U15 footballers edged out after extra-time

Coaching and games notes

U15 Football Dermot Earley Roscommon Cup

Limerick 2-17, Westmeath 2-12 (AET)

The effects of momentum shifts were fully on display last Saturday in Mick Neville Park Rathkeale as Limerick edged Westmeath out for the Dermot Earley Roscommon Cup after extra time. A late Limerick rally forced the game to extra-time and they carried this momentum through those 20 minutes to take the silverware on offer, despite the valiant efforts of the Lake County men.

In a game that took a while to get going, Westmeath made the better start and had the first three points of the game through Jamie Leech, Aidan Heduvan and a Charlie McGauran free. Some stout defending (with Peadar Baird winning a number of balls) meant the home side failed to score for the first twenty minutes but a free from the deck by Sam Newman settled them and this was followed by a Conor O'Dwyer effort from distance.

A McGauran pair from play extended the Westmeath lead before Newman pointed neatly. The final score of the half came from Leech and saw the team in maroon leading by 0-6 to 0-3 at the interval.

Leech opened the scoring after the break but this preceded a purple patch for the Treaty men who rattled off four points in a row through Alex Higgins, a Shay Looney pair and O'Dwyer. A Leech free stemmed the tide before Looney pointed to level the score at 0-8 apiece on the three-quarter mark.

McGauran and Giltinane traded frees before another free from Higgins put the home side in front for the first time. Sam Byrne soon levelled before another placed ball from Higgins had Limerick 0-11 to 0-10 in front entering the home straight.

Westmeath regained the lead in the 52nd minute with a Jamie Leech goal following a great catch from John Mitchell and good interplay with James Tierney. With Limerick now chasing the game, a Ciaran McGrath turnover led to a superb length of the field move which saw McGrath fouled with the goal at the mercy. Leech duly converted the penalty to place Westmeath into a 2-10 to 0-11 lead in the 56th minute.

Limerick were not done yet and a Giltinane free following a three up breach reduced the gap to four points. The Treaty men continued to press and a minute into injury time, O'Dwyer's shot through a forest of bodies ended up in the net to bring the gap to the minimum. The home side won the next kickout and patiently held the ball before Daniel Hunt kicked the equaliser to level at 2-10 to 1-13 and send the game to extra time.

This momentum continued with the team in green for the first half of extra time as they made most of the running in the first period. A pair of Higgins frees along with a close range Hunt effort delivered a three-point lead which could have been more only for stout Westmeath defending.

Trailing 1-16 to 2-10 at the break, Westmeath responded well on the resumption through a Leech free. An excellent Mitchell point in the 15th minute had the gap back to one with the momentum now with the Lakemen. With Westmeath pushing to equalise, a Limerick counterattack effectively sealed the game when Kian O'Keefe tapped home a loose ball from a Limerick shot. Another counterattack saw Hunt point again and the game finished with the home side 2-17 to 2-12 in front.

Westmeath Scorers: J Leech 2-5 (1-0 Pen, 0-2f), C McGauran 0-4 (0-2f), A Heduvan 0-1, J Mitchell 0-1, S Byrne 0-1.

Westmeath: James McHugh (St. Loman's), Ruairi Nicholson (Athlone), Calvin Collins (Killucan), Peader Baird (Inny Shamrocks), Billy Lambden (St. Loman's), John Mitchell (Moate All Whites), Aaron Mulvihill (Garrycastle), Callum Campbell (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Ollie Keane (Mullingar Shamrocks), Aidan Heduvan (Inny Shamrocks), Charlie McGauran (Millmore Gaels), Harry Sugrue (Shandonagh), Jamie Leech (Killucan), Jack McGuinness (St. Paul's), Cathal Kilmurray (St. Loman's), Jack Britton Keena (Inny Shamrocks), Joe Mulvey (St. Michael's), Ciaran McGrath (The Downs), Darragh Belton (Caulry), James Tierney (Tyrrellspass), Darragh Daly (Mullingar Shamrocks), Matthew Tully (St. Loman's), Sam Byrne (Millmore Gaels), Niall O'Byrne Cleary (St. Mary's), Theo Kelly (Mullingar Shamrocks), Jamie Tuite (The Downs).

Limerick Scorers: A Higgins 0-5 (0-3f), C O'Dwyer 1-2, S Looney 0-3, D Hunt 0-3, K O'Keefe 1-0, S Newman 0-2 (0-1f), D Giltinane 0-2f

Limerick: Cillian Sheehan, Sam Hogan, Donnacha Ryan, Ciaran Lee, John Farrell, Conor O'Dwyer, Dara Scully, Shay Looney, Kian O'Keefe, Ryan Maloney, Sean Casey, Darragh O'Shaughnessy, Sam Newman, Dara Giltinane, Alex Higgins, Shane Wharton, Gary Murphy, Cian Canty, Mark Nelligan, Donnacha O'Connor, Jack O'Connor, Conor Campbell, Daniel Hunt.

Referee: Niall Quinn (Clare).

Although Westmeath will be disappointed with the final result, the team can be proud of their display and their performances across the whole year, with four wins from six games in the competition. No doubt, the players will take learnings from the game that will help their development. Many thanks to mentors Paddy Mulvihill and Ger Heduvan for their work with the team and well done to all players on their efforts throughout the year.

U14 Football Academy

Our U14 footballers concluded their games programme for 2025 on Saturday 16th August with two teams in action in the Faithful Fields and Kilcormac/Killoughey GAA grounds. Showing the progress made over the year, the teams played games against outfits from Wicklow, Laois, Louth, Kerry and Cork and acquitted themselves well in all games. They had their final training session of the year last weekend in Rosemount, with county footballers Luke Loughlin, Kieran Martin, Robbie Forde and Matthew Whittaker taking the session. Well done to all players on their efforts over the year and to mentors Joe Fallon, John McDonnell, Anthony Malone, Tommy Keena and Darrach Fleming for their work with the squad.

U13 Lakeland Og Hurling Academy

Hurling sessions for U13 hurlers in the county continued last Saturday in Castlepollard with over 50 eager hurlers in attendance. Thanks to our staff and coaches for organising and running, with the next session set for Saturday 6th September in Raharney.

Hurling Squad matches (updates in next notes)

Saturday 30th August

U16 B Cup Semi Final, Westmeath vs Cork, St. Patrick's GAA Ballraggett; 12:00.

Cup & Shield Finals at 2:30pm.

U15 John Doyle Cup

Semi-Final: Westmeath vs Offaly, Moycarkey Borris GAA Club; 12:30pm.

Cup & Shield Finals at 4pm.

U14 Offaly Cup

Westmeath vs Offaly

Faithful Fields; 11:30.

Cup & Shield Final at 12:30

U14 Leinster Shield

Westmeath vs Laois

Hawkfield COE, Newbridge; 12:00. Second game for all teams at 1:15pm.