Matthews’ late scores seal St Loman’s victory in thriller

St Loman's, Mullingar 2-12, The Downs 2-9

By Paul Hughes

St Loman’s, Mullingar secured the Westmeath U16 Division 1 football league title on a roasting hot Friday evening last, defeating The Downs 2-12 to 2-9 in a thrilling final at Lakepoint Park.

Despite a black card reducing them to 14 men early in the second half, which led to The Downs equalising courtesy of a James Heffernan goal, St Loman’s ultimately prevailed. Cian Matthews was pivotal, scoring a first-half goal and kicking crucial scores in stoppage time to seal the win.

The Downs’ efforts, including a late goal from Ben Loughlin and six points from Aaron Connaire, led to a dramatic finish, but St Loman’s held on for a three-point victory.

The black and ambers nearly had an ideal start when, shortly after the throw-in, Finn Brennan broke downfield and fed Aaron Connaire, whose low shot went agonisingly wide for the visitors. For a moment, it seemed destined for the bottom corner.

Jamie McDonnell opened the scoring for St Loman’s, followed by Michael Brennan tacking on a two-point free. Connaire then missed a placed ball before scoring his first point from another free. As St Loman’s struggled with kickouts, Conor Cleary found his range for The Downs after the hosts lost possession in the centre.

After some nervous moments St Loman’s regained their composure and on 10 minutes, carved The Downs open before Cathal Kilmurray teed up Cian Matthews, who shot low to the net. A minute later, they almost had a second when Shane Canning had his goalbound shot blocked by The Downs’ Alexander Graham.

After Eoghan Daly (The Downs) and Brennan (St Loman’s) traded scores, the Saints led 1-4 to 0-3 at the water break, but on the restart the black and ambers enjoyed a period of dominance. Conor Cleary went just wide with a potshot, and by the 24th minute their deficit was down to just two points after scores from Aidan Tuite (after a patient move) and Aaron Connaire (a curled effort).

The Downs had plenty of space but St Loman’s marked tighter from there and shut down this purple patch. The visitors had a call for a penalty waved away after Aidan Tuite went to ground, and at the other end Michael Brennan set up Cathal Kilmurray for a fine score. Jack Daly added a point on 26 minutes and going into the break, Loman’s were four clear.However, they had a less-than-ideal end to the half when corner back Sean O’Connell was black-carded for a trip on Conor Cleary, and Connaire dispatched the resultant free to leave it 1-6 to 0-6 at the short whistle.

With a numerical advantage, The Downs emerged in confident fashion but kicked two wides, one of several costly misses in the second half. These were briefly forgotten when James Heffernan found the net with a placed left-footed finish, levelling matters.

St Loman’s needed a quick response and got one when Shane Canning pointed within a minute, but at the other end they narrowly survived a second goal from The Downs when Cleary’s fly-kicked shot was deflected wide. They missed the subsequent ‘45’.

St Loman’s then got three boosts in a short space of time. Sean O’Connell re-entered the fray after the end of his black card exile, Killian Raleigh came off the bench to score an excellent point after a well-worked move, and on 41 minutes, Michael Brennan was the provider for a goal from Jack Connaughton.

Matthews and Connaire traded frees before the second water break, and by the 53rd minute Loman’s had built up a five-point lead after MJ Long pointed following some good work on the right flank.

The Downs had the best of the ensuing five minutes, though continuing to draw blanks. Connaire hit the crossbar and Josh Murtagh had his follow-up blocked. Then, on 56 minutes, Connaire converted a free and, moments later, Aidan Doyle set Ben Loughlin through on goal to smash a left-footed shot to the net.

The Downs had chances to level up the one-point game, but they came to nought, and in stoppage time Cian Matthews settled the St Loman’s jitters with a superb free from a tight angle, following this up with another point from play right at the death.

St Loman’s prevailed by three, and at full-time, Westmeath referees’ co-ordinator Sean Carroll, on behalf of Westmeath GAA county board, presented the Division 1 shield to St Loman’s captain Tom Weir.

Scorers - St Loman’s: C Matthews 1-3 (0-2f), M Brennan 0-3 (1 2ptf), J Connaughton 1-0, J McDonnell, C Kilmurray, J Daly, S Canning, K Raleigh and MJ Long 0-1 each. The Downs: A Connaire 0-6 (5f), J Heffernan and B Loughlin 1-0 each, C Cleary, E Daly and A Tuite 0-1 each.

St Loman’s, Mullingar: James McHugh; Cathal Flanagan, Tom Weir, Sean O’Connell; Shane Canning, Mark Gallagher, Oisín Scally; Michael Brennan, MJ Long; Jack Daly, Cian Matthews, Jamie McDonnell; Cathal Kilmurray, Jack Connaughton, Billy Lambden. Subs used: Killian Raleigh for McDonnell (inj., 39), McDonnell for Scally (51), Tony Brennan for Lambden (59).

The Downs: Conor Walters; Alexander Graham, Fionn Kelly, Adam Slevin Kiernan; Ciarán McGrath, Ciarán Casserly, James Heffernan; Finn Brennan, Conor Cleary; Aidan Doyle, Eoghan Daly, Ben Loughlin; Aidan Tuite, Aaron Connaire, Josh Murtagh. Subs used: Ódhran McColgan for Tuite (45), Adam Hughes for McGrath (50).

Ref: Cathal Boland (St Joseph’s).