Milltownpass men have too much firepower for Kilbeggan
ACFL Div 5 final: Milltownpass 2-25, Kilbeggan Shamrocks 1-11
By Paul Doolin
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Milltownpass captains Fintan O’Reilly and Gareth O’Connor raise the Div 5 trophy after the presentation by Co Committee chairman Paddy Wallace.Image 2 of 10
The Milltownpass side celebrate their success in the ACFL Div 5 final.Image 3 of 10
Darragh O’Connor of Milltownpass is tackled by Colm Heffernan of Kilbeggan Shamrocks. Pics J McCauley. JOHN_MC_CAULEYImage 4 of 10
Oisín Coogan of Milltownpass and Ray Kennedy of Kilbeggan Shamrocks in a race for possession. JOHN_MC_CAULEYImage 5 of 10
Arthur O’Rourke of Kilbeggan Shamrocks tries to close down Brian Ronan, Milltownpass. JOHN_MC_CAULEYImage 6 of 10
Eoghan Gallagher of Milltownpass is closed down by Jack Molloy of Kilbeggan Shamrocks. JOHN_MC_CAULEYImage 7 of 10
Tony Loftus of Milltownpass is about to be challenged by Keith Corcoran of Kilbeggan Shamrocks. JOHN_MC_CAULEYImage 8 of 10
Joey O’Neill of Kilbeggan Shamrocks comes under pressure. JOHN_MC_CAULEYImage 9 of 10
The Kilbeggan Shamrocks team who contested the ACFL Div 5 final.Image 10 of 10
The Milltownpass team who won the ACFL Div 5 title at TEG Cusack Park.On a sweltering evening in TEG Cusack Park on Monday of last week, Milltownpass claimed the ACFL Division 5 title with a 17-point victory against a gallant but totally outplayed Kilbeggan Shamrocks.
In this battle between the second string of both clubs, the ability of Milltownpass to create and take scores from their lion’s share of possession sealed the win. Indeed the game was over as a contest long before excellent referee Shane Carroll blew the final whistle.
Milltownpass used the new rules exceptionally well converting five two-pointers, three from the unerring boot of wing back Eoghan Gallagher. These added to expertly taken goals at opportune moments and they simply tore Kilbeggan apart at times and but for a defiant rally from Shamrocks toward the end of the game, then this could have been a complete rout.
That said, Nigel Adamson’s charges never threw in the towel or resorted to underhand tactics at any time and that late haul was no more than their display deserved and with the junior championship on the horizon, this might be the catalyst to raise their game. For the ‘Pass men, it was simply a job very well done.
Ironically, Kilbeggan opened the scoring with a super point from Conor Delaney but it merely shook Milltownpass into action as they scored 1-10 over the next 20 minutes without reply. The goal was scored by Oisin Coogan after a wonderful team move. There were two-pointers from Eoghan Gallagher and Dara Smullen, two fine points from Emmett Brennan and singles from Smullen, Tony Loftus, Oisin Earley and sub Dermot Faulkner, who replaced Brian Ronan early on through injury.
Dean Fitzgerald and Delaney pointed frees for Kilbeggan and Jack Molloy had a goal chance but was denied by a goal line clearance from the ever vigilant Paul O’Reilly. Milltownpass should have netted at the other end themselves with numerous chances going a begging, but Earley did score two late first half points to leave it 1-12 to 0-3 at the break.
Delaney got Kilbeggan off to the perfect start with a well taken score on the restart, with subs Martin Ward, Paul Fennell and Conor Carroll also making their presence felt. But Milltownpass were in no mood to relinquish their advantage and Faulkner, Eddie Whelehan and the outstanding Gallagher kicked three points in a row.
Delaney added a fifth for Shamrocks but Faulkner added a free and Coogan scored the point of the match before Jack Doran ended the game as a contest with a second Milltownpass goal after a quite marvellous move got its deserved finale. Delaney again stemmed the tide momentarily but a brace of monstrous two-pointers from Eoghan Gallagher cancelled that out and then some.
With time running out Kilbeggan staged a dogged and welcome late rally with three points from Delaney (two frees), sub Danny Scully and Jack Molloy adding white flags. The latter also netted a brilliant team goal that took the mean look off the scoreboard, but Milltownpass finished with a wet sail and Earley became their third player to score from outside the arc and Coogan finishing the scoring with a very late point.
Scorers - Milltownpass: E Gallagher 0-7 (3tp); O Coogan 1-2; O Earley 0-5 (1tp); J Doran 1-0; S Faulkner (1 free) and D Smullen (1tp) 0-3 each; T Loftus and E Brennan 0-2 each; E Whelehan 0-1. Kilbeggan Shamrocks: C Delaney 0-8 (4f); J Molloy 1-1; D Scully and D Fitzgerald (f) 0-1 each.
Milltownpass - Darragh Mullen; Paul O’Reilly, Michael McCormack, Darragh O’Connor; Emmett Brennan, David Manning, Eoghan Gallagher; Shane Whelehan, Tony Loftus; Jack Doran, Oisin Coogan, Eddie Whelehan; Dara Smullen, Oisin Earley, Brian Ronan. Subs: Dermot Faulkner for Ronan (inj., 6 mins); Conor Flanagan for Whelehan, David Devine for Smullen (both 47); Adam Smyth for O’Connor (51).
Kilbeggan Shamrocks - Conor Mullins; Joao Godoi, Senan Claffey, Arthur O’Rourke; Mark Wrafter, Joey O’Neill, Dylan Maloney; Ray Kennedy, Michael Carton; Niall Carey, Conor Delaney, Dean Fitzgerald; James Finnegan, Colm Heffernan, Jack Molloy. Subs: Keith Corcoran for Carey (10 mins); Martin Ward for Claffey, Conor Carroll for Maloney and Paul Fennell for Heffernan (all H-T); Danny Scully for Fitzgerald (45).
Referee - Shane Carroll (Caulry).