‘Pass prevail in thrilling final

The second game of the double header in Kinnegad on Saturday last saw Milltownpass overturn an earlier heavy defeat by the same opposition in the group phase, as they deservedly won the Division 4 final after a fabulous and entertaining game.

With the ‘Pass leading by 13 points at a late stage, this looked a mere formality, but a late Cill Óige rally of three goals was not enough to reel in the boys in black and white, who were simply outstanding up to that point, and left the Rosemount/ Castledaly combination pondering on what might have been.

However there was no denying that Milltownpass were the better team on the day and they held on for a four-point winning margin in the end.

The game’s first score came after just 36 seconds as Dean Kelly pointed for Milltownpass, but Killian Heavin negated that almost immediately for Cill Óige.

Milltownpass netted the first goal through Dara Smullen, and the impressive Kelly added a point, but again Cill Óige hit back with Philip Finan finding the net.

It was becoming a goal-fest at this stage and Kevin Healy and the outstanding Brian Ronan added two quick fire three-pointers, as Milltownpass began to motor. However, Daragh Duffy kept Cill Óige in the game with a wonderful point.

Milltownpass were hungry though, and with Kelly and Ronan pulling the strings, they added a fourth major from the former and a free from the latter. This saw them lead by 4-3 to 1-2 at the break, and indeed it could have been more but for the heroics of Daragh Deegan in the Cill Óige goal.

After the break and with wind advantage, Cill Óige began to find their feet and eat into the deficit with two Mark Loddick frees and two from play from Daragh Duffy. But in that period they wasted several other scoring opportunities and were also repelled by some brilliant Milltownpass defending, especially by Tommy Smullen and Shane Martin.

Brian Ronan went down the other end and extended the lead with a free that he won himself, and when Dara Smullen, Dean Kelly and Fionn Earley points were added to by a sublime Kevin Healy goal, it looked as if the game was done and dusted.

But Cill Óige never gave up trying in fairness, and when Jack Nally and goalie turned corner forward Daragh Deegan hit two goals in 45 seconds the comeback looked on.

When Daragh Duffy converted a spot kick for Cill Óige, just four separated the sides. But time had run out unfortunately for Cill Óige, and they had left it too late as Milltownpass held on in a very skillful and end-to-end game that was a joy to watch.

After the match, Westmeath minor board secretary Kevin Jordan presented the cup to Tommy Smullen, captain of Milltownpass.

Scorers – Milltownpass: K Healy 2-0, D Kelly 1-3, B Ronan 1-2 (0-2f), D Smullen 1-1, F Earley 0-1. Cill Óige: D Duffy 1-3, D Deegan, P Finan and J Nally 1-0 each, M Loddick 0-2f, K Heavin 0-1.

Milltownpass: David Flood; Alan Manning, Shane Martin, Ryan Harrison; Adam Smyth, Tommy Smullen, Tomás Donoghue; Oliver Brennan, Andrew Farrell; Dara Smullen, Dean Kelly, Kevin Healy; Fionn Earley, Brian Ronan, Kieran Finnamore. Subs used: Jamie Wallace, Cian Fox.

Cill Óige: Daragh Deegan; Michael Birmingham, TJ Turley, Evan Daly; Max Clevitt, Mark Loddick, Jacob Burke; Kevin Boland, Philip Finan; Daragh Duffy, Killian Heavin, John Finan; Darragh Bradley, Jack Nally, Jamie Shortall. Subs used: Alex Mullen Adamson, Michael Loddick, Josh Duffy, Evan Turley.

Ref: Mick Gordon (Shandonagh).

Player of the match: Brian Ronan (Milltownpass).