy Dowdall, Phillip Wolfe, Niall Spain, Alan Graham and Dickie Geoghegan. Also we’d like to thanks goalkeeping coach Joe Matthews, S&C Coach Peter Foy and performance analyst Alan Bracken. Thanks to physio Mark Scally, kitmen Gary and Paul Devine. As well as that, thanks to team administrator Declan Cox. Final thanks to the man behind the lens, Olly Gallagher for recording our matches all year.
The biggest thank you of all though goes to our players who are the most vital part of the success. As a club we have been absolutely blessed in recent years as this crop of player keeps delivering and giving us big days out. We are sometimes guilty of taking success for granted and are truly spoilt at times, so we should enjoy these days as they will not last forever. Most importantly they never give up! Our year is not finished though as we take on Dunshaughlin in the first round of the Leinster championship at 1.30pm on the third of November in Navan. Over the next few weeks keep getting out and supporting our men, ladies and underage as we progress towards the end of 2024. Thank you all for your support last Sunday.
Team; Jason Daly, David Whelan, Darragh O’Keefe, Oisín Hogan, Kelvin Reilly (0.02), Eoghan Hogan, Sam McCartan (0.01), Jack Geoghegan (0.01), John Heslin (0.05, 0.04f, 0.01m), Rory Sheahan, Ronan O’Toole (0.02), Sean Flanagan (0.01), Danny McCartan (0.01), Fola Ayorinde (0.01m), Shane Dempsey (1.00). Subs used; TJ Cox (0.01), Enda Gaffney, Kevin Regan, Peter Foy, Nathan Lally.
