St Lomans GAA Club Notes 15/11/2021:
Shay Murtagh Senior Championship:
St Lomans Mullingar 0-13 Garrycastle 0-13
After sixty minutes of hard-hitting football last Sunday, the Westmeath Senior Football championship witnessed its first drawn final since 2012. On a very mild November afternoon, conditions were perfect for football. The game started off relatively cagey with minimal scores from either side in the first quarter. John Heslin opened the scoring with a point from a mark before Alex Gardiner levelled proceedings for Garrycastle. Excellent points from Ronan O’Toole and Peter Foy respectively gave the Blues a slender lead. Garrycastle dominated the second quarter hitting eight consecutive points to give the challengers a commanding six-point lead. Alex Gardiner and Michael Monaghan were causing several issues for the Saints defence, Tom O’Halloran’s placed balls were also paying dividends for the Castle. Two late first half points, a John Heslin free followed by a stunning long-range point from TJ Cox steadied the ship for the defending champions. However, Gary Dolan’s Garrycastle were firmly in the driving seat at the interval.
Declan Kelly shuffled his pack early in the second half with Kevin Regan, Paddy Dowdall, Shane Dempsey and Ken Casey entering the fray with Loman’s adopting a more attacking style of play. The Blues began to push up and go man for man all over the pitch. The Mullingar men dominated the first ten minutes of the second half in terms of possession and scoring opportunities but couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard, hitting several shots wide and short. John Heslin’s free narrowed the gap before TJ Cox made it a three-point game with another excellent effort. The Sides then traded two scores each with Heslin and Cox on target once more for the Saints. John Heslin pointed from play to narrow the gap to two, before pointing from another placed ball to reduce the deficit to the minimum. Garrycastle substitute Conor Cosgrave briefly restored their two point lead but an inspirational score from Kelvin Reilly left a single point between the two teams. Another Garrycastle substitute James Sheerin pointed right on the sixty-minute mark which seemed to be the winner leaving two between the teams going into injury time.
The Three minutes of injury time was manic to say the least. Ronan O’Toole won a free and John Heslin split the posts to leave a single point between the teams with only enough time for one play. Garrycastle won the kick-out and broke free with Alex Gardiner the player of the match bearing down on goal, a point would surely be enough. However, Gardiner went for goal and was foiled by an excellent Jason Daly save. Daly wasn’t finished though, he won the loose ball and the Blues tried to fashion one last attack. The Blues kept possession and Ronan O’Toole was fouled leaving St Lomans with a chance to save their skin. John Heslin as always, the calmest man in TEG Cusack Park, he nailed the free with the last kick of the match to get the Champions out of jail. St Loman’s will feel fortunate to get the draw as Garrycastle just shaded proceedings on the day, but at the same time Declan Kelly’s men will also rue all their wasteful shooting particularly in the second half which could have got them over the line.
The Second half was played at a tremendous pace with both sides giving everything for the win. For The Blues John Heslin’s experience was vital and his placed balls allowed Lomans to stay within touching distance of the Shannon-siders. Jack Geoghegan did well and dealt with the occasion superbly in his first Senior final. Kelvin Reilly was also steady at Centre-half back, along with Darragh O’Keefe at conrer-back. Peter Foy and Fola Ayorinde performed well winning several possessions respectively. Substitutes Kevin Regan and Ken Casey were also pivotal in turning the tide early in the second half. Well done to our lads for showing great character and spirit to come back in the second half. The replay will be played this Sunday 21st November at 1.30pm in TEG Cusack Park. Keep your bunting up and show great support like we did last Sunday
Team: Jason Daly, David Whelan, Oisín Hogan, Darragh O’Keefe, Jack Geoghegan, Kelvin Reilly (0.01), Conor O’Donoghue, Sean Flanagan, Sam McCartan, Rory Sheahan, Ronan O’Toole (0.01), TJ Cox (0.03), Peter Foy (0.01), John Heslin (0.07, 0.06f), Fola Ayorinde. Subs Used; Paddy Dowdall, Kevin Regan, Shane Dempsey, Ken Casey, Chris Gilbert.
Condolences:
All at St Lomans Mullingar are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Michael Conlon, The Topic Newsagents, Mount St., Mullingar
A native of Tubberclair Mick showed great promise at underage level. As a juvenile he captained Tubberclair to win a minor Championship in 1953. He arrived in St Lomans Hospital in 1956 as part of the nursing staff.
He immediately made the corner back position his own playing there in the 1957 Senior Final where the Saints were defeated by Athlone.
In 1958 he was part of the team won the inaugural Connolly Cup (Inter Hospital Championships) and followed it up with a feis cup win over Athlone, however they suffered defeated in the championship final to Athlone by a single point.
In 1961 he was part of the Second Senior championship winning team lining out out at corner-forward when they defeated St Mary’s. Two years later he lead St Lomans to another championship win, this time as captain where they were victorious over St Mary’s once again. This team went unbeaten in the entire year winning every competition they played in.
His last county final was in 1968 where The Saints were beaten by an up and coming Downs team. Mick retired shortly afterwards still troubled by a knee injury sustained in 1961.
He not only represented his club and county but also lined out for Leinster in 1960-61. After his retirement he kept himself busy with his nursing job and his news agency business, along with tending to his family needs.
Mick took great pride in watching the current crop win the Senior Championship in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020. He felt the present team was the best Lomans team he’d ever seen- even better than the team he captained in 1963.
Among all this he was a gentleman and will be sorely missed by all in Lakepoint Park. We wish to extend our condolences to the Conlon family at this very sad time.
Ar dheis de go raibh a anam
St Lomans also wish to extend our deepest condolences to the Cleary family following the passing of Philomena (Phil) Cleary (nee Frayne), Ballagh, Mullingar
Ar dheis de go raibh a hanam
Club Lotto:
Draw Date: Thursday 11th November
This week’s jackpot: €10,000.00
Numbers drawn: 14, 17, 18, 21
No Jackpot Winner
Next Week’s Draw Date: Thursday 18th November
Next week’s draw will be available to view on Facebook live at 9pm
Please tune in
Remember it could be you!
