St Lomans GAA Club Notes 20/11/2023:
Leinster Senior Club Championship semi-final:
St Lomans Mullingar 1-10 Naas 1-15 AET
Last Sunday saw our Leinster journey come to an end at the hands of a strong Naas outfit in TEG Cusack Park. A large crowd of blue and white supporters from both sides strapped themselves in for an intense game of football. The Saints got the first two scores courtesy of a John Heslin free and a superb point from play by Shane Dempsey. The Kildare champions struck back with three unanswered scores with Alex Beirne following up after a double from Darragh Kirwan. Peter Foy momentarily levelled proceedings only for Kirwan and Beirne to strike back and leave Naas two points up.
The Blues then hit somewhat of a purple patch in the second quarter. Kevin Regan got the ball rolling with a lovely point from play, before Danny McCartan tied the affair with a point from a mark. Shane Dempsey then hit another stunner to give his team the lead only for Darragh Kirwan to cancel it out at the far end. Dempsey wasn’t finished there though. In the 23rd minute he was found by Ronan O’Toole. Dempsey raced through towards goal and was quickly converged upon by the Naas defence, but the sharpshooter hit a rasping shot into the corner for a superb goal. Danny McCartan and Dermot Hanafin both pointed for the respective teams on the stroke of half-time, leaving the home side three ahead.
John Heslin pointed at the start of the second half from a placed ball. Beirne and Hanafin hit back for the lilywhite county side before Heslin responded with another free. This was to be the last score for Paddy Dowdall’s side in normal time however, the last twenty minutes saw Naas put huge pressure on the Lomans goal and points from Beirne, Kirwan and Luke Mullins saw the sides level going into injury time. John Heslin had an attempted effort at a point which seem to cause a bit of confusion between both umpires. In the end the match officials decided the ball did in fact go wide, a very tight decision either way and one which would have gone to hawk-eye in Croke Park. Naas had a late chance of winning the match with the last kick of normal time but the resulting free went harmlessly wide and extra time would be played.
The vital score of extra time was scored in the second minute when man-of the match Kirwan rose above all to fetch a super pass and bury a finish into the bottom corner giving Jason Daly no chance. Kirwan made it a two-score game only for Heslin to reduce the arrears and leave three between the sides at half-time in extra time. The final period saw Lomans unable to threaten the Naas goal with late points from Kirwan and substitute Tom Brown putting some gloss on the scoreline to see the Kildare side end Lomans’ dreams.
All credit to Naas who were undoubtedly the stronger side in extra-time. Darragh Kirwan was top notch, Alex Beirne was also excellent for the Kildare side. We wish them all the best in the Leinster Final. On the day the Lomans trio of Shane Dempsey, Danny McCartan and Ronan O’Toole were on fire in the first half especially. Oisín Hogan, Peter Foy and Kevin Regan also performed well on the day but it’s no consolation to our players and management. It must be said the loss of David Whelan to injury with twenty minutes to go was a significant blow on the day.
Although we’d all like to have won, it must be said 2023 has been an amazing year for St Loman’s throughout the club. Our senior men have lost just two matches all season and they achieved their main goal from the start of the year, bringing home the Flanagan cup. A huge thanks to all the players for their hard work throughout the year, they were and always have been a joy to watch and will continue to entertain us in the years ahead.
Paddy Dowdall’s legendary status was never in doubt before this year, but to win a senior championship in his first year at the helm is the stuff of dreams. Him and his management/backroom team of Phillip Wolfe, Niall Spain, Frank Aughey, Dickie Geoghegan, Joe Matthews, Alan Bracken, Paul Devine and Gary Devine have been brilliant this year in their work with the lads and we’re so grateful to them all as a club. A huge thanks also to the ever-dependable physio Mark Scally and the man behind the lens Olly Gallagher for recording our matches this year. A final thanks to our young helpers Sam Geoghegan, Shay Dowdall, Sean Og Plunkett, Jamie Wolfe and Charlie Wolfe for all the charisma they brought to the club.
Finally, thanks to all our supporters for a tremendous year, our support was fantastic and no doubt there will be more good days ahead. See you all in 2024 and remember to get out and support our minor Ladies next Sunday who are our last remaining team in 2023.
Team; Jason Daly, Eoghan Hogan, Darragh O’Keefe, Oisín Hogan, Jack Geoghegan, David Whelan, Enda Gaffney, Sean Flanagan, John Heslin (0.04, 0.04f), Peter Foy (0.01), Sam McCartan, Kevin Regan (0.01), Danny McCartan (0.01, 0.01m), Ronan O’Toole, Shane Dempsey (1.03). Subs used; TJ Cox, Kelvin Reilly, Tristan Graham, Fola Ayorinde.
Minor Ladies Championship semi-final:
St Lomans Mullingar 7-14 Milltownpass 3-08
On a day of semi-finals for the club, St Lomans ladies qualified for the division 1 final this year ,thus completing a hat-trick of division 1 finals this year matching last year’s feat.
In a repeat of last year’s final, Milltownpass arrived to St Lomans as underdogs however that tag was quickly dismissed as they raced into a deserved 1-4 to 0-1 lead. The blues regrouped and started to play the football we have been accustomed to seeing these ladies play over the past few years. The home side went in at half time leading by 3-6 to 2-4. Any thoughts of Milltownpass dying off in the second were dismissed as they kept within touching distance of Lomans but the blues were starting to dominate more and more and by the time 45 minutes were played they led by 8 points. St Lomans kept pushing to rack up more scores and they did with some lovely team scores. The winning margin somewhat flattered the hosts but there was no doubt the girls were deserving of their win.
We face Coralstown Kinnegad in the final in what is sure to be a great game of football. Lomans know they will have to be at their very best if they are to defend their title, they won a little under a year ago.
Team; Katie McGrath, Abbie Norris, Eimear Donnan, Eve Scally, Aoibhe Hogan, Lara McCartan, Orla McDermott, Jayne Charles (1.01), Caoimhe Kilmurray (1.05), Shauna Traynor, Katie Kilmurray (2.03), Shannon Breslin (1.01), Rachel McKenna, Meabh O’Hara (1.00), Paige Matthews (1.04, 0.03f)
AGM:
Our AGM will take place on Wednesday 22nd November at 8pm in the clubhouse.
Any nomination/motion forms should be requested from secretary.stlomansmullingar.westmeath@gaa.ie
All members are welcome to attend.
Club Lotto
Draw Date: Monday 13th November
This week’s jackpot: €2,600.00
Numbers drawn: 1,4,7,27
No Jackpot winner
Lucky dip winders (€50 each): Mai Plunkett and Orla Cleary
Next week’s jackpot: €2,700.00
Next Week’s Draw Date: Monday 20th November
Remember it could be you!
Condolences:
St Lomans Mullingar wish to extend our condolences to the Devine Family following the passing of Maureen (née Murphy) Devine ,1 Marian Avenue, Edgeworthstown, Co.Longford
Ar dheis de go raibh a hanam
