Milltown impress as twelve players hit the target

A better-balanced Milltown side were well worth their nine-point winning margin against a disappointing Milltownpass outfit in the first leg of last Sunday evening’s football championship double-header in pleasant conditions at TEG Cusack Park.

With no less than 12 players making the scoresheet, the men in green and white – who impressed in defence as well as in attack – laid down a marker that they are serious contenders for the Peter Geraghty Cup. However, their opponents never hit anything close to their best form on the day in what was an enjoyable contest for the good-sized attendance.

Ironically, Milltownpass started the better and a point from Liam O’Reilly, after a ‘solo and go’, nudged them ahead in the second minute. They were almost in on goal soon afterwards, but they made no mistake in their next attack when a great run by Brian Ronan precipitated a move which ended with Westmeath star Brandon Kelly slapping the ball to the net from close range.

However, Barry Downey’s troops settled thereafter and they fired over five points without reply by the tenth minute, courtesy of another star of the Lake County’s Delaney Cup triumph in Conor Dillon, Conor Lynn, Luke Gunning (after his twin brother Matthew had a goal attempt smothered), Jack Smith (via Ruairí Coyne’s fingertips), and Lynn again (a well-worked score).

Remarkably, Milltownpass regained the lead in the 13th minute when Oisín Coogan took the entire winning rearguard by surprise to fire home a great individual goal. The very influential Conor Gibney equalised (0-7 to 2-1) with a monster two-pointer and the same player soon set up his former Coláiste Mhuire colleague Ben McGauran for the lead point (which could have been a three-pointer).

Milltownpass wasted a ‘45’ at the other end before they were decidedly unlucky when Brian Ronan’s shot came back off the butt of the post. Jarlaith Boyce was then blocked with a goal as his target for the winners. A point from Lynn, at the end of a laboured move, preceded a great goal at the same end when Aidan Maguire rifled an unstoppable shot to the net in the 29th minute. Finbar Coyne pointed a routine free on the hour mark – the award seemed soft – and the men in white and black got an even bigger lift in added-time when Kelly was alert to a loose pass and his trademark burst of pace led him to be fouled in the large parallelogram. Henry Duncan was black-carded and Emmett Brennan converted the resultant penalty. Seconds later, the half-whistle blew with the scoreboard reading: Milltown 1-9 Milltownpass 3-2.

Milltown extended their lead on the resumption with quickfire points from the boots of McGauran (a quality finish) and Matthew Gunning (the corner back in name was popping up all over the pitch to great effect). Kelly and Coyne raised white flags for the side managed by Darren Rigney and Graeme Corcoran by the 37th minute, but they were only to score once more during the remainder of the match as the winners dominated in most sectors.

Luke Gunning pointed twice, either side of a weak attempt at a goal at the other end which was easily dealt with by Alan Geraghty, who was solid throughout. Brennan also shot tamely from a goal opportunity before his colleague Coyne prematurely wrapped up Milltownpass’ total from a free. Milltown led by 1-13 to 3-5 at the end of the third quarter.

Geraghty was wide from a ‘45’ after sub Jack Duncan had been denied. However, Milltown proceeded to kick seven points without reply in the last 13 minutes (including injury-time) via Henry Duncan (a delightful two-pointer), Peter Ballesty (moments before a rare Milltownpass attack ended with a rasping shot from Coogan coming back off the underside of the crossbar), Lynn (his fourth, this time with his fist), Coogan (from a tight angle), Luke Gunning (also his fourth, after a huge kick-out by Geraghty), and veteran sub Frank McLoughlin (a late free, moments after Jack Duncan had an effort on goal saved).

Scorers -Milltown: C Lynn, L Gunning 0-4 each, A Maguire 1-0, C Gibney (2pt), B McGauran, H Duncan (2pt) 0-2 each, F McLoughlin (f), C Dillon, J Smith, M Gunning, P Ballesty, J Duncan 0-1 each.

Milltownpass: B Kelly 1-1, O Coogan, E Brennan (pen) 1-0 each, F Coyne 0-3 (2f), L O’Reilly 0-1.

Milltown: Alan Geraghty; Matthew Gunning, Patrick Somers, Diarmuid Maguire; Sean Dillon, Conor Gibney, Peter Ballesty; Conor Dillon, Aidan Maguire; Jack Smith, Jarlath Boyce, Henry Duncan; Ben McGauran, Conor Lynn, Luke Gunning. Subs used: Gary Byrne for Smith (41), Jack Duncan for McGauran (46), Frank McLoughlin for L Gunning (inj., 59).

Milltownpass: Ruairí Coyne; Paul O’Reilly, Noel O’Reilly, David Manning; Aidan O’Brien, Michael McCormack, Liam Gorman; Tony Loftus, Liam O’Reilly; Oisín Coogan, Brian Ronan, Donnacha Coogan; Emmett Brennan, Finbar Coyne, Brandon Kelly. Subs used: Shane Whelehan for L O’Reilly (inj., 26), Eoghan Gallagher for P O’Reilly (46).

Ref: Sean Carroll (The Downs).