Super Saints far too good

St. Lomans booked their place in the quarter-final of this year's championship with a comfortable with against a disappointing Athlone in Cusack Park, Mullingar on Sunday evening last. They did so with a display of shooting power and cohesion that their opponent could not match and in truth the five point winning margin does them scant justice. After an eminently forgettable first half in which neither side played anything near their potential, the Mullingar Blues upped their performance considerably and playing with the aid of a strong breeze they dominated in all sectors. John Heslin, at the middle of the field, played well beyond his tender years and he more than anyone was the spark that lit many of the Lomans flames while Conor Lynam in attack was a constant torment to the Shannonsiders.Athlone's cause was certainly not helped when full back Paul Mullen received a straight red card but even at that stage the game had run away from Athlone and despite a fabulous personal haul of nine points from Joe Fallon, Athlone played second fiddle to a far hungrier and in truth more skilful Lomans 15 that are meshing nicely as the business end of the Championship approaches.The game started in a busy fashion as both sides looked for supremacy and a John Connellan free got the ball rolling but Paul Sharry levelled matters from a similar free for Lomans, A superbly struck Joe Fallon free and then a fine score from distance by Connellan put Athlone two to the good but Conor Lynam got one back with a fisted effort and it possibly could have been more. Dermot McManus could have goaled at the other end but for some brave defending by the Lomans rearguard as both his efforts were repelled and on the break Paddy Dowdall levelled matters for the blues with a fine strike. Willie McGovern and Conor Lynam combined for the latter to score a well constructed point but Fallons deadly accuracy from the dead ball kept Athlone on an even keel. The same two players exchanged scores moments later, each as good as the other and they more than anyone were keeping the score board ticking over for their sides. Sharry pointed another free for Lomans as the Athlone defence began to foul their way out of contention but that man Fallon again levelled with a sweet strike from a 45 that sailed at least 20 yards over the bar and after Conor Cochrane had missed a guilt edged chance on the stroke of half time the teams went in level at 6 points apieceAfter the break the momentum swing was all in St. Lomans favour and they were rewarded for their dominance when Conrad Reilly kicked a monster kick to put his side back in front. Athlone were beginning to struggle and Lomans sensed that they could put their opponents away and another long range effort this time from Kieran ran Lynam put them two ahead. Fallon's deadly accuracy from dead ball kept the Athlone score ticking over but it was merely finger in the dyke stuff as Lomans were playing at a far higher intensity and began to shift up another gear. Conor Lynam pounced on a poor defensive error from Athlone to score a lovely point and then Tommy Lambden added another from just inside his own half that was worth the admission money alone. Fallon got another back for Athlone from a free but John Heslin nullified that with a monster free to restore the three point gap. Another Fallon free narrowed the gap momentarily and the Lomans defence were giving away far too many easy frees to the Athlone dead ball expert but a midfield muddle by the Shannonsiders set Heslin loose and he kicked a marvellous point from long range to set his team up for a grandstand finish. Athlone were then reduced to 14 men when Paul Mullen was shown a straight red after an altercation with Kieran Lynam and from that point on there really was only one winner and Paul Sharry put four between the sides after an elementary mistake by the Athlone defence. Fallon kept up his one man crusade for Athlone with another free after tempers boiled over just a little but persistence by Kieran Lynam set up Tommy Lambden and the big midfielder made no mistake from the 21 yard line. A beautifully converted Heslin free put five between the sides and it was little more than the Blues deserved as they really played with abandon and began to open the shoulders. Fallon narrowed the gap momentarily for Athlone with another free and in the process of conceding it Kenny McKinley was shown a second yellow card and received his marching orders but Conrad Reilly finished the game in style with a beautiful score that epitomised Lomans superiority and booked their place in the quarter final with some ease it must be said.Heslin and Lambden were superb at midfield for Lomans and kicked five point between them while Conor Lynam kicked four superb scores from play and was possibly just their man of the match.At the back Paddy Dowdall, Davitt and Gary Glennon were excellent while Conrad Reilly was another Lomans player to shine on a night when a lot of Lomans players shone brightly. For Athlone Fallon was superb both from the dead ball and general play while Fergal Murray was another to give his all but apart from brief cameos by John Connellan, Tom Stuart Trainor and Rory O'Connell, Athlone were simply just not good enough on the night and the score line reflected that.Scorers: St. Lomans: Conor Lynam 0-4, Paul Sharry (2 frees) and John Heslin (1 free) 0-3, Conrad Reilly and Tommy Lambden 0-2 each, Kieran Lynam and Paddy Dowdall 0-1 each. Athlone: Joe Fallon 0-9, 7 frees 1 '45, John Connellan 0-2, 1 free.St. Lomans: Stephen Gallagher, Sean Murphy, James Davitt, Kenny McKinley, Gary Glennon, Paddy Dowdall, Senan Russell, Tommy Lambden, John Heslin, Conrad Reilly, Willie McGovern, Conor Lynam, Paul Sharry, Kieran Lynam, Conor Cochrane. Subs: Adrian Gilmore for Cochrane 42 mins, John Plunkett for Sharry 53 mins.Athlone: Richie Daly, Paddy Dunning, Paul Mullen, Fergal Murray, Enda Haughey, Damian Kelly, Alan Kelly, Alan Gaughan, Paul Bannon, Joe Fallon, Tom Stuart Trainor, Micky Greene, Dermot McManus, Rory O'Connell, John Connellan. Subs: John Stapleton for Haughey 29 mins, James Tobin for Greene 42 mins, Declan Byrne for Stapleton 53 mins.Referee: Barry Kelly, Mullingar Shamrocks.