St Lomans GAA Club Notes 17/10/2022:
Shay Murtagh Senior Championship Final:
St Lomans Mullingar 0-07 The Downs 1-08
Last Sunday morning our Senior Men’s team had their dream of repeating the highly coveted three in a row, crushed by an emerging Downs team. TEG Cusack Park was the venue on a wet and windy day where conditions were far from ideal. The Defending champions started well and dominated the play in the first half but failed to take advantage of their dominance, spurning several scoring chances. The Blues were made to pay for their lack of efficiency when they were caught on the counter-attack, and Niall Mitchell finished into the bottom corner of Jason Daly’s net which was huge sucker punch. The Black and Amber increased their lead through Luke Loughlin to see them lead by four. Declan Kelly’s men responded well with four points in the last ten minutes of the half through Ryan Jones, John Heslin, Danny McCartan and TJ Cox which saw the sides level at the interval.
With it all to play for in the Second half the Mullingar men were forced to play against the elements. Ronan O’Toole pointed early to give Lomans the lead for the first time and unfortunately for his side, it was the last time. From then on it was a role reversal of the first half with Lar Wall’s men dominating the game but crucially they got the scores while on top. A trio of scores from Darragh Egerton, Niall Mitchell and Luke Loughlin saw the Downs lead by two. Heslin replied from a placed ball to reduce the deficit to the minimum with ten minutes to play. Despite the tight score line, the pressure on Declan Kelly’s side was relentless and they couldn’t make the ball stick up front. Two further points from Loughlin and a fisted point by Ian Martin saw the Saints trail by four. Ronan O’Toole reduced the arrears with a well-taken point, but it was too little too late as Loughlin had the final word and sealed a four-point victory for The Downs.
In truth the better team on the day and throughout the championship won and congratulations to the Downs and Lar wall on their first championship since 2005. The Blues never really hit top gear throughout the year and are forced to settle for second. In 2022 we achieved the phenomenal feat of reaching eight consecutive county finals and just came short against a strong Downs side. This team have given us some brilliant days along the way and hopefully there are more to come! These lads owe the club nothing and no doubt we’ll regroup and go again next year. Thanks to the lads for their effort, also to the management team of Declan Kelly, Niall Spain, Garett Hickey, Jonathan Plunkett and Paddy Christie. To the backroom team of Gary Devine, Paul Devine and Alan Bracken. Also to Physio Mark Scally, Mick McCadden for refereeing all our challenge matches and to the man behind the lens Olly Gallagher for his work on video analysis. It was no doubt a tough one to take but we’ll be back again.
Team; Jason Daly, Paddy Dowdall, Jack Geoghegan, David Whelan, Peter Foy, Kelvin Reilly, Conor O’Donoghue, Ryan Jones (0.01), Sam McCartan, Fola Ayorinde, Ronan O’Toole (0.02), Danny McCartan (0.01), TJ Cox (0.01), John Heslin (0.02f), Shane Dempsey. Subs used; Gerry Grehan, Darragh O’Keefe.
Under 17 Championship Final:
St Lomans Mullingar 1-03 Tubberclair 1-07
Our under 17s championship dream came to an end in a drenched TEG Cusack Park in the curtain raiser last Sunday. An early goal for Tubberclair gave the Blues a mountain to climb, when Danny Reid pounced for the south Westmeath side. Tom Burke extended their lead to four. Luke Heduvan got the Saints off the mark after twenty minutes from play, but it was cancelled out on the stroke of half time by Kealan Connell.
The Mullingar men played their best football in the third quarter but only had a Daniel McCann free to show for all their pressure and territory. Three unanswered points for Tubberclair in the space of three minutes Tom Bourke, Paul Keegan and Daire O’Connor. Oisin O’Hara pointed for Alan Bracken’s men but a beautiful 45 from Bourke and a further point from Keegan well and truly sealed the win for the South Westmeath side. The Blues were awarded a late penalty which was duly converted by Daniel McCann, but it was a mere consolation as Tubberclair ran out deserving winners.
The game told a similar story where we failed to take advantage of our dominant periods and just ran out of steam at the death. However, it must be said that scoring was very difficult in the heavy rain and wind in TEG Cusack Park. Well done to the entire panel and the management team of Alan Bracken, Gary Devine, Seamus Tunney, Darragh O’Keefe and Peter Foy for their hard work throughout the year. Our minors enjoyed great wins along the way against Mullingar Shamrocks and Moate All Whites but unfortunately came short against a strong Tubberclair side. These lads will cut their teeth at adult level next year and all have a bright future ahead.
Team; Callum Butler Dolan, Mark Lancaster, Riley Sheahan, Ruari Doonan, Mark Tunney, Byron Graham, Seanai Bracken, Ross Killalea, Nathan Sleator, Shane Mulderry, Daniel McCann (1.01, 1.01f), Oisin O’Hara (0.01), Luke Heduvan (0.01), Harry Mannering, John Casey. Subs; Adam Brady, Shane Cunningham, Sean Daly, JJ McNamee, David Geoghegan, Artur Lazor, James Cunningham, Aaron Smith, Pablo Lozano, Darragh Egerton, Jake Brady.
Under 15 Championship Final;
St Lomans Mullingar 1-08 Garrycastle 3-05
Our under 15 boys faced Garrycastle in Rochfortbridge last Saturday. A gale force wind meant that it was always likely to
be game of two halves. The Blues took full advantage of the strong wind and raced into a lead scoring 1-06 without reply. With excellent points from Conor Liston, Eoin Meehan and Sean Plunkett to start. Then a long ball from corner back Sean Hayes bounced several time evading several players including the Garrycastle goalkeeper and eventually found it’s way into the back of the net, corner-forward Sean Plunkett may have gotten the final touch but regardless the Saints were six points up. A further trio of points, all courtesy of Sean Plunkett saw the Mullingar side go nine up. The Shannon siders hit back with a goal of their own before the break, but the Saints responded through Meehan to see them lead by eight at the interval.
The roles were reversed in the second half with Garrycastle coming at Lomans hard and hit a quick-fire 1-01 at the start of the second half. Plunkett’s free restored a two point for The Blues who held firm for the vast majority of the second half but eventually the dam burst in the last minute of normal time. Having gotten the deficit down to two points, the Shannon siders netted late on after a gal mouth scramble to see them get their noses in front at the death, two excellent points for the Athlone men saw them seal a three-point win.
A heart-breaking defeat for our lads but they can be more than proud of their efforts as they put on a massive fight until the end and showed tremendous courage and passion for the blue jersey. On the Boys side, this year we were narrowly beaten in three finals which is hard to take but getting to all these finals shows a lot of good work is being done at underage level. Big thanks to all our players fr their hard work and commitment throughout the year, similarly to the management team of Tony Plunkett, Adrian Hogg and Sean Liston for devoting their time to the lads this year.
Team; Graham Duggan, Sean Hayes, Cillian Traynor, Robert Hogg, Mikey Weir, Conor Casey, Sean Brennan, Conor Liston (0.01), Conor Caffrey, Dylan Hayes, Jack McCann, Sean Byrne, Beau Greene, Eoin Meehan (0.02), Sean Plunkett (1.06, 0.04f). Subs; James Gallagher, Will Gouldsbury, Sam McNally, Hugo Sleator, Ross Tully, Niall Brady and Conor Maleady.
Club Lotto:
Draw Date: Thursday 13th October
This week’s jackpot: €10,000.00
Numbers drawn: 5, 7, 12, 19
No Jackpot Winner
Next Week’s Draw Date: Thursday 20th October
Remember it could be you
Condolences:
St Lomans Mullingar wish to extend our condolences to the Mimnagh family following the passing of Seamus Mimnagh Irishtown, Mullingar and formerly of Clontumpher, Ballinalee, Co. Longford)
Ar dheis de go raibh a anam
