Milltown bow out despite Dillon's heroics

Tinahely (Wicklow) 0-16 Milltown 4-3

Milltown’s adventure in the Leinster LGFA senior club championship ended at the first hurdle when Tom Dillon’s side fell to a one-point defeat at the hands of Wicklow champions Tinahely in Tinahely on Sunday afternoon.

A late goal from a Sarah Dillon free brought the Westmeath side to within a point of the home team, and made for a nervy finish for the decent crowd on a damp and windy day in the Garden County.

But there would be no equaliser or winner as one last Milltown attack was thwarted by Eimear O’Sullivan and referee Barry Redmond sounded the final whistle after a thrilling encounter.

While Milltown would bag four majors in this game, their failure to harvest more points, especially with the wind in the first half, would prove to be one of the nails in their provincial championship coffin.

Meanwhile, the impact of Ireland Rugby 7s captain Lucy Mulhall off the bench for Tinahely would be a major factor in the home side’s strong final third.

Tinahely led by the minimum at the break, 0-9 to 2-2, with Milltown’s goals coming from Sarah Dillon after 18 and Rachel Maguire after 26 as they carved open a very capable home defence with some tasty handpassing and dynamic running.

An early Aoife Gorman point was answered by Bronagh Beglan and Tracey Dillon, before Eimear O’Brien tied things up after 12.

If Milltown were to have any hope in this game, they would need to hold the lethal Laura Hogan, and Emma Ballesty did a superb effort in that regard, restricting the Wicklow star to a single point from play over the course of the 60 minutes.

Tinahely would retake the lead through Jackie Kinch after great work from Niamh Byrne, but Sarah Dillon’s goal gave the travelling Milltown supporters plenty to shout about with Rachel Dillon, Bronagh Beglan and Grainne Byrne involved in the build-up.

Tinahely’s reaction to Milltown’s goals was very impressive. After this major they rattled off four points on the trot with three Laura Hogan frees and a Jackie Kinch effort from play giving them a 0-7 to 1-2 lead.

With Kelly Boyce Jordan sweeping across the Milltown 45, this left Róisín Byrne loose at the other end and Milltown were finding it hard to get through this area.

A foul on Boyce Jordan gave Milltown the chance to launch a swift counterattack and Rachel Maguire got on the end of a fine move involving Rachel Dillon and Sarah Dillon to sweep around Shona Byrne, and fire home the second major for the visitors with 26 gone.

Again, Tinahely responded really well, with a Laura Hogan free for a foul on Aoife Gorman and a point from Ciara Byrne (when she probably should have goaled) leaving it 0-9 to 2-2 at the break, with Tinahely firing six wides and Milltown none.

A sloppy opening few moments of the second half ended with Milltown seeing a goalbound effort saved by Shona Byrne after six minutes and then Sarah Dillon dropping a long shot in over the head of the Tinahely netminder two minutes later, 3-2 to 0-9.

A Jackie Kinch stunner and a Laura Hogan free levelled things up after 17 minutes of the second half and then Seamus McClean deployed Lucy Mulhall off the bench.

Her first action was to play a key role in Laura Hogan’s only point from play and then she fired over two wicked scores moments after another substitute, Eimear O’Sullivan, had raised a white flag of her own.

Tinahely were now in the driving seat at 0-15 to 3-2 with 54 gone. Sarah Dillon cut the deficit with a fine score but when Aimee Maher drilled over when one-on-one with Karen Walsh after 60, you got the feeling that Milltown’s goose was cooked.

But Dillon would step up to a late free and lash home to the roof of the Tinahely net to leave just one between the sides.

Tinahely attacked but were foiled by the visitors. A subsequent turnover would see Lucy Mulhall fire wide with 63 on the clock, and Milltown would launch one more assault only for Eimear O’Sullivan to rob the ball and herald the final whistle.

Tinahely march on but Milltown can be hugely proud of their efforts in what was a cracking game of football played in very difficult conditions.

Tinahely: Shona Byrne; Emily Hadden, Sarah Hogan, Róisín Byrne; Shannagh Goetelen, Áine Byrne, Niamh Byrne; Aoife Gorman (0-1), Jessie Nolan Byrne; Emily Mulhall, Aimee Maher (0-1), Eimear O’Brien (0-1); Laura Hogan (0-6, 5f), Jackie Kinch (0-3), Ciara Byrne (0-1). Subs: Eimear O’Sullivan (0-1) for E O’Brien (41), Sarah Byrne for C Byrne (41), Lucy Mulhall (0-2) for E Mulhall (48).

Milltown: Karen Walsh; Aoife Kenny, Jennifer Rogers, Emma Ballesty; Emma Murtagh, Kelly Boyce Jordan, Laura Kiernan; Grainne Byrne, Tracey Dillon (0-1); Bronagh Beglan (0-1), Orlaith Sheerin, Rachel Dillon; Kate Whyte, Rachel Maguire (1-0), Sarah Dillon (3-1, 1-0f).

Ref: Barry Redmond (Wexford).