Milltown ladies make final after epic battle

Milltown 3-4 The Downs 2-4

In Lakepoint Park Mullingar on Saturday afternoon last, Milltown and The Downs went at it from minute one to 60 in what was a thoroughly enthralling Westmeath LGFA Senior Championship semi-final that kept the huge attendance transfixed entirely.

While the football may not have been of the highest standard, it was the displays of both defences that caught the eye, and it could have gone either way, but somehow Milltown managed to hold on and reach the senior final once again. The Downs will rue some great chances, especially late on, but lady luck deserted them when they needed the breaks most.

Milltown just know how to win games and, at this stage of the championship, that is all that matters. Low-scoring it might have been, but the levels of commitment and desire far outweighed that and held everyone on the edge of their seats right until the moment referee Vinny Cox blew the final whistle.

Milltown started much the brighter, but it was eight minutes before the opening score from Tracey Dillon after a patient move. Rachel Dillon and Grainne Byrne then added two more for the ladies in greens in the space of two minutes as they opened up a three-point lead.

The Downs reacted superbly, though, with Sheila McGrath scoring a wonderful solo goal, and then they took the lead from a Francesca Walshe free.

Ellen Taite denied Milltown’s Bronagh Beglan with a point-blank save, but moments later Sinéad Slevin was hauled down in the square and Leanne Slevin converted the resultant penalty to put Milltown back in front.

That was Sinéad’s last action of the game, however, and she was soon replaced by Westmeath star Sarah Dillon.

The Downs were struggling to break down a resolute Milltown defence, and just before the break they conceded a second goal when a long-range effort from Clodagh Dillon went straight to the net for a fortuitous goal. However, Olivia Glynn pulled one back for the Downs just before the short whistle, with Milltown leading by 2-3 to 1-2 at the interval.

Beth Maguire replaced Cara Finnegan for The Downs at the break, and her first act was to set up Britney McNamee, who scored from long range to leave just one score between the sides.

However, that became a six-point gap when, after some fabulous defending, the ball eventually found its way to Clodagh Dillon, who netted a third Milltown major with a composed finish. At this stage, it looked as if they would sail off into the sunset.

The Downs had other ideas, and led by a marvellous display by wing back Aisling Egerton, they began to up the ante, and McGrath fisted a point when a goal looked on.

That goal came, though, five minutes into the half when McGuire burst through and flicked across the goal for Britney McNamee to tap to the net, and it was game on again.

The Downs were in all-out attack mode now but could not penetrate, as Gemma Keena gave a brilliant display for Milltown at corner back to thwart them time and again. Grainne Byrne put three points between the sides with 20 minutes to go and, amazingly, that proved to be the last score of the game.

McGrath had an equalising goal pulled back, Lucy Power looked certain to net, and sub Mary Lynam was denied by a goal-saving block from Keena as the black and ambers sought the equaliser. At the other end Sarah Dillon's shot from 45 yards almost found an empty Downs net, only for the ball to bobble the wrong side of the post.

Sheila McGrath had the final chance to draw her side level, but again her shot somehow managed to drift wide, and with it went the chance for added time as their season ended.

Milltown hung on but only just, and the relief of the winners was only matched by the what-might-have-beens from the unlucky losers.

Scorers - Milltown: Clodagh Dillon 2-0, Leanne Slevin 1-0, Grainne Byrne 0-2, Rachel Dillon and Tracey Dillon 0-1 each. The Downs: Britney McNamee and Sheila McGrath 1-1 each, Olivia Glynn and Francesca Walshe (free), 0-1 each.

Milltown - Sinead Byrne, Gemma Keena, Emma Ballesty, Aoife Kenny, Henrietta Kiernan, Louise Kiernan, Rachel Dillon, Leanne Slevin, Tracey Dillon, Abbie Sheerin, Grainne Byrne, Laura Kiernan, Bronagh Beglan, Sinéad Slevin, Clodagh Dillon. Subs: Sarah Dillon for Sinéad Slevin (23 mins), Kate Whyte for Beglan (half-time).

The Downs - Ellen Taite, Amy Dagg, Helen Joyce, Lauren Guilfoyle, Emily Rose McNamee, Lauren English, Aisling Egerton, Gemma Faulkner, Ciara Dolan, Cara Finnegan, Lucy Power, Francesca Walshe, Olivia Glynn, Sheila McGrath, Britney McNamee. Subs: Beth McGuire for Finnegan (half-time), Michelle Bohan for English (40 mins), Mary Lynam for Britney McNamee (55).

Referee - Vinny Cox (Rosemount).