Fallon to the fore as Coosan overcome Loughegar
Coosan NS 1-11 Loughegar NS 1-6
Coosan NS claimed the Division 2 football title on Wednesday afternoon of last week, following an entertaining encounter with Scoil Mhuire, Loughegar.
Having claimed the Division 1 hurling title earlier in the week with many of the same players, Loughegar opened the scoring with a point from Conor Raleigh.
Coosan's first score came from Player of the Match Aodhán Fallon, who finished the game with six points to his name.
The first half was an open affair with both sides attacking from the first whistle. A goal from Cillian Silke and a brace of points from Aodhán Fallon (a son of former Athlone and Westmeath star Joe Fallon) and a pointed free from Senan Kelly kept the scoreboard ticking over for Coosan.
Loughegar gave as good as they got in the first half with overs coming from Killian Raleigh and Adam Slevin Kiernan, who both scored a brace of pointed frees.
The team from just outside Mullingar took the lead in the 17th minute when a well struck shot by Luke Dowling was deflected past Sachin Sundaresan in the Coosan goal.
Two late points from Sean Kelly (a free) and Joey Dunne ensured that Coosan went in at the break with a slender 1-6 to 1-5 lead.
In a cagey opening to the second half, Coosan extended their lead with a second point from Joey Dunne. Loughegar replied with a pointed free from the impressive Killian Raleigh in the 12th minute, but for the remainder of the half Coosan managed to keep them scoreless.
Much to the delight of their vocal support who made the journey to Mullingar, Coosan scored a further four points without reply, the first being a well struck point from the industrious Silke. The Athlone side followed that with three scores from Fallon, which included two frees.
Coosan were undoubtedly worthy winners on the day, but Loughegar can look back on their performance with satisfaction as they more than held own against very strong opponents for the vast majority of the game.
Scorers - Coosan NS: Aodhán Fallon 0-6 (4f), Cillian Silke 1-1, Joey Dunne 0-2, Senan Kelly 0-2 (2f). Loughegar NS: Luke Dowling 1-0, Killian Raleigh 0-3 (3f), Adam Slevin Kiernan 0-2 (2f), Conor Raleigh 0-1.
Coosan NS: Sachin Sundaresan, Cian Mannion, Jamie Costello, Fionn Mackin, Corey Kelly, Conor McEnroe, Ruairí Nicholson, Frank Petit, Bruno Aymerich, Cillian Silke, Joey Dunne, Senan Kelly, Aodhán Fallon, Finn Sheridan, Fergal Kelly, Eoghan McCormack, Robert Connor, Evan Martin-Cummins, Harry Cunningham, Aidan Martin, Luke Clarke, Luca Sabatani O'Rourke, Brian Feeney, Aaron Costello, Harry McEnroe, Daniel Sleator, Daniel Donegan.
Scoil Mhuire NS, Loughegar: James McHugh, Ruairí Heffernan, James Nea, Cillian Galvin, Declan Bourke, Antonio Bertolo, Luke Dowling, Adam Slevin Kiernan, Padraic Craig, Killian Raleigh, Conor Raleigh, Dara Moran, Charlie Brennan, Louis Kiernan, Liam Doyle, Keelan Harvey.
Referee: Mick Gordon (Shandonagh).