Shay Murtagh Senior Championship:
St Lomans Mullingar 1-09 The Downs 0-13
St Lomans Mullingar began their defence of this year’s Flanagan cup with a narrow defeat to last year’s semi-finalists The Downs. Games between the two have been very tight in recent seasons with The Blues coming out narrowly in the two previous semi-finals. The match took place last Saturday in TEG Cusack Park on a very wet and windy evening making conditions difficult for both sides.
The game was nip and tuck from the first whistle to the last, both teams began trading two scores each with Sean Flanagan and TJ Cox on target with excellent points for the Saints. The Blues took a narrow lead when Sam McCartan’s goal attempt was superbly turned over the bar by Trevor Martin. The Black and Amber got on top before half time scoring four on the bounce through Dean Clarke, Conor Coughlan and a double from Jonathan Lynam. Just before the half time whistle Sam McCartan found TJ cox with an inch perfect pass and the latter launched a rocket into the top corner for the only goal of the match. A truly stunning goal by Cox brought the two sides level at the interval.
St Lomans had the better of it early in the second half outscoring the downs four points to two in the third quarter, with Paul Whelehan and Ronan O’Toole on target either side of well-taken placed balls from Sam McCartan and Ken Casey. The Downs then hit another five on the bounce after the second water-break to leave them leading by three going into the closing stages. The Saints closed the gap to the minimum after excellent scores from Sam McCartan and Chris Gilbert. The Blues searched for an equalizing score in the dying embers, but it was to no avail as The Downs came out on top.
On the night there were many positive individual performances for Declan Kelly’s men. Kelvin Reilly and Peter Foy were superb. Sam McCartan was fantastic for the Blues continuing from his success with the Westmeath Senior team this year, McCartan was arguably Lomans’ stand-out performer on the night. Lomans will be looking to get off the mark next time out against Corlastown Kinnegad in two weeks’ time.
Team; Jason Daly, Darragh O’Keefe, Oisín Hogan, Rory Sheahan, Conor O’Donoghue, David Whelan, Sam McCartan (0.03,0.1f), Fola Ayorinde, Sean Flanagan (0.01), Paul Whelehan (0.01), Kelvin Reilly, Peter Foy, TJ Cox (1.01), Ken Casey (0.01f), Ronan O’Toole (0.01)
Subs Used; Kevin Regan, Danny McCartan, Chris Gilbert (0.01).
Clarkes Bar Junior Championship:
St Lomans Mullingar 4-14 Athlone 0-07
St Lomans Junior side began their championship with a resounding win over Athlone in Tang last Friday evening. The sides traded two points each initially with Conan O’Hara at the double. After this however the Blues were electric until half-time. First Cian Cleary found Darren Kavanagh who netted for the opening goal of the game. Jack Geoghegan extended the lead with a nice point. Then Eoghan Hogan forced a turnover after applying great pressure to the Athlone defence, Hogan won the ball back, drove forward and found Conan O’Hara who made no mistake scoring a second goal for The Saints. Cian Daly added a third goal moments later with a superb run and finish right into the top right-hand corner.
The Mullingar men then added three points in between two Athlone points, with Eoghan O’Keefe, Conradh Reilly and Conan O’Hara on target respectively. Athlone were denied on two occasions following brilliant reflex saves from shot-stopper Stephen Gallagher. After Gallagher’s second save the Blues went on the counter, Andrew Daly drove through the centre of the Athlone defence and found Cian Daly who predictably found the net for his second goal of the evening. The Blues were up by 15 at the break. The Second half of play was more tightly contested with both sides trading three scores each with Conan O’Hara pointing brilliantly after a Cian Daly double. Lomans tagged on four more unanswered scores before the final whistle with Cian Cleary, Cian Daly, Conan O’Hara and Conor Cochrane all on the scoresheet.
In truth Lomans were excellent on the night. Stephen Gallagher was fantastic in between the sticks. Ethan Browne, Gerry Grehan and Senan Russell were superb at the back. Eoghan Hogan was a bundle of energy at wing-back. Andrew Daly and Jack Geoghegan were excellent in midfield. However, Cian Daly was undoubtedly man of the match. Daly’s pace was frightening, and his product was the same, the 18-year-old ended with 2-05 on the night an excellent championship debut. As a whole St Lomans were brilliant to a man.
Team; Stephen Gallagher, Ethan Brown, Gerry Grehan, Senan Russell, Eoghan Hogan, Eoghan O’Keefe (0.01), Seanie Dinnegan, Jack Geoghegan (0.01), Andrew Daly, Adam Lynch, Conradh Reilly (0.01), Darren Kavanagh (1.00), Cian Cleary (0.01), Conan O’Hara (1.04, 0.02f), Cian Daly (2.05, 0.01f)
Subs Used; Daire Smyth, Conor Cochrane (0.01), Killian Brown, Nigel Graham, Rory Matthews
Congratulations:
Well done to Westmeath Senior Ladies who booked their place in the all-Ireland semi’s after a win against Clare.
Well done to our own Lucy McCartan, Ciara Blundell, Leona Archibold and Vicky Carr. Also, to Pat McCartan on the backroom team
Club Lotto:
Draw Date: Thursday 5th August
This week’s jackpot: €8900
Numbers drawn: 6, 14, 15, 27
Next Week’s Jackpot: €9000
No Jackpot Winner
Draw Date: Thursday 12th August
Remember it could be you!
