Two goals for Kelly as Milltownpass advance to semi-final

Milltownpass 4-15, Multyfarnham 2-15

By Gerry Buckley

A better-balanced Milltownpass outfit always looked the more likely victors in the second of last weekend’s Westmeath intermediate football quarter-finals when they were full value for their six-point winning margin against Multyfarnham in ideal conditions for football last Sunday afternoon in TEG Cusack Park.

Backed by a few top-quality players with very recent inter-county experience, David Martin’s charges could afford to miss some gilt-edged goal chances and still rack up a very big score against a side which was – not the first time – very dependent on the current Lake County skipper Ronan Wallace. The latter wasted more opportunities than would normally be the case, but he still contributed a whopping 14 points to the losers’ tally.

Multy had the aid of a slight wind in the first moiety and after the aforementioned Wallace was short from a two-point free from well within his range, he scored his team’s opening two points by the fourth minute – a ‘45’ and a routine free. Finbar Coyne wiped these scores out in one fell swoop from a two-point free in the sixth minute. After poor wides at both ends, Oisín Coogan nudged the men in white and black ahead in the tenth minute and it was a lead they never relinquished.

Brandon Kelly’s lightning speed almost led to a Milltownpass goal but he overcarried the ball. However, there was to be no denying the full forward in the 13th minute when Liam Brennan’s pass allowed him to cut inside from the right wing and find the net with aplomb. Wallace tapped over a free at the other end before Coyne scored a great solo point to leave his side ahead by 1-4 to 0-3 at the end of the opening quarter.

Louis Greene scored what proved to be the only ‘non-Wallace’ point of the day for the men in maroon and navy. Mark Reynolds’ strong running was proving problematic for the winners’ defence and it led to an 18th-minute free which Wallace converted. The impressive Gavin Glennon availed of a fine catch from fellow-midfielder Sam Duncan to open his account, but Wallace left the deficit at the bare minimum (1-5 to 0-7) with a great two-pointer from play in the 20th minute.

The winners proceeded to score five points without reply by the 28th minute courtesy of Coogan, Liam Brennan (whose goal attempt after fine play by Liam O’Reilly was deflected over the crossbar), Coyne (a delightful free), and a brace by Kelly (the first of them with his fist). Wallace was wide with an ambitious attempt from a lineball, but he continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over for his team by slotting over what was a preventable ‘45’ with the last kick of the half. Milltownpass led by 1-10 to 0-8 at the interval.

Kelly pointed just 13 seconds after play resumed, and it got better for the winners within two minutes when Liam O’Reilly charged forward from defence to play a one-two with Coyne and duly flash the ball past Craig Sweeney. Wallace then untypically missed two frees for Multy, but they refused to capitulate and were rewarded with six unanswered points by the 46th minute all from their talisman Wallace – a two-point free, a low-trajectory point from play, a two-pointer from play, and a regular free. The gap was now a manageable three points (2-11 to 0-14).

However, Milltownpass always seemed to have an extra gear when needed, and a great angled point from just inside the arc by Emmett Brennan was followed by a goal from his brother Liam in the 50th minute (after a great lay-off by Coyne). Indeed, they should have added two more goals, but Kelly was denied by Sweeney and Liam Gorman was wide when a three-pointer looked certain. Wallace slotted over a free for the side managed by Darren Rigney and Graeme Corcoran, and when sub Adam Loughrey superbly found the net at the second attempt in the 57th minute, the deficit was just three points (3-12 to 1-15).

However, Milltownpass finished the stronger and they outscored their opponents by 1-3 (a second Kelly goal after a perfect pass from Liam Brennan, preceding points from the latter, sub Eoghan Gallagher, and Coyne – availing of great skill by Kelly to round off match scoring) to 1-0 (a neat finish in added-time by sub Steven Sweeney), to deservedly march on to a penultimate round clash with Tubberclair.

Scorers – Milltownpass: B Kelly 2-3, L Brennan 1-2, F Coyne 0-5 (1 2ptf, 1f), L O’Reilly 1-0, O Coogan 0-2, G Glennon, E Brennan, E Gallagher 0-1 each.

Multyfarnham: R Wallace 0-14 (2 2pt, 1 2ptf, 5f, 2‘45’), A Loughrey, S Sweeney 1-0, L Greene 0-1.

Milltownpass: Ruairí Coyne; Gareth O’Connor, Liam O’Reilly, Paul O’Reilly; Michael McCormack, Noel O’Reilly, Tony Loftus; Sam Duncan, Gavin Glennon; Oisín Coogan, Finbar Coyne, Liam Gorman; Emmett Brennan, Brandon Kelly, Liam Brennan. Subs used: Jack Doran for O’Connor (37), Shane Corcoran for Coogan (49), Alan Farrell for P O’Reilly (57), Eoghan Gallagher for E Brennan (inj., 60+1).

Multyfarnham: Craig Sweeney; Jude Auld, Ronan Greene, Jack Leavy; Adam Bate, Ronan Wallace, Gareth Mullaniff; Cian Lee, James Greene; Mark Reynolds, Anthony McGivney, Ian McGovern; Brian McLoughlin, Mattie Thornton, Louis Greene. Subs used: Steven Sweeney for Leavy (22), Tommy McGivney for McLoughlin (h-t), Adam Loughrey for McGovern (50), Aaron Whelan for T McGivney (60+2).

Ref: Barry Pierce (St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge).

Examiner's Eye on the Game

Man of the match

Brandon Kelly (Milltownpass). Now into remarkable double figures for goals scored in this year’s championship, the livewire Westmeath panellist again top-scored for his club in eye-catching fashion.

Key moment

Liam O’Reilly’s superb goal just a couple of minutes into the second half put Milltownpass nine points ahead and firmly en route to a county semi-final.

Talking point

Can Milltownpass end their long wait to return to senior ranks? They are real contenders, but will need to be more ruthless from here on in.

Entertainment value: 8/10.

No shortage of scores, but Milltownpass always looked the more likely winners.

Next up

Milltownpass will face Tubberclair in a semi-final, while Multyfarnham exit the championship.