Milltown ladies retain senior title as The Downs are denied

Milltown ladies are back as Westmeath senior football champions following a terrific victory over The Downs at TEG Cusack Park on Sunday.

Manager Tom Dillon paid tribute to the character of his team and said the players’ terrific work ethic has taken them to the top level.

“That’s seven titles in 11 years for Milltown ladies. They won in 2007 and they won one in 2011, but in the last 11 years they are after getting seven titles, a great record. There are a few who have been involved in them all, three or four,” he observed. “We have two or three new players every year. Our underage has won nothing since I don’t know; I think we won a minor title when Bird (Rachel Dillon) was a minor. That’s seven years ago. Whatever is going on they are keeping it lit.”

Milltown knew they faced a tough opponent in The Downs in Sunday’s decider. The black and ambers were appearing in their first senior decider and had given Milltown a solid test in the earlier stages.

“It was a great start for The Downs, a goal after 15 seconds. All those things keep you on your toes,” noted Dillon.

“We played The Downs earlier on in the championship. It finished 1-6 to 0-6. The Downs should have scored a goal just on half-time, but we missed two sitters as well. We knew coming in here today - it is The Downs’ first final and they wanted to make an impression,” he remarked.

“We tried to get stuck in from the start and keep going. The Downs got an unbelievable start. We brought it back then, straight down the field and scored – a great response. We got it back to a draw, then we went a point up. No final is easy won.”

The winning manager paid tribute to his side’s defensive work as well as their attacking exploits.

“It started from our back line. I don’t know how many times we took it off them down there and converted it into strikes. You have Kelly Boyce-Jordan, you have Laura Kiernan, you have Tracy Dillon, the work that Tracy does is unbelievable,” he observed.

“People probably don’t see it often enough. There are a few players there and the work they do, they are pure workhorses, but I think Tracy, she dispossessed (players) and was harshly done with a few frees, I thought.”

Quick transition is the key to success in Gaelic football, he suggests.

“The quick breakout is vital. My motto is, get the ball from one goals to the other as quickly as you’re able. We did it a few times. We got some great scores. Scut (Sarah Dillon) got some great scores, Leanne got some great frees, Clodagh Dillon as well,” he recalled.

“I have to go back to the Bird again, my own three little women, absolutely, so proud of them. I’m so proud of my own and of the rest of them.”

It’s a team backboned by one family: Tracy, Rachel and Sarah Dillon are sisters, while Clodagh is their cousin. They are a very united team.

“We had a bereavement there a couple of weeks ago (Kelly Nagle). That gave great motivation for the women, to drive them on, to keep going. When you are tired, think of the little things we are talking about: that’s the message,” he remarked.

Milltown will now aim to make an impact in Leinster and with the quality they have, it would be no surprise to see that happen.

“We’re out again next Sunday. We play the Wicklow champions Tinahely in a Leinster senior home game. They beat us by one score last year and three of our starters were gone on holidays, so who knows what can happen. We are going to enjoy ourselves for a couple of nights first,” he said, paying tribute to The Downs for their effort.

“Hats off to The Downs. It was their first final. They probably were a bit jittery. You can’t beat a bit of experience. As I said to the women, if we do go a few points down we won’t panic. We take every game as it comes; we never ever think ahead,” he added.

Meanwhile, The Downs joint manager Johnny Murray was full of praise for his players.

“We could have got another couple of goals. Milltown crammed up the square, they knew exactly what to do, but we conceded to a better team on the day but it's progress for The Downs. It’s the first final in our history. We talk about pushing underage forward and there is great work being done,” he said.