Brilliant Byrne brace decisive as Milltown retain title
Fairgreen Shopping Centre Westmeath Ladies’ Senior Football Championship Final: Milltown 0-14, St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge 0-13
Gerry Buckley reports
Two superb late points by Gráinne Byrne enabled Milltown to eke out a win by the narrowest of margins against St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge in a pulsating Westmeath ladies’ senior football final in Kinnegad yesterday afternoon (Saturday).
As had been widely expected, there was never much between the sides and it was St Mary’s who led by 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval, five of their points coming from the boot of centre half forward Megan Brick.
Milltown never led until the 43rd minute when Sarah Dillon converted a free. It was 0-11 apiece approaching the hour mark when Milltown were awarded a penalty. Brick came back to stand in as goalkeeper and duly pulled off a great save from Dillon’s spot kick. However, Bronagh Beglan crucially pointed from the rebound.
It was left to Byrne to win the day with a superb brace, albeit St Mary’s spurned a couple of last-gasp opportunities to force extra-time.
After the game, the chairperson of the Westmeath LGFA, Geraldine Giles, presented the Jack Lyster Cup to the winning captain Bronagh Beglan, and the player of the match award to Gráinne Byrne.
Scorers – Milltown: S Dillon 0-7 (5f), G Byrne 0-3, B Beglan and L Slevin (1f) 0-2 each. St Mary’s: M Brick 0-9 (6f), N McDermott, M Brady, A Balfe and A Brady 0-1 each.
Milltown: Karen Walsh; Aoife Kenny, Jennifer Rogers, Emma Ballesty; Emma Murtagh, Kelly Boyce Jordan, Laura Kiernan; Leanne Slevin, Tracey Dillon; Bronagh Beglan, Gráinne Byrne, Rachel Dillon; Kate Whyte, Sinéad Boyce, Sarah Dillon. Sub used: Orlaith Sheerin for Slevin (inj., 52).
St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge: Sinéad Hanlon; Jennifer Whelehan, Dawn Wallace, Aoife Moran; Niamh Carey, Karen McDermott, Fiona Coyle; Niamh McDermott, Caitríona Dunne; Lisa Cully, Megan Brick, Michaela Brady; Ava Balfe, Nicola Judge, Aoife Brady. Subs used: Jennifer Judge for N Judge (39), Rebecca Nolan for Carey (44).
Ref: John Gallagher (Ballinasloe).