Impressive McWade and Scahill lead Shan to victory

Last Tuesday evening saw a huge crowd turn out in Home Instead Lakepoint Park, where St Lomans Mullingar faced Shandonagh in the Under 15 Football Division 1 League final. Remarkably the Division 4 final took place at the same time on the 3g pitch in Lakepoint Park, St Lomans facing Caulry in that encounter. The great weather, coupled with the huge gathering of people made for a great evening of football.

The Division 1 final was a thoroughly entertaining affair from first minute to last, with St Loman’s Mullingar leading by 3-6 to 3-5 at half-time, following a gripping opening period.

The hosts started the stronger with Conor Casey pointing either side of placed balls from Niall Brady before Shane Winsdor got the Saints’ fourth. The visitors settled shortly afterwards with a Stephen McWade double closing the gap. Brady added to his tally with another free, but Shandonagh responded emphatically, hitting 2-02 courtesy of William Scahill and Stephen McWade.

The sides traded scores midway through the first half with Casey and Scahill on target for their respective sides. The game took another twist shortly afterwards with three goals for the Saints via Conor Maleady and a double from Enda Moran. On the stroke of half-time, Shandonagh reduced the arrears to the minimum with a truly stunning goal from top marksman Stephen McWade.

SUPERB

The Kilpatrick side sprung out of the traps in the second half and hit 1-2 without reply through a McWade goal and a pair of frees from Scahill. Four consecutive points from Cormac Murphy, Cillian Walsh and a double from substitute Ben Smith saw the sides level with fifteen minutes to play. However, it was Shandonagh who powered home in the final quarter to claim victory.

McWade hit a quickfire goal and point, his partner in crime Scahill did likewise and suddenly there were eight points between the teams. Niall Brady replied for the hosts, but Scahill found the net for the fourth time to seal the deal well and truly for Shandonagh. The teams ended with a couple of scores each through Conor Casey and Stephen McWade.

The huge crowd at Lakepoint Park was treated to a superb game of football with both sides battling hard for the full sixty minutes; the Saints contributed greatly and never gave in but ultimately Shandonagh ran out deserving winners on the night and claimed the trophy. It would be wrong not to mention it was a superb team performance from Shandonagh from one to fifteen, but Stephen McWade and William Scahill were magnificent on the night. Congratulations to all players and management teams.

Shandonagh team and scorers: Jake Dempsey, Conor Geoghan, Tomás Brennan, Conor Walsh, Michael Fry, Tom O’Brien, David Reilly, Eoghan Beehan, Fionn Carey (0-2), Sean Graham, Dillon Burke, Will Scahill (4-4), Stephen McWade (3-6), Dylan Collins, Josh Scahill. Subs: Matthew Webb for Dylan Collins, Liam Bardon for Conor Geoghan, Oliver Lynch for Matthew Webb. Rest of panel: Cillian Carey, Tom Fay, Adam Bawle, Daniel Geoghegan, Adam Tuite, Zack O'Brien, Jamie Lynch, Alex Cybula, Kyle Lynn, Jake O'Brien (injured).

St Loman's, Mullingar team and scorers: Seamus O’Brien, Adam Saunders, Lucas Nugent, Adam McCormack, Tommy McNamee, Sean Byrne, Ross Tully, Cormac Murphy (0-1), Conor Casey (0-4), Cillian Walsh (0-1), Shane Windsor (0-1), Conor Maleady (1-0), Keelan Reilly, Enda Moran (2-0), Niall Brady (0-3; 3f). Subs used: Ben Smith (0-2), Darragh Vickery, Sean Maleady, Patrick Carton, Darragh Riordan.

Ref: Enda Kelly (Castledaly).