Kilmurray point seals victory for superior St Loman’s side

St Loman's Mullingar 0-8 Mullingar Shamrocks 0-6

It was a Blue Sunday in Moynihan Park, Ballynacargy as St Loman’s, Mullingar overcame their closest rivals in front of a great crowd to deservedly claim the Westmeath U13 Division 1 football title.

For Mullingar Shamrocks it was a roller coaster of a weekend that saw them land a minor title on Saturday before losing out in this final. St Loman’s led throughout and had four points to spare on three separate occasions and while Mullingar Shamrocks chased relentlessly, they were forced to give second best at the end of a gripping contest.

A neat point by Cathal Kilmurray gave the saints a 0-8 to 0-4 lead after 56 minutes and while Colm Clinton landed two late frees for a gritty Mullingar Shamrocks side, it wasn’t enough to rescue the situation. In a frantic finish, St Loman’s had to defend fiercely as Clinton dropped a free into the square, but the ball was scrambled away when it broke loose.

St Loman’s, Mullingar, who led by 0-6 to 0-2 at half-time, managed only four scores from play, Shamrocks just two. In that respect it was a disappointing spectacle, but that can happen with a reduced pitch size and smaller goals. Overall, the players on both sides were immense in terms of their application and work rate and there was some fine tackling including a few great blocks at different stages.

Victory ensured a league and championship double for a talented St Loman’s, Mullingar outfit, who won the league final between the two sides earlier in the season.

In ideal conditions and amid beautiful autumn sunshine, the two teams started very tentatively and there was no score for the opening nine minutes. It was then that the impressive Michael Brennan popped up with a fine point from a ‘45’ off the turf - a wonderful finish.

Mullingar Shamrocks, having been the more profligate, eventually got off the mark when Colm Clinton converted a free. After Senan Brady missed a chance under pressure, Luke Fitzsimons notched a free to put St Loman’s ahead again with 16 minutes played and it was a lead they would never relinquish.

Cathal Kilmurray linked up with fellow corner forward Jack Corroon, whose first time shot flashed over the crossbar. Kilmurray, having shot a wide, landed a brace of frees to make it 0-5 to 0-1 by the 25th minute and the Blues had a strong grip on the match at this stage.

Midfielder Oliver Keane pulled a point back for Mullingar Shamrocks, but a slick move saw Michael Long, Billy Lambden and Michael Brennan all combine for the latter to score a good point. And that ensured St Loman’s of a four-point lead at the break.

IMPRESSIVE SHOOTING

The second half was five minutes old before a pointed free by the impressive Scott Farrelly (from 35 metres) reduced the leeway, after Shay Leavy’s effort was off target for the boys in Green. St Loman’s had penalty claims then when Billy Lambden went down in the square, but a free out was the outcome of a consultation among the officials.

There were no goals in this final, but Scott Farrelly tried in the 42nd minute only to fire a shot straight at the alert James McHugh, who got his body behind the ball and kept it out.

It was a good period for Mullingar Shamrocks, who cut the leeway to just two points when Eoin Reddan’s pass found Theo Kelly, who shot over. Kelly’s excellent block (after he had been well tackled) ensured Mullingar Shamrocks kept the pressure on the leaders, but the scores they needed didn’t materialise and they found the St Loman’s defence an uncompromising unit.

The lead was back to four points by the 57th minute: Michael Brennan kicked a fine left-footed point from 25 metres and Cathal Kimurray followed it with a neat left-footed strike. It highlighted, perhaps their more impressive shooting skills and in terms of execution, they always seemed to have the edge.

The Blues had the chance to seal it then when Senan Brady was through, but he shot wide with a loose player to his right. The saints finished the game with 14 men after substitute Matthew Tully picked up a black card as Mullingar Shamrocks pressed hard for the scores that would take this final to extra-time.

Alas, all they could muster were two pointed frees from Colm Clinton, who blasted a shot over the crossbar in the third minute of added time. The winners had something of an immovable object in what was quite a cohesive back line and they repelled their opponents’ every effort.

After the game, Barry Kelly, chairman of Westmeath’s Coiste na nÓg, presented the cup to the winning captain Michael Brennan. The chairman commended both sides for their contribution to a gripping final and the respective coaches for their input. Certainly the future appears to be bright for the two Mullingar clubs based on what they have produced at this grade during the season.

Scorers - St Loman’s: C Kilmurray 0-3 (2f), M Brennan 0-3 (1 ‘45’), L Fitzsimons (free) and J Corroon 0-1 each.

Mullingar Shamrocks: C Clinton 0-3 (3f), S Farrelly (free), O Keane and T Kelly 0-1 each.

St Loman’s, Mullingar: James McHugh; Conor Raleigh, Jack Daly, Eoin McGinley; Harry Brennan, Sean O’Connell, Michael Long; Michael Brennan, Shane Canning; Billy Lambden, Senan Brady, Luke Fitzsimons; Jack Corroon, Killian Raleigh, Cathal Kilmurray. Subs: Matthew Tully for J Corroon, Páidí Slevin for C Raleigh.

Mullingar Shamrocks: Tom McCaul; Sean Dooley, Carl Keane, MJ Burke; Manus Kelly, Shay Leavy, Conor Glynn; Oliver Keane, Scott Farrelly; Theo Kelly, Marias Buividavicius, Fionn Ledwith; Darragh Daly, Colm Clinton, Eoin Reddan. Subs: Conor Matthews for M Buividavicius, Eddie Leavy for F Ledwith, Jamie Timoney for D Daly.

Ref: Enda Kelly (Castledaly).