O’Hara strikes twice as St Loman’s girls win entertaining minor final

Westmeath Ladies’ Minor Football Championship Division 1 Final: St Loman’s, Mullingar 3-10, Milltownpass 1-9

Gerry Buckley reports

The minor lady footballers from St Loman’s, Mullingar were deservedly crowned as Westmeath champions at the end of a very entertaining contest played in cold but dry conditions at a well-appointed and well-attended Rochfortbridge earlier this afternoon, albeit the girls in all-blue were somewhat flattered by their seven-point winning margin.

Indeed, the game was very much in the balance well into the final quarter with wind-assisted Milltownpass trailing by just a goal and with a decent share of possession. However, Méabh O’Hara’s second goal swung the tie firmly the way of the Mullingar girls despite the best efforts of their opponents in all-black.

St Loman’s had the aid of a useful wind blowing towards the all-weather pitch end of the ground in the first half. The respective number 12s, Sadbh Gorman (a free) and the aforementioned O’Hara (a fine score from open play) traded early points. Naomi McNamee (play) and Paige Matthews (a free) swapped scores before the outstanding Gorman slotted over a tricky free to nudge Milltownpass in front in the ninth minute.

Some four minutes later, St Loman’s went into a lead they would never relinquish when a dipping shot from O’Hara found the net. On the quarter-hour mark, Gorman converted a free via the crossbar, but the Mullingar Blues had most of the possession at this juncture and they rifled over four points without reply between the 18th and 23rd minutes, all from frees – Katie Kilmurray (one left-footed kick) and Matthews (a hat-trick with her right foot).

Amber Geoghegan pulled off a great double save, but an attack from the resultant quickly-taken ‘45’ resulted in a penalty to St Loman’s. However, Kilmurray’s spot kick was wide of the target via the post. Eimear Doonan then did well to hold the ball from a Gorman free at the other end.

In the 29th minute, many in the vociferous crowd jumped for joy when Kilmurray scored a sensational goal after a lengthy solo goalward. This left her side ahead by 2-6 to 0-4 at the break.

Early in the second moiety, Keelie Mulderry was sin-binned and Gorman converted the ensuing free kick. Matthews responded with a free at the other end. In the 38th minute, a Gorman free caused a bit of panic in the St Loman’s rearguard, but three rapid-fire goal chances were blocked.

Undaunted, however, Milltownpass pounced for a great goal within a minute via Caoimhe Coogan. A quickfire brace of quality points followed from play by Gorman. The gap was now just a goal (2-7 to 1-7).

Ellen Kilmurray scored an opportunist point for St Loman’s approaching the midpoint of the second half. This was soon cancelled out by Erin Cleary. However, O’Hara raised her second green flag of the afternoon in the 49th minute and another very good free conversion by Matthews put the winners seven points clear with ten minutes of normal time remaining.

Another fine free from Gorman left the gap at two goals (3-9 to 1-9). Katie Kilmurray rounded off match scoring with a very good free in the 56th minute. Milltownpass tried to manufacture a goal in the closing moments, but a resolute St Loman’s defence would not be breached.

After the match, the chairperson of the Westmeath Ladies Football Board, Geraldine Giles, presented the cup to the winning captain from St Loman’s, Mullingar, Annie Kilmurray.

Scorers - St Loman’s, Mullingar: M O’Hara 2-1, P Matthews 0-6f, K Kilmurray 1-2 (0-2f), E Kilmurray 0-1. Milltownpass: S Gorman 0-7 (5f), C Coogan 1-0, N McNamee and E Cleary 0-1 each.

St Loman’s, Mullingar: Eimear Doonan; Abbie Norris, Keelie Mulderry, Eve Scally; Aoibhe Hogan, Lara McCartan, Ellen Kilmurray; Annie Kilmurray, Shauna Treanor; Jayne Charles, Caoimhe Kilmurray, Méabh O’Hara; Rachel McKenna, Katie Kilmurray, Paige Matthews. Subs used: Niamh McGinley for Hogan (45), Shannon Breslin for Norris (48), Kate McDonald for Matthews (60+3).

Milltownpass: Amber Geoghegan; Amber Boyce, Ellen Flanagan, Caoimhe Gavin; Orlagh O’Brien, Claire Gaffney, Sorcha Gallagher; Caoimhe Coogan, Alanna Coogan; Naomi McNamee, Erin Cleary, Sadhbh Gorman; Kelly Burke, Caoimhe Burke, Kacey Boyce. Subs used: Charlotte Butler-Clyne for K Boyce (45), Lucy Rossiter for Gavin (53).

Ref: Paul O’Malley (Killucan).