Super Shandonagh land first Junior 'B' title in style

Shandonagh 2-7, St Loman's, Mullingar 0-2

An impressive 1-4 from midfielder Ellen Foran laid the platform for Shandonagh’s first Junior ‘B’ ladies football title at Dovida Lakepoint Park on Saturday, as they overcame St Loman’s, Mullingar with a superb performance.

Shandonagh took control in the opening half and were leading by 1-3 to nil at the break, the goal coming from Ellen Foran in the eighth minute. While St Loman’s pressed really hard in the second half, the Shandonagh defence held strong and they filtered bodies back behind the ball when the threat was there, with wing forward Sandra McWade outstanding in this particular facet of play.

Afterwards, Geraldine Giles, Westmeath LGFA chairperson, presented the cup to Sandra McWade and Úna Reville, joint captains of the successful Shandonagh side, and she paid tribute to both teams and to the host club for providing the 4G pitch for a final that had already been delayed several weeks due to inclement weather.

Shandonagh dominated most of the first half. Ellen Foran shot a point in the fifth minute to give them a lead they would never relinquish and her goal three minutes later was superbly crafted. The midfielder raced through the centre and was picked out by a slick hand-pass before she slotted the ball low to the St Loman’s net.

When St Loman’s threatened, Meabh O’Hara was turned over by Grace Tynan, strong and commanding at centre back. Fine work by Laoise Quinn led to her pointing for the Kilpatrick ladies, while nice transition play by Sandra McWade kept her side on the front foot. Shandonagh almost had a second goal on 20 minutes, but Laoise Quinn struck the upright when Ellen Foran set her up. A one-two involving Foran and Roisín Brennan led to the former slotting over Shandonagh’s third point and they were six clear at the break.

Despite being wasteful in front of goal, Shandonagh remained well in control of this final, but neat work by Meabh O’Hara and Aoibhe Hogan created a chance for Niamh McGinley to point for the home side three minutes into the second half. Shandonagh’s Ellen Foran soon responded, though with another point which followed some lovely attacking inter-play.

The leaders built on that with the lively Laoise Quinn pointing and Michelle Lynn kicking a superb score following Roisín Brennan’s lay-off. Jimmy Greville’s charges remained in strong control and Emma McDonnell was crowded out when a chance presented itself for the hosts. Full-forward Rachel McKenna did pull a point back from a free in the 26th minute, but Shandonagh rounded off a fine display when Áine Hayden’s long-range effort bounced and caught the advancing ‘keeper off guard to end up in the net.

It was cruel on Rhianna Norris who produced many fine saves on the day, but overall it merely reaffirmed the dominance of Shandonagh, who were worthy winners in the end. St Loman’s, entering the competition for the first time, will benefit from their fine run.

Scorers - Shandonagh: E Foran 1-4, Á Hayden 1-0, L Quinn 0-2, M Lynn 0-1.

St Loman’s, Mullingar: N McGinley and R McKenna (free) 0-1 each.

Shandonagh: Emma Fry; Úna Reville, Cliodhna O’Mahony, Emily Fallon; Claire Stuart, Grace Tynan, Anna Geoghegan; Áine Hayden, Ellen Foran; Eabha Bracken, Michelle Lynn, Sandra McWade; Roisín Brennan, Shauna Butterly, Laoise Quinn. Subs: Quyen Bartley for S Butterly, Laura McWade for E Bracken, Clare Coyne for Ú Reville, Anna Fallon for Á Hayden, Melissa Lenihan for E Fallon.

St Loman’s, Mullingar: Rhianna Norris; Ava Cummins, Emma Keena, Abbie Norris; Eve Scally, Aoibhe Hogan, Anna Sheehy; Lucia Weir, Meabh O’Hara; Phoebe Harte, Niamh McGinley, Niamh Egerton; Chloe Devine Scally, Rachel McKenna, Norah Garry. Subs: Kate McDonnell for A Sheehy, Katie McDonnell for A Cummins, Emma McDonnell for C Devine Scally, Gráinne Cleary for N Egerton.

Referee: Jim Rock (Coralstown/Kinnegad).