St Lomans Mullingar Club Notes 18/11/2024:
Leinster Senior Club Championship Quarter final:
St Lomans Mullingar 3-11 Castletown Liam Mellows 0-07
Sunday the 17th of November will be remembered as an historic day as Home Instead Lakepoint Park hosted it’s first Leinster Senior match. After Tuesday’s postponement due to fog, our Wexford visitors made the long journey to Mullingar for a second time. St Lomans Mullingar were given a guard of honour onto the pitch by some of our younger members and it added to a great atmosphere in Lakepoint Park.
The game began relatively slowly but after five minutes it sprung into life. An excellent team move involving Sam McCartan and Fola Ayorinde culminated in the latter being hauled to the ground. The referee had no choice but to stretch his arms wide and indicate a penalty kick. Ronan O’Toole was to be the taker and he cooly sent the keeper the wrong way to give the home side the ideal start.
Castletown responded well to the setback though with points courtesy of a Brendan Halpin free and Jack Higgins’s score from play. The sides briefly traded scores with Sam McCartan and Halpin pointing respectively, before a superb TJ Cox double increased the lead for the hosts. The away side cancelled that double out quickly though with Killian Pierce on target from play and Darragh Brooks pointing from a 45. Ronan O’Toole had the last word of the half with a well-taken score to give the saints a two-point advantage at the interval.
If the first half was evenly matched the second half was anything but. Paddy Dowdall’s words at half time had the desired effect immediately. Three points on the bounce via TJ Cox, Sean Flanagan and John Heslin got the ball rolling. Halpin briefly hit back with a point from play for the model county outfit. Flanagan and O’Toole then added to their tallies before another Halpin free left the lead at five points.
The game looked well and truly settled after forty-five minutes. Jason Daly’s kickout was broken by John Heslin and won by Fola Ayroinde who in turn found Sam McCartan, McCartan then picked out TJ Cox who raced through on goal with options left and right, but Cox didn’t need any help as he fired a rocket into the back of the Castletown net. John Heslin then added another score to his total to leave nine between the teams.
The Westmeath champions then well and truly sealed victory when Enda Gaffney turned Castletown over in their own half. Gaffney then found TJ Cox and with the Castletown goalkeeper committed forward, Cox had the easiest of tasks and rolled into the empty net for his second goal of the day and Lomans’ third. Ronan O’Toole had the first word and he had the last word with an excellent point to confirm a thirteen point victory.
In truth it was an excellent performance by the Westmeath champions, particularly in the second half. The intensity shown by the home side was unmatched. All the six backs were excellent, particularly Eoghan Hogan and Sam McCartan, McCartan once again ran the game and dominated proceedings. John Heslin was phenomenal in the second half, he scored an outrageous point at the beginning of the second half and turned Castletown over on several occasions. Sean Flanagan and Fola Ayorinde both put in a tremendous shift and their work-rate was second to none. Ronan O’Toole was his usually classy self, kicking 1-03 and was the creator in chief. Man of the match though is TJ Cox, who’s 2-03 saw him as the match winner, Cox who started at the expense of the injured Shane Dempsey certainly took his opportunity.
Finally, the support in Home Instead Lakepoint Park was phenomenal and gave our lads a huge boost on the day. Next up is a tight six day turn around where the Blues’ will face St Mary’s Ardee of Louth. The wee county champion’s will have an extra week’s rest in the bank but the venue will be in Westmeath, so we want an even bigger support next weekend as our lads look to reach a first Leinster final since 2017.
Team; Jason Daly, Oisín Hogan, Darragh O’Keefe, David Whelan, Kelvin Reilly, Eoghan Hogan, Sam McCartan (0.01), Jack Geoghegan, John Heslin (0.02, 0.01f), Rory Sheahan, Ronan O’Toole (1.03, 1.00 pen), Sean Flanagan (0.02), Danny McCartan, Fola Ayroinde, TJ Cox (2.03). Subs used; Enda Gaffney, Kevin Regan, Peter Foy, Nathan Lally, Rory Matthews.
Minor Ladies Championship Final:
St Lomans Mullingar 4-10 Loughnavalley 0-04
St Lomans Mullingar claimed their third consecutive minor title last Sunday in Shandonagh after a resounding win over Loughnavalley. The opening stages were somewhat cagey with both sides struggling to gather any momentum. Shannon Breslin got her side off the mark with an excellent score. Breslin was on target again moments later, finishing to the net after one of her trademark dummies. Loughnavalley got off the mark with a well struck point after seventeen minutes. Caoimhe and Katie Kilmurray both opened their accounts before the break to leave the blues five points up at the interval.
The Valley’s resistance fell somewhat in the second half as the saints struck 1-02 in the first two minutes of the half. Katie Kilmurray and Shannon Breslin initially extended the lead with two excellent points. Shortly afterwards, an excellent team move saw Katie Kilmurray break through the centre of defence and Kilmurray as usual struck to the net emphatically. The game was all but over after that, the lead being extended by Caoimhe Kilmurray after a truly stunning strike. Pippa Ruane hit back for her side to reduce the deficit, but Caoimhe Kilmurray cancelled it out at the other end.
Another thrilling move moments later ended with Breslin rounding the keeper to get her second goal of the afternoon. The teams then traded scores with Breslin and an excellent Lara McCartan point doing the damage for the Mullingar side. A couple of lovely late scores couresty of Caoimhe Kilmurray and substitute Maddie Mulderry rubber stamped an eighteen-point victory for the champions.
On the day every single player was excellent. Asha McCormack was a calming influence in goals. Eimear Doonan, Eve Scally and Chloe Cahill were all excellent in defence. Caoimhe Kilmurray dominated in midfield. Emma Murphy and Katie Kilmurray were both superb in the half-forward line. Ultimately though it was Shannon Breslin who was the match winner with 2-03 on the day. In truth though all twenty players who featured were excellent.
Well done to our girls who were excellent on the day and hard luck to Loughnavalley who have done superbly to make a first division 1 minor final in their history. A huge congratulations to the management team of Stephanie Kilmurray and Ciara Blundell, thanks to both for devoting their time towards the girls this year. Lastly it was time for Meabh O’Hara and Caoimhe Kilmurray to collect the trophy to cap off a phenomenal year for the ladies’ side of the club.
Team; Asha McCormack, Anna Sheehy, Eve Scally, Eimear Doonan, Chloe Cahill, Lara McCartan (0.01), Aoibhe Hogan, Meabh O’Hara, Caoimhe Kilmurray (1.03), Kate McDonnell, Katie Kilmurray (1.02, 0.01f), Emma Murphy, Keelin Burke, Shannon Breslin (2.03), Shauna Traynor. Subs used; Evie Kilmurray, Maddie Mulderry (0.01), Norah Garry, Ava Cummins, Katie McDonnell.
Fixtures:
Wednesday 20th November
Under 20 Championship semi-final:
St Lomans Mullingar vs Tyrrellspass at 7.45pm in Killucan
Saturday 23rd November
Leinster Senior Club Championship semi-final:
St Lomans Mullingar vs St Mary’s Ardee at 1.30pm, venue tbc
Sunday 24th November
Senior B Ladies Championship semi-final
St Lomans Mullingar vs Killucan at 12pm in Killucan
Club Lotto:
Draw Date: Monday 11th November
This week’s jackpot: €5,300.00
Numbers drawn: 7,10,13,18
No Jackpot winner
Lucky dip winders (€50 each): Willie Allan and Mary Lynch
Next week’s jackpot: €5,400.00
Next Week’s Draw Date: Monday 18th November
Remember it could be you!
