St Lomans GAA Club Notes 15/08/2022:
Shay Murtagh Senior Championship:
St Lomans Mullingar 0-19 Mullingar Shamrocks 0-11
St Lomans Mullingar faced Mullingar Shamrocks for the first time in the Senior Championship since 2019. These games have a history of being feisty, as local derbies usually are. Mullingar Shamrocks talisman Dennis Corroon got the first score from a placed ball. The defending champions responded well with three well taken scores from Sam McCartan, Ronan O’Toole and Shane Dempsey respectively. Dennis Corroon and Killian Daly pointed for Shamrocks to level matters. John Heslin then opened his account with three consecutive points, one from play and two free kicks. The sides then traded two scores each with Sam McCartan and John Heslin on target with a 45 and a free respectively. Corroon had the final word of the half with a placed ball to leave two between the sides at the halfway mark. The first half was a cagey tight game for large periods, but the Blues were fortunate not to concede a goal with Shamrocks’s Ross Corroon inexplicably missed an open goal after he was denied by the upright.
The Saints started the second half brightly with an inspirational point from Peter Foy with the outside of the boot followed by a John Heslin free. The sides then exchanged a couple of scores each with Heslin and Dempsey on the scoresheet for Declan Kelly’s men. The Blues began to pull away after a pair of excellent points from playmaker Ronan O’Toole. Corroon responded with two nice scores to make it a four-point game with ten minutes left on the clock. However, the holders showed their class in the last ten minutes and pulled away with five consecutive points. Ronan O’Toole started it off with a beautiful left footed shot. John Heslin added a double with a beauty from play and routine free. Shane Dempsey was denied a goal by Shamrock’s goalkeeper Philly Shaw and had to settle for a point. Fola Ayorinde hit the final point after smashing the crossbar and going over. Ayorinde was earlier denied a possible goal of the season contender. Fola caught a kick-out, powered past two defenders and smashed a ferocious shot and was denied by the woodwork. Shamrocks substitute Lorcan Smyth had the final word with a consolation point, to leave the Blues run out deserving eight-point winners.
This result see’s Declan Kelly’s men assured of at least a quarter final place. A victory against Coralstown Kinnegad in the final group game in two weeks’ time would see the Mullingar men advance to the Semi-Final. Mullingar Shamrocks proved stubborn for long stages but ultimately lacked a marquee forward to really push the Blues. On the night, it’s difficult to pick out a Lomans player who didn’t perform well. However, the likes of David Whelan, Sam McCartan and Ronan O’Toole were all excellent on the night and were instrumental in the win. Fola Ayorinde was also very good and got stronger as the game progressed. There is plenty to work on for Declan Kelly’s men who await their final group clash with Coralstown Kinnegad in two weeks’ time with time, date and venue to be confirmed.
Team; Jason Daly, Sean Kelly, Jack Geoghegan, David Whelan, Peter Foy (0.01), Kelvin Reilly, Conor O’Donoghue, Sam McCartan (0.02, 0.01 45), Ryan Jones, TJ Cox, Ronan O’Toole (0.04), Danny McCartan, Fola Ayorinde (0.01), John Heslin (0.08, 0.06f), Shane Dempsey (0.03). Subs used; Sean Flanagan, Eoghan Hogan, Kevin Regan, Gerry Grehan.
Fairgreen Ladies Senior Championship:
St Lomans Mullingar 2-05 St Mary’s Rochfortbridge 3-11
St Lomans Senior ladies welcomed the juggernaut of St Mary’s Rochfortbridge to Lakepoint Park last Thursday evening in the sweltering heat. Caoimhe Kilmurray began with an early double for the blues either side of the visitors opening point. Rochfortbridge replied with the first goal of the game, taking advantage of some loose marking from the hosts. Caoimhe Kilmurray replied with an excellent point but moments later the Bridge found the net for the second time leaving the Saints with a mountain to climb. Two further points from the visitors saw them open a six-point lead before a brilliant goal from Caoimhe Kilmurray reduced the deficit to three points. The Bridge responded with three unanswered points to leave them six points to the good at the interval.
The second half was a struggle for Ryan Jones’ team. Rochfortbridge hit 1-05 in the first twenty minutes without reply to leave them out of sight. Credit to the Blues who kept going until the end, after a brilliant goal from Bridgie Heslin who fetched the ball out of the sky, hitting a low shot into the corner of the net. Caoimhe Kilmurray and substitute Sarah McManus added two points either side of the visitors’ final point left the margin at full time at nine points.
Ultimately the better side won, but it’s been a similar theme for the Lomans ladies this season after three spirited defeats where they really lacked the scoring threat to get a result, however the effort on show cannot be questioned. The hosts ran themselves into the ground in the intense heat. Caoimhe Kilmurray had an excellent game scoring 1-04 on the night. Vicky Carr also ran tirelessly in midfield. All credit must go to Fiona Keating in between the sticks, who made a couple of brilliant saves to spare the Blues blushes. Lomans travel to the Downs next Thursday looking to get their first win of the season.
Team; Fiona Keating, Sandra McGrath, Muireann Scally, Emma Keena, Lara McCartan, Keelie Mulderry, Ellen Kilmurray, Annie Kilmurray, Vicky Carr, Rachel McKenna, Shauna Traynor, Paige Matthews, Caoimhe Kilmurray (1.04), Ciara Blundell, Bridgie Heslin (1.00). Subs used; Sarah McManus (0.01), Evie Daly, Niamh McKenna, Lisa Owens and Amy Newman.
Clarkes Bar Junior Championship:
St Lomans Mullingar 1-09 The Downs 2-09
St Lomans welcomed the Downs to Lakepoint park on a scorching hot Friday evening with the hosts needing a win to have any chance of reaching the knockout stage. Eoghan Kenny got the scoring underway with a well taken point before the visitors found the net at the other end through Phillip Martin. The Blues responded with talisman David Morgan hitting a hat trick of points to level proceedings. The black and amber responded with two quickfire points to regain the lead. Tadhg Kenny halved the deficit with an excellent score before David Morgan’s free was dropped into net by a Downs defender to see The Blues take a two-point lead. Dylan Carroll’s point for the visitors was cancelled out by Cian Daly’s fisted point. Phillip Martin had the last word of the half with his point leaving the minimum between the teams at the interval.
The Visitors started the second half stronger outscoring the blues three points to one with David Morgan on target for the Blues to leave the teams level pegging going down the stretch. Morgan’s vital score put the Blues ahead with a vital point before the concession of a very soft goal saw the home side behind by two points once more. The sides exchanged points each, before the Blues were awarded a questionable penalty at the death. However, Morgan’s penalty was well saved and the Downs responded with a point at the other end through Phillip Martin to see them run out three point winners.
This defeat ends Robbie Kenny’s team’s chances of reaching the knockout stage. The Blues really ought to have won more games as they have been arguably the better side in many of their games but ultimately failed to make their hard work count on the scoreboard. The last quarter has been a real problem for the Blues where they relinquished leads to Killucan, Athlone and now the Downs. Lomans now face Garrycastle in what is effectively a dead rubber as far as the Mullingar men are concerned. On the night David Morgan performed well, as did Eoghan Kenny who has no doubt come on leaps and bounds in his first year of adult football.
Team; Rory Matthews, Kealan Sleator, Daire Smyth, Ciaran Smyth, Eoghan O’Keefe, Rory Sheahan, Conor Regan, Nedas Bielicas, David Morgan (1.06), Eoghan Kenny (0.01), Shane Boyce, Tadhg Kenny (0.01), Thomas Meehan, Conan O’Hara, Cian Daly (0.01). Subs used; James Kelly, Frank Kavanagh, Darren Kavanagh, Jack Tyrell.
Adult Fixtures:
Under 19 Championship:
St Lomans Mullingar vs Tubberclair
Thursday 18th August at 7pm in Lakepoint Park
Fairgreen Ladies Senior Championship:
St Lomans Mullingar vs The Downs
Thursday 18th August at 7pm in Kevin Molloy Park
Senior B Ladies Championship:
St Lomans Mullingar vs Moate All Whites
Saturday 20h August at 7pm in Lakepoint park
Best of luck to all teams
Club Lotto:
Draw Date: Thursday 11th August
This week’s jackpot: €10,000.00
Numbers drawn: 4, 7, 17, 28
No Jackpot Winner
Next Week’s Draw Date: Thursday 18th August
Remember it could be you
