St Lomans Mullingar Club Notes 28/10/2024:
Leinster Ladies Senior Championship Quarter Final:
St Lomans Mullingar 3-12 Longford Slashers 6-08
Last Tuesday night St Lomans Mullingar’s magical year came to an end in Michael Fay Park. After a seven year hiatus from the competition, there was a brilliant travelling support in Longford to cheer on their newly crowned county champions. Two days prior the game was cancelled at the last minute leaving the away supporters particularly frustrated after wasting a trip. However, all in attendance were treated to a fine game of football played in excellent sprit.
The hosts kicked off the scoring with an instantaneous point by Grace Shannon. Ciaran Kilmurray’s young blues reacted well though with an excellent point from Caoimhe Kilmurray followed by an excellent goal by Shannon Breslin. Grace Shannon hit back for Slashers before Katie Kilmurray pointed either side of a Ciara Blundell score to leave the Saints five to the good. The home side then hit their stride with an unanswered 1-03 in the space of ten minutes. Points from Orla Nevin and Grace Shannon followed by a goal from the magnificent Clodagh Lohan, along with an additional point from Caoimhe Lohan saw the Longford side in front by the minimum.
As was the theme of the night, it was the other side’s turn to have a purple patch. Five consecutive points via Caoimhe Kilmurray, Vicky Carr and a Lucy McCartan treble saw the Westmeath champions lead by four in the space of four minutes. Remarkably in first half injury time Slashers found themselves level once more after a goal from Kara Shannon and a point from her sister Grace Shannon. A topsy-turvy first half with plenty of attacking football and the second period of play would be no different.
The second half began with a quick-fire goal and point with Ciara Blundell doubling her tally and Shannon Breslin netting her second goal. Breslin was unlucky not to have a hat-trick shortly afterwards but her shot just went the wrong side of the post. The sides then traded scores with Katie Kilmurray and Grace Shannon on target for their teams. At this stage it looked as though the away side were heading towards victory but a disastrous five minute spell was to be their undoing.
Three goals in five minutes were to be the nail in the St Lomans coffin. A stunning goal from Kate Shannon and Cloadagh Lohan’s strike either side of a fortuitous second goal from Kara Shannon set up the Longford champions for victory. The next ten minutes saw the saints struggle to react to the setback, not through lack of effort. Their misery was compounded when Lara McCartan was shown a harsh yellow card which reduced Lomans to fourteen for the remainder of the game.
All credit to the blues who plugged away until the final whistle and it briefly looked as though they had a lifeline when Vicky Carr managed to slip her way through and net to leave just the minimum between the sides. It looked as though a comeback might be on the cards but Slashers went right down the other end and another fortunate goal from Clodagh Logan via the post all but sealed victory. A final point from the impressive Orla Nevin confirmed victory and the end of the Lomans journey.
It was a rollercoaster of an evening but in all truth the better side won. The Lomans’ ladies failed to live with Orla Nevin, the Shannon Sisters (Grace, Kara and Kate) and the Lohan sisters Clodagh and Caoimhe. Cloadgh finished up with a hat-trick on the night to cap a breath-taking player of the match display. Although she was lucky not to be shown a card of some sort after appearing to drag Vicky Carr down by the neck in the dying minutes unintentionally. The Longford outfit now look forward to a mouth-watering clash with Kilmacud Crokes this coming Sunday. St Lomans Mullingar have wished them the best of luck with the rest of their campaign, they are an excellent side and it’s easy to see why they won the all-Ireland intermediate championship in 2022.
On the night St Lomans were possibly guilty of a bit of inexperience and maybe could have stemmed the tide a bit better in patches, but at the same time on another night could have been victorious. In defeat there were still bright performances from the likes of Megan Ennis, Katie Kilmurray and Shannon Breslin. The latter’s brace and ball-winning ability was on show and she was undoubtedly the best player in a Lomans jersey.
A defeat but for sure a super year for the club, becoming league and championship winners at senior level. Along with winning two under 16 championships (Divison 1 and 4) and a minor championship still to be played. There is no doubt that the best is still yet to come from this team with a conveyor belt of youthful talent coming through. Four consecutive under 16 titles as well as vying for a third straight Minor Championship shows the future of the club is in good hands.
Thank you to every player who togged out during the year. Well, done and a massive thank you to Ciaran Kilmurray and his management team of Timmy Murphy, Gary Devine, Brian Tyrrell, Andrea Martin, Alan Bracken and Stephanie Kilmurray. Thanks to physio Mark Scally and Donal Kilmurray for videoing the games for analysis over the year. Finally, thank you to Chairman Ted Cronin, without whom none of this would be possible. Ted has been the driving force behind Ladies football in Lakepoint for more than a decade. It has been a brilliant year and finally thank you to all our supporters who turned out in great force over the year.
St Lomans Mullingar team; Jane McKenna, Julie McLaughlin, Megan Ennis, Lara McCartan, Katie Dunne, Muireann Scally, Ellen Kilmurray, Vicky Carr (1.01), Caoimhe Kilmurray (0.02), Laura Murphy, Lucy McCartan (0.03), Ciara Blundell (0.02), Sandra McGrath, Shannon Breslin (2.00), Katie Kilmurray (0.04,0.02f). Subs used; Meabh O’Hara, Keelie Mulderry.
Under 14 Boys Division 1 Championship Final:
St Lomans Mullingar 2-10 Lilliput Gaels 1-11
Last Saturday afternoon Killucan hosted this year’s under 14 boys division 1 championship final. St Lomans Mullingar faced off against the amalgamation side of Lilliput Gaels (St Malachys, Ballinagore and Loughnavalley). Conditions were difficult on a blustery day and it was to be an extremely low scoring first half with just three points each. All the Blues’ scores came from dead balls with Cathal Kilmurray at the double, as well as Michael Brennan’s long-rang effort. The blues were guilty of some wayward shooting and playing into the breeze in the second half seemed a tall order.
Lilliput shaded the third quarter outscoring the saints by three points to one, the lomans’ score coming via a mark from Cathal Kilmurray. Suddenly the match came to life, a mesmerising run from Luke Fitzsimons was finished off with an outstanding finish for the first goal of the day, an outstanding solo goal after shrugging off some heavy contact. Shorlty after , a brilliant team move saw Brennan find Kilmurray bearing down on goal and the latter finished emphatically to give his side breathing space coming down the home straight.
Lilliput were not finished there though a pointed free made it a one pointed game. As they searched for a goal the saints’ rear-guard defended valiantly, but Lilliput were awarded a bemusing injury time penalty for a foot block. Justice may have been done here though as the resulting spot kick was kicked wide via the woodwork. Time seemed up but referee Niall Ward managed to play just enough injury time for the gaels to force extra time with a goal in the sixty sixth minute, to break Lomans hearts momentarily.
The Mullingar men regrouped in extra-time though showing real character and managed to kick the first three points of extra time via dead balls from Kilmurray and Brennan, as well as a point from play via substitute Senan Brody. Lilliput reduced the deficit it to two points at the end of the half to leave an exciting second period in store.
Lilliput managed to monetarily halve the deficit but a couple of stunning points from Brennan stretched the lead back to three. Once again the opposition managed to fight back and a quickifre double left just a single point between the teams with just one minute to play. However, the last word would go to Michael Brennan with another beautifully struck free to double the lead. This was to be the last score as this time the Mullingar side managed to see out the victory and earn the title of county champions by a two point margin.
A remarkable victory for the Lomans lads who seem to be up against at the interval but they battled hard throughout and in hindsight, you’d have to say they were well deserving winners on the day. There were some brilliant performances throughout the team. Eoin McGinley, Michael long and Sean Connell all performed well at the back. Michael Brennan put on an exhibition in midfield, particularly from frees, and paired with the hard-working Shane Canning boded well for the champions.
Cathal Kilmurray was excellent inside and Luke Fitzsimons was without a doubt the best outfielder on the pitch. However, unusually man of the match for the winning side was goalkeeper James McHugh. McHugh made three or four stunning reflex saves as well as being excellent under the high ball and his kick outs were immaculate. The Blues’ supporters and players have McHigh to thank who was vital in holding out Lilliput and it goes to show the importance of a good goalkeeper, as seen also in the recent senior final.
Finally well done to all the platyers who were brilliant on the day, what was most impressive was their fighting spirit and how they managed to thrive against adversity. Their never say die attitude will stand them in good stead. The same group won the under thirteen championship last season so the future is very bright. Well done and thanks to the management team of Enda Lambden, Ciaran Kilmurray, Mark Gaye and Garrett Hickey for their hard work this year.
Thank you also to the big support we received in Killucan, the Lomans following has been wonderful the last few months. All that was left, was for Michael Brennan the captain to lift the trophy for a second consecutive year to spark wild celebrations. There’s still more room for silverware with our minor girls and under 20 boys coming up over the next few weeks.
Team; James McHugh, Eoin McGinley, Sean O’Connell, Declan Bourke, Michael Long, Jack Daly, Paidí Slevin, Michael Brennan (0.05, 0.04f), Shane Canning, Billy Lambden, Killian Raleigh, Luke Fitzsimons (1.00), Cathal Kilmurray (1.04, 0.03, 0.01m), Sam Geoghegan, Matthew Tully. Subs used; Senan Brody (0.01), Harry Brennan. Rest of panel; Conor Raleigh, Joshua O’Brien, Cian McDonnell, Adam Mulligan, Colm O’Roruke, Dovas Virketis, Cillian Galvin.
Fixtures:
Sunday 3rd November:
Leinster Senior Championship
St Lomans Mullingar vs Dunshaughlin at 1.30pm in Pairc Tailteann Navan
Club Lotto:
Draw Date: Monday 21st October
This week’s jackpot: €5,100.00
Numbers drawn: 8,9,10,24
No Jackpot winner
Lucky dip winders (€50 each): Joe O’Hara and Simon Foran
Next week’s jackpot: €5,200.00
Next Week’s Draw Date: Monday 28th October
Remember it could be you!
Condolences:
St Lomans Mullingar wish to extend our condolences to the McDermott family following the passing of Mary (Mollie) McDermott (née Doherty) – Bellview Heights, Mullingar, Co Westmeath
Ar dheis de go raibh a hanam
