Super Scahill sends Shandonagh soaring

Shandonagh 4-11, St Loman’s Mullingar 2-6

The prodigious Will Scahill scored 2-7 as Shandonagh swept to victory over St Loman’s, Mullingar, in the Westmeath U15 Division 1 football final, at The Downs on Bank Holiday Monday.

Conditions were wet and greasy making it tricky for both sides but the players showed wonderful skill all through. In a remarkable individual performance, Scahill was the pivotal figure for a hugely impressive Shandonagh side and certainly the club has a bright future with such talent breaking through.

St Loman’s, Mullingar showed terrific character to stay in the game for so long and it wasn’t until that quick brace of goals from McWade and Scahill that Shandonagh finally got free of their opponents’ clutches.

McWade found the roof of the net in the 49th minute after a long ball over the top put him clear, while two minutes later, Scahill finished low past the opposing 'keeper when McWade's pass put him through.

Shandonagh led by 2-3 to 1-3 at half-time and it was nicely poised with 15 minutes remaining as the Kipatrick outfit held a slender lead (2-7 to 2-6). However, those two aforementioned goals gave Shandonagh a thoroughly deserved victory and had they been just a little more clinical in front of goal, the title could well have been wrapped up earlier.

Afterwards, Barry Kelly, Coiste na nÓg chairman, presented the cup to winning Shandonagh captain Sean Graham and the celebrations began.

Scorers - Shandonagh: W SCahill 2-7 (0-4f), S McWade 1-3 (0-2f), J Scahill 1-0, D Burke 0-1.

St Loman’s, Mullingar: B Smith 1-1, C Maleady 1-0, C Casey 0-2, C Matthews, N Brady and S Windsor (free) 0-1 each.

Shandonagh: Jake Dempsey; Liam Bardon, Thomás Brennan, Eamonn Gannon; David O’Reilly, Tom O’Brien, Jake O’Brien; Fionn Carey, Mikey Fry; Sean Graham, Will Scahill, Matthew Webb; Stephen McWade, Dillon Burke, Josh Scahill. Sub used: Conor Walsh.

St Loman’s Mullingar: Seamus O’Brien; Andy Sinnott, Lucas Nugent, Adam McDonnell; Keelan Reilly, Niall Brady, Ross Tully; Shane Windsor, Cormac Murphy; Conor Maleady, Sean Byrne, Conor Casey; Cillian Walsh, Ben Smith, Enda Moran. Subs used: Cian Matthews, Oisín Scally, MJ Long, Sean Maleady, Patrick Carolan.

Ref: Paul McCaughey (Milltown).

Footnote: Prior to the game, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of Tom Lynn, a former Shandonagh player and proud club supporter, whose son Kyle was part of the winning panel.