ACFL DIV 1 St. Loman’s Mullingar 3.16 Athlone 0.17
St. Loman’s Mullingar claimed an important victory in their 2025 league campaign with a spirited and hard-fought win over a resilient Athlone side in what turned out to be a thrilling, high-quality contest. With the return of several county players making their first league appearances of the season, anticipation was high—and they certainly did not disappoint. Their experience and quality were pivotal in swinging momentum at key stages and ultimately guiding Loman’s to the win.
Right from the throw-in, St Loman’s signalled their intent. Rory Sheahan read the Athlone kick-out perfectly, intercepting and launching a pinpoint long ball to Danny McCartan, who slotted over the opening score with ease. That early spark set the tone for Loman’s, and Sam McCartan, recently back from inter-county duty with Westmeath, followed it up with a two-point free from the ground. Moments later, he added a sublime assist—threading a perfectly weighted pass to Danny again, who made no mistake in finishing.
The McCartan’s combined to score St. Loman’s first four points, showcasing their sharpness and chemistry, much to the delight of the home crowd. The early exchanges suggested a dominant performance might be in store, especially with Loman’s winning the midfield battle—thanks in no small part to the commanding presence of Fionn O’Hara, who was immense in the air and instrumental in breaking down Athlone's rhythm.
However, the game was not without its setbacks. A nasty early collision saw Enda Gaffney forced off the field, cutting his return short. But his replacement, Conor Regan, wasted no time making an impression, scoring a goal set up by Mark Tunney, soon after his introduction to keep Loman’s momentum going.
Athlone, to their credit, didn’t back down. Shane Allen clipped over a classy two-point effort that breathed life into their attack. Then came the moment of magic—Riley Sheahan, under pressure, produced a remarkable behind-the-back handpass to set up Sam McCartan for another goal, drawing gasps from the crowd. It was a moment that encapsulated the creativity and confidence flowing through the Loman’s camp.
Athlone began to find their feet late in the first half. With frees from the ground converted calmly and two well-taken points from play, they began to close the gap. Their purple patch arrived at the perfect time, halting Loman’s surge and ensuring the game remained finely balanced heading into the break.
The second half began with Athlone completely on the front foot. They registered the first five scores after the restart, with Kieran Colclough proving deadly from range. His two-point frees from the ground were struck with conviction and precision, suddenly turning the game into a real contest.
Loman’s needed a response—and they found it. Eoghan O’Keefe struck a much-needed point to stem Athlone’s flow. Soon after, a brilliantly worked move from a quick kick-out involving TJ Cox and Shane Dempsey found its way to Danny McCartan, who made no mistake with a simple fist into the net.
That goal re-established a bit of breathing room for St Loman’s, and from there, Shane Dempsey took control of the closing stages. His final three points—including a crucial two-point free—kept Athlone at arm’s length and ensured St Loman’s would walk away with the win.
Despite the result, Athlone can take plenty of positives. Their second-half performance was full of energy and fight, with their long-range shooting and set-piece accuracy keeping them in contention throughout. They refused to lie down and kept pushing until the final whistle, showing the kind of resilience that bodes well for the rest of their campaign.
For St. Loman’s, this game marked more than just a win—it signalled the return of key figures at just the right time. The influence of county men like Fionn O’Hara, Danny and Sam McCartan, and Enda Gaffney was clear to see. Their composure in possession, reading of the game, and execution under pressure helped steady the team when needed most. But it was Shane Dempsey once again with (0.07) points on the day who was man of the match for St Loman’s.
With more players returning to full match sharpness and younger squad members stepping up confidently, St. Loman’s look set to push on and finish the league strong. Their ability to blend experience with flair, discipline with creativity, could make them a formidable force once again this season.
Team: Rory Matthews, Riley Sheahan, Nathan Lally, Ethan Brown, Enda Gaffney, Oisin Hogan, Tadgh Kenny, Fionn O’Hara, Cillian Plunkett, Rory Sheahan, Sam McCartan (1.02), Eoghan O’Keefe (0.01), Danny McCartan (1.04) Shane Dempsey (0.07), Mark Tunney (0.01). Subs used: Conor Regan (1.01), Conan O’Hara, Shane Mulderry, TJ Cox, Tristian Graham.
By Finn Sheahan
ACFL DIV 2 St Loman’s Mullingar 2:11 Milltown 2.16
St. Loman’s Division 2 side were narrowly beaten 2-11 to 2-16 by Milltown in a competitive league encounter on Tuesday night under the lights at Dovida lakepoint park. A strong first-half performance saw Loman’s fall behind early, with Milltown capitalising with direct long-ball strategy that caused problems for the home defence.
Milltown led by seven at the break, with a first-half goal from a slick move proving the standout score. Loman’s struggled to get into rhythm but managed a brilliant two point through Cillian Plunkett.
The second half saw a big response from Loman’s, who fought back with two well-taken goals scored by Mark Tunney and Dano Fitzsimons and more control around midfield. A second half surge brought them within touching distance, but Milltown finished stronger with a flurry of scores to keep St Loman’s at an arm’s length.
Plenty of positives to take for Loman’s, especially the second-half fightback, but lessons to be learned ahead of the next round.
Team: Rory Matthews, Tristan Johnston, Ethan Brown, Tom Dorr, Tadgh Kenny (0.01), Eoghan O’Keefe, Cillian Plunkett (0.04), Nedas, Dano Fitzsimons (1.01), Eoin Kenny, Mark Tunney (1.00), Shane Mulderry (0.01), Conon O’Hara (0.04), Paddy Dowdall, Tristian Graham. Subs used: Riley Sheahan, John Casey, Oisin O’Hara.
Underage ladies football:
Congratulations to the Westmeath LGFA U14 squad who won their Leinster Final against Wicklow today. Included in the squad are our own Lucy Kilmurray, Isabelle McDonnell & Kayleigh Canning. Well done girls. Best of luck in the All-Ireland series, which gets underway in the coming weeks.
Fixtures
Underage Boys Fixtures Next Week:
Monday, April 21st at 6.30pm
U16 Div 5 (Away) v Caulry
Wednesday, April 23rd at 6.30pm
U14 Div 1 (Home) v Kinnegad
U14 Div 3 (Away) v Shandonagh
U14 Div 6 (Away) v Kilbeggan Shamrocks
Wednesday , April 23rd at 8pm
Minor Div 1 (Home) v The Downs
Good luck to all our teams on a week when we field 3 U14 boys teams for the very first time 👏
Home in Spain Draw:
Westmeath Gaa’s home in Spain draw is on-going and tickets are available via Joe Martin for €100, please contact Joe if interested.
St Loman’s Mullingar GAA Club Lotto
This week’s club lotto draw took place this evening
The Jackpot was €7,500 and there was no winner
The numbers drawn were 4- 5- 15 -24
The winner of the €100 ticket for Westmeath Gaa's Home in Spain Draw is:
Richard Craig
Congratulations to our winner.
The next Jackpot will be €7,600 and the draw will be on 21st April
Thank you for supporting St Loman’s Mullingar GAA Club Lotto.
