St Lomans GAA Club Notes 18/09/2023:
Shay Murtagh Senior Championship semi-final:
St Lomans Mullingar 2-13 Tyrrellspass 0-05
Last Saturday evening saw our senior men’s team renew rivalries with Tyrrellspass in the championship semi-final. The sides have locked horns several times over the years with the Saints generally having the better of things after winning four of their six championship finals against Tyrrellspass. It was a cagey start to the game, with the blues having to break down a stubborn Tyrrellspass defence. It was the Mullingar side who got their first four scores, all from different sources. Danny McCartan, Ronan O’Toole, Shane Dempsey and John Heslin all opening their accounts for the evening.
Ger Egan got his side on the scoreboard after fifteen minutes with a placed ball before Lomans replied with three unanswered scores courtesy of Heslin and a super double from Dempsey. Egan reduced the arrears with another free before Dennis Glennon pointed for his team from play to leave a four-point gap between the teams at the interval. The Mullingar side may have been slightly disappointed not to be further in front at the break after their dominance throughout the half but would have settled for a four-point lead before throw-in, no doubt.
Tyrrellspass started the second half with a brief spell of possession but never made it count on the scoreboard and when Dean McNicholas was dismissed for an off the ball incident their task was made that bit more difficult. Shortly after the red card, John Heslin found Danny McCartan in space who in-turn found Sean Flanagan and the latter buried his shot in the roof of the net to effectively end the game as a contest. Flanagan has made a habit of scoring goals against this opposition after previously netting in the 2017 final and the 2021 group stage, as well as in this year’s league.
The Saints were in cruise control from then on and increased the lead with five scores on the bounce courtesy of Heslin, Dempsey, an O’Toole double and substitute TJ Cox. Peter Clark got Tyrrellspass on the board in the second half after twenty-three minutes, before O’Toole cancelled this out at the other end. Nigel Harte got a consolation score for his team, but further salt was to be rubbed into the wounds when TJ Cox found himself in on goal and worked the angle beautifully before hitting a rocket passed Joe Hyland to seal a fourteen-point win for the blues.
Paddy Dowdall will be pleased at his team’s performance with many impressing. David Whelan, Eoghan Hogan and Darragh O’Keefe were rock solid at the back. Heslin, O’Toole and Dempsey were on song at the other end. Danny McCartan maybe didn’t have his best day on the scoreboard, but he was involved in everything and linked up very well, Indeed TJ cox also impressed off the bench to strengthen his case for a start in two weeks’ time. In fact, any one of Heslin, O’Toole, Dempsey and McCartan had a case for man of the match. Dempsey just marginally shades it after the quality of his first point from long-range.
After making light work of an uncharacteristically poor Tyrrellspass team, St Lomans Mullingar booked their place in their ninth county final in a row. This year they will be hoping to go one better against a strong Coralstown Kinnegad side with Jack Cooney and Paschal Kelleghan at the helm. There is no doubt this will be a keenly contested contest after both sides drawing in the group stage. So, get the bunting up and support the lads in two weeks’ time!
Team; Jason Daly, Eoghan Hogan, Darragh O’Keefe, Oisín Hogan, Jack Geoghegan, David Whelan, Enda Gaffney, Kevin Regan, Sean Flanagan (1.00), Tristan Graham, Ronan O’Toole (0.04), Sam McCartan, Danny McCartan (0.01), John Heslin (0.03, 0.03f), Shane Dempsey (0.04). Subs used; TJ Cox (1.01), Conor O’Donoghue, Kelvin Reilly, Ryan Jones, Seanie Dinnegan.
Clarkes Bar Junior Championship semi-final:
St Lomans Mullingar 1-06 St Joseph’s 0-09
St Lomans Mullingar win 7-6 on Penalties.
Last Sunday was nothing short of astonishing. Rochfortbridge was the venue for an historic occasion where for the first time ever a championship match in Westmeath was decided on penalties. The opening game beforehand was also dramatic with Kilbeggan Shamrocks prevailing after extra time against Ballycomoyle which delayed the throw in for our semi-final against St Joseph’s.
The second match was a slow burner with scores at a premium throughout the match but particularly in the first half. The sides were level up until first half injury time with two scores each, Shane Mulderry and Adam Lynch pointing for the blues. Ben McDonnell pointed for Joseph’s on the stroke of half time to see them take the narrowest of leads into the second half.
The Mullingar side were awarded a penalty almost instantly in the second half after Tadhg Kenny was impeded in the square. Chris Gilbert made no mistake from the resulting spot kick and fired his side into the lead (little did he know it would only be the first of four penalties he’d take that day). The sides then traded scores with David Morgan opening his account. From then on though, Joseph’s were the far better side and hit four unanswered points in a twenty-minute period where they looked to be heading for the final.
Robbie Kenny’s men showed huge character and after a stunning point from Adam Lynch in the dying minutes of normal time reduced the arrears to the minimum. The blues searched for that elusive equaliser which didn’t look to be forthcoming, but Eoghan O’Keefe managed to draw a free, giving David Morgan the chance to draw level and bring the match to extra-time, which he duly converted. After looking dead and buried the Saints suddenly had a lifeline.
Both sides looked extremely fatigued and jaded in extra time, with the extra minutes and the sudden change in the weather beginning to take its toll. As a result of this, there was no score in the first half of extra time. Jordan McDonnell pointed for Joseph’s in the second period, and it looked once again as though they were heading towards a narrow win. The Mullingar men never gave in though and once again managed to draw level after a magnificent free from Chris Gilbert with the outside of his right foot, undoubtedly the score of the match. The match would be decided by penalties.
The scene was surreal, both sets of supporters willing their teams on and observing perfect silence for the penalty takers. Perhaps a flaw in the system is both sides having to nominate five takers even after they have all taken penalties but those were the rules agreed to. After six penalties each, both sides were level on five goals apiece. The next three penalties each were all missed, with Lomans missing three chances to win the game. Joseph’s scored with their tenth penalty, leaving Cillian Plunkett the unenviable task of having to score to keep his side in the game, Plunkett showed nerves of steel to score and extended the shoot-out.
Goalkeeper Dano Fitzsimons produced a stunning save from Mikey Lynam for his fourth save of the shoot-out. All eyes were on Chris Gilbert, he had the chance to send his team to the final, their fourth attempt of the day. After scoring his previous three all the pressure was on Gilbert, but he dusted himself down and scored the decisive kick to send his team into the final and make him the hero of the day alongside his goalkeeper. Gilbert channelled his inner Harry Kane from the spot, showing huge metal to convert four penalties in the one day.
A special mention to Chris Gilbert, Daniel McCann, Cian Daly, Cillian Plunkett and David Morgan who all stepped up in the shoot-out and putting themselves forward in the circumstances which was a tremendously brave thing to do. Well done also to Dano Fitzsimons who produced four saves in the shoot-out, a brilliant performance, he also performed very well in normal time.
Outside the shoot-out the blues outstanding performers were predominantly in defence with Nathan Lally, Sean Kelly and Ethan Brown impressing. Paddy Dowdall put in a huge shift in midfield. Arguably though the best player was Eoghan O’Keefe who got on many possessions and took the game to the opposition. Adam Lynch also performed well in the forward line and ended with a tally of two points.
Even the most stubborn Lomans supporter will admit that they absolutely rode their luck on the day, St Joseph’s were arguably the better side, and you wouldn’t have begrudged them a victory. However, Robbie Kenny’s men kept going until the dying embers to pull a result out of the fire and set up an encounter with Kilbeggan Shamrocks on Saturday the 30th of September in TEG Cusack Park. Finally, commiserations to St Joseph’s on a heartbreaking defeat, no doubt they will be back stronger in 2024.
Team; Dano Fitzsimons, Sean Kelly, Nathan Lally, Ethan Brown, Seanaí Bracken, Shane Flynn, Eoghan Kenny, Paddy Dowdall, Conor Regan, Adam Lynch (0.02), Eoghan O’Keefe, Shane Mulderry (0.01), Tadhg Kenny, David Morgan (0.02, 0.01f), Chris Gilbert (1.01, 1 pen, 0.01f). Subs used; Cillian Plunkett, Darren Kavanagh, Cian Daly, Daniel McCann, Tristan Johnson.
Under 17 Division 1 Shield Final:
St Lomans Mullingar 3-13 Caulry 2-07
Well done to our minors who won the division 1 shield last Sunday in Shandonagh, well done to all players and management.
Fixtures:
Wednesday 20th September
Village Barn Ladies Senior Championship
St Lomans Mullingar vs Moate All Whites at 8pm in Home Instead Lakepoint Park
MJS Building and Development U15 Football Div 2 Championship
St Lomans Mullingar vs Inny Shamrocks at 6.30pm in Bunbrosna
Friday 22nd September
MJS Building and Development U13 Football Div 1 Semi Final
St Lomans Mullingar vs Athlone at 6.45pm in Home Instead Lakepoint Park
Club Lotto:
Draw Date: Monday 11th September
This week’s jackpot: €1,700.00
Numbers drawn: 4,5,6,15
No Jackpot winner
Lucky dip winders (€50 each): Lorraine Claffey and David Morgan
Next week’s jackpot: €1,800.00
Next Week’s Draw Date: Monday 18th September
Remember it could be you!
Condolences:
St Lomans Mullingar wish to extend their deepest condolences to the Finneran family following the passing of James Finneran Golden Island, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
Ar dheis de go raibh a anam.
