Superior Milltownpass stroll to junior final success

Gerry Buckley reportsA power-packed display in the second half saw Milltownpass crowned as Westmeath junior football champions for the first time in 30 years at Cusack Park last Sunday afternoon, with a gallant Milltown side running out of steam on the change of ends.The battle of the clubs with similar-sounding names was particularly entertaining in a closely-contested first moiety, at the end of which the winners led by just two points. However, Milltownpass’ superior craft shone through in the second half-hour with a goal apiece from centre half forward Noel O’Reilly and substitute David Devine in the 39th and 57th minutes respectively a fair measure of the gap between the two sides. Despite an outstanding midfield display by team captain Francis McLoughlin for the losers, Billy Flanagan’s charges always looked the better-balanced outfit, with will-o’-the-wisp corner forward Andy Devine a constant threat to the Milltown defence.The men in green and white had wind advantage in the first half, but it was Milltownpass who took the lead in the second minute, Andy Devine converting a tricky free after he had been fouled in the first of his many direct raids on the Milltown goalmouth. A brace of points from Joe Kenny - the first a neat effort from play after a loose clearance from the Milltownpass defence, and the second a free after Fergal Reilly was fouled - edged Jimmy O’Neill’s troops ahead by the seventh minute.Kevin Reid (who replaced Paul O’Reilly from the original selection in the match programme) equalised with a well-struck free from the ground, after another foul on the ever-dangerous Andy Devine. Reid nudged Milltownpass ahead in the 11th minute from a routine free, this time after Seamus Faulkner was impeded. Both sides missed a decent opportunity each before Fergal Reilly tied up the scores again at the midpoint of the half, rounding off a fine move with a neat point. Stephen Somers, who was shaping up well at midfield beside the impressive Francis McLoughlin, was knocked off the ball in a good position, before Andy Devine came up with the score of the game when he skilfully picked up the ball and pointed with aplomb with the outside of his boot.Milltown levelled again in the 18th minute, courtesy of a fine point from Joe Kenny, albeit aided by what seemed a dubious hand pass from Damien Gunning. With exactly 20 minutes on the clock, the winners went into a lead they would never relinquish when an astute flick by Andy Devine teed up Emmett Brennan (who replaced Darragh O’Connor at corner forward from the programme listing) and the number 18 pointed well under pressure. Kevin Reid soon added another point, after a great solo run. With five minutes of normal time remaining in the first half, Francis McLoughlin was fouled and the midfielder dusted himself down and duly slotted over the resultant 30-metre free from his hands.Milltownpass fans were soon on their feet when they saw the net shaking, but Seamus Faulkner’s shot had hit the side netting. A significant delay while Milltown’s Bernard Kiernan received treatment contributed to the five minutes added on in the first moiety and, in the first of these, Noel O’Reilly fisted a point after a short solo run. A wild wide from Shane Gleeson was the last action of the half with the scoreboard reading: Milltownpass 0-7 Milltown 0-5.The men in white and black extended their lead with just a half-minute played in the second half, Shane Gleeson picking out Emmett Brennan for a well-taken point from an acute angle. Milltownpass spurned two further chances, including a ‘45’, but David Wright had better luck in the sixth minute when he rounded off a fine move with a neat point. Some three minutes later, the margin was seven points in Milltownpass’ favour when Milltown’s Damien Gunning was blocked in a dangerous position and a swift counterattack saw Andy Devine lay the ball off instinctively to Noel O’Reilly who calmly rolled the ball past Damien Byrne for a terrific goal.Milltown’s woes were compounded when Michael Connell received a straight red card, just a matter of minutes after he had been introduced. Indeed, it got even worse for the men in green and white when Joe Kenny missed a very scoreable free. His team-mate Francis McLoughlin soon had better luck from a placed ball, but this was quickly cancelled out by Kevin Reid, also from a free, taken from the ground. Francis McLoughlin’s never-say-die spirit saw him add on a further brace of points for the losers, both from frees. However, the champions-elect wrapped up match scoring with an unanswered 1-1, substitute David Devine swooping for a fine goal and Dermot Faulkner getting his name on the scoresheet with the last kick of the match, from a free.After the game, the Chairman of the Westmeath Football Board, Des Maguire presented the cup to an overjoyed Milltownpass captain, Shane Gleeson.Milltownpass: Gary Brady; Paul Brady, Damien Loran, Shane Gammill; Stephen Treacy, Fintan O’Reilly, Shane Gleeson (capt); Shane Flanagan, Dermot Faulkner (0-1, from a free); Seamus Faulkner, Noel O’Reilly (1-1), Kevin Reid (0-4, 0-3 from frees); Emmett Brennan (0-2), David Wright (0-1), Andy Devine (0-2, 0-1 from a free). Subs: David Devine (1-0) (for Brennan, 44 mins), Shane Donoghue (for S.Faulkner, 58 mins), Paul O’Reilly (for Treacy, 60 + 1 mins), Ciaran Wright (for Reid, 60 + 1 mins).Milltown: Damien Byrne; Ciaran Byrne, Conor Reilly, Bernard McKiernan; John Mahon, Conor Farrell, Paul Heduan; Stephen Somers, Francis McLoughlin (capt) (0-4, all from frees); Paul Mahon, Damien Gunning, Willie Keegan; Joe Kenny (0-3, 0-1 from a free), Fergal Reilly (0-1), Alan Geraghty. Subs: Sean Somers (for Geraghty, 30 + 2 mins), Michael Connell (for P.Mahon, 36 mins), Michael Ward (for Gunning, 39 mins), Louis Fagan (for Kenny, 50 mins), Donal Kenny (for Keegan, 53 mins).Referee: Liam McDaniel (Ballinagore).