Sheerin shines as Loman’s win U14 league title

St Loman's, Mullingar 2-12, The Downs 2-8

A man of the match performance from Luke Sheerin helped St Loman’s, Mullingar see off the challenge of The Downs to claim the U14 Division 1 League title.

St Loman’s emerged victorious at the end of an entertaining encounter that showcased all that is good about underage football in Westmeath with the players from both teams impressing with their technical ability and athleticism.

Although they went into the game as underdogs, the newly crowned league champions enjoyed the better of the first period and went in at half-time with a deserved six-point lead having twice found the net in the opening period. The Downs, who were missing a few starters, dominated the third quarter and took the lead in the 43rd minute with a point from Terence Coyne.

At that stage it looked as if The Downs were going to record their second home win of the league campaign against St Loman’s, however, to their credit, the team in blue regained the initiative in the final fifteen minutes to run out worthy winners in the end.

Tiernan Coyne opened the scoring with a point for The Downs in the second minute after good work from the industrious TJ Loughlin. St Loman’s, however, enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges and spurned several chances before Shea Dowdall opened their account with a goal after eight minutes. This was quickly followed by a point from Shane McCormack.

A brace of points from Alex Hanganu kept the scoreboard ticking over for The Downs but Loman’s responded with three overs from player of the match Sheerin, who became increasingly influential as the first half progressed.

A well-taken point from the boot of Rian Gilhooley on 28 minutes after good work from Tom O’Connell made it a one score game again. With the half-time whistle approaching, a Max Long shot was deflected into the arms of Ben Clerkin, who was fouled as he bore down on goal. Referee Brendan Keenan awarded a penalty which was confidently dispatched into the top right-hand corner by Luke Sheerin to give his side a six-point lead at the short whistle - 2-4 to 0-4.

In truth, St Loman’s were on the front foot for most of the first 30 minutes and were good value for their lead.

The visitors began the second half as the ended the first and quickly extended their advantage with a long-range effort from midfielder Artem Lazar. It looked as if Loman’s might kick on, but the home side had other ideas. TJ Loughlin’s pointed free on 33 minutes was quickly followed by a goal from Rian Quinn as The Downs started to dominate the all-important middle third.

A Shea Dowdall point from close range after substitute Terence John Gibson picked him out with a beautiful long range kick pass gave Loman’s some much-needed breathing space, but The Downs were now on the front foot and were asking plenty of questions of the Loman’s defence.

Their lead was reduced to the slimmest of margins when Rian Gilhooley’s shot on 38 minutes ended up in the back of the net and parity was restored less than two minutes later courtesy of a pointed free from TJ Loughlin.

As the third quarter was drawing to a close, Terence Coyne’s second point of the match put the home side in front much to the delight of the increasingly vocal home support.

With a second away league defeat to The Downs looking increasingly likely, the St Loman’s players found another gear just when they needed to most. Between the 45th and 60th minutes, they scored six points without reply to race into a five-point lead as regulation time came to an end.

Half-time substitute Terence John Gibson opened his side’s late purple patch with a free on 45 minutes, while Loman’s regained the lead three minutes later with a peach of an over from Luke Sheerin. Playmaker Alex Long, whose long-range passing was a feature of the game, opened his account with a free, while two more points from Sheerin and a second free from Gibson gave Loman’s much needed breathing space as the full-time whistle approached.

A pointed free from Loughlin in time added on was The Downs’ sole reply to the late Loman’s onslaught.

After seeing their healthy half-time lead wiped out in the third quarter by a strong team from The Downs, the Loman’s players and their mentors can be happy with the resolve and character they showed to wrestle back control as the game entered its decisive phase.

If the technical skills and fitness levels shown by the players from both teams are anything to go by, then St Loman’s and The Downs will continue to be the teams to beat at senior level for many years to come.

Afterwards, Declan Leonard, on behalf of Westmeath GAA Coiste na nÓg, made the presentation to the winning captain, Noah Shields.

Scorers - St Loman’s, Mullingar: Luke Sheerin 1-6, Shea Dowdall 1-1, Terence John Gibson 0-2 (2f), Artem Lazar, Shane McCormack, Max Long (f) 0-1 each.

The Downs: Rian Gilhooley 1-1, Rian Quinn 1-0, TJ Loughlin 0-3 (2f), Terence Coyne and Alex Hanganu 0-2 each.

St Loman’s Mullingar: Evan Brody; Eoghan McKenna, Noah Shields (c), Alex Reynolds; Ben Clerkin, Conor O’Connell, Nelson Pang; Artem Lazor, Luke Mulligan; Luke Sheerin, Dylan Thornton, Shane McCormack; Darragh Kiernan, Shea Dowdall, Max Long. Subs used: Terence John Gibson, Sean Óg Plunkett, Cian Sheerin, Finn Healy Harraghy, Luke Byrne Kelly, Devin Pentony, Matthew McDonnell.

The Downs: Oisin McCormack; Odhran Mitchell, Ethan Bradley, Cillian Martyn; Sam Doran, Ronan Murtagh, Harry Doyle; TJ Loughlin, Tom O’Connell; Tiernan Coyne, Rhys Colgan, Rian Gilhooley; Rian Quinn, Senan Whelehan, Alexandru Hanganu.

Subs used: Luke Kenna, Finn Wolohan.

Referee: Brendan Keena (Ballynacargy).