Impressive Milltown storm into senior football final

Milltown 4-16, Garrycastle 1-5

Reigning county champions Milltown qualified for another Westmeath LFA Senior Championship final by comfortably beating Garrycastle in this semi-final at Tang last Sunday afternoon.

This was a hammering and there’s no kind way to say it. Milltown looked a side playing a level above Garrycastle.

Garrycastle were missing the experienced Lauralee Walsh (she was out of the country at a wedding) and, yes, they did miss a penalty in the first half. But even with such a player as Walsh and taking every chance they created, the Athlone based side would have been well beaten.

Milltown looked like a side playing in second gear at times. Sarah Dillon doesn’t start every game for Milltown but the impressive forward can do enough damage off the bench to win games.

However, she started this game and her movement, vision and accuracy really stood out. She contributed 0-7 on the scoreboard and was involved in most of Milltown’s scores before they rested her in the fourth quarter.

Milltown topped the group standings in the round robin stage of the championship and this set up a clash with fourth-placed Garrycastle.

The eventual winners started well, with Sarah Dillon, Sinead Boyce and Clodagh Dillon to the fore. They were ruthless in the full forward line and took almost every chance that came their way.

But Garrycastle could have put more pressure on their formidable counterparts if they had put away their penalty in the ninth minute. Aoife Connolly, one of the few Garrycastle players that was capable of taking the game to Milltown, was dragged down heading for goal but after dusting herself off, her penalty was saved by Karen Walsh.

They did show character, though, and Connolly was again impeded for another penalty in the 27th minute. This time the young, composed Stacey Mulvihill stepped up and brilliantly tucked away the spot kick.

Immediately after Stacey Mulvihill’s successful penalty, Garrycastle gained some momentum. They kicked three scores in succession – courtesy of Connolly and Grace Halligan - to cut the arrears before the interval.

But Milltown’s second goal – scored by substitute Aoife Kenny, who had temporarily replaced Emma Murtagh as a blood sub – left the champions 2-7 to 1-4 in the ascendancy at half-time. If Garrycastle had scored their first penalty they could’ve been just a score behind at the break. But any hopes Garrycastle had during the interval of mounting a comeback never materialised.

They didn’t score again for 30 minutes - all of normal time in the second half. Milltown took over and they scored at will. The Dillon sisters were unstoppable and they kicked scores from almost every angle.

To make matters worse, Sinead Boyce finished the game with two late goals and to seal a win which marks Milltown out as favourites to retain the title.

Garrycastle did finally get their only score in the second half, Connolly with her fourth point deep into injury time. In fairness to them, they didn’t stop trying in spite of knowing the game was over long before the final whistle.

Milltown look physically strong in every area of the field, and they have an abundance of talent with experience to create and kick scores. For Garrycastle, they need to stick together and give it full commitment next year and there’s no reason they can’t be back competing for the championship again.

Scorers – Milltown: S Boyce 3-2, S Dillon 0-7 (1f), C Dillon 0-4, A Kenny 1-1, L Slevin 0-1f, S Byrne 0-1. Garrycastle: A Connolly 0-4 (1f), K Mulvihill 1-0 (pen), G Halligan 0-1.

Milltown: Karen Walsh; Emma Ballesty, Kelly Joyce Jordan, Nicole Feery; Emma Murtagh, Laura Kiernan, Rachel Dillon; Leanne Slevin, Tracey Dillon; Bronagh Beglan, Katie Whyte, Orlaith Slevin; Clodagh Dillon, Sinead Boyce, Sarah Dillon. Subs used: Grainne Byrne for Beglan (blood sub, 5 mins), Aoife Kenny for Feery (50), Sinead Byrne for S Dillon (54), Sarah Murtagh for L Slevin (55).

Garrycastle: Megan McCormack; Louise Connell, Aimee Duncan, Clodagh McCahey; Jessica Frawley, Kacey Mulvihill, Lisa Fitzpatrick; Aine Lynn, Lorraine Duncan; Danielle Madden, Sarah Dolan, Aoife McGibbon; Shannon Mulvihill, Aoife Connolly, Grace Halligan. Subs used: Patrica Igoe for McCahey (injured, 5 mins), Donnahay Molloy for Halligan (46), Fionnula Mulroy for Frawley (46), Roisin Murphy for McGibbon (52), Nicole O’Connor for K Mulvihill (56).

Referee: Shane Maher (Ballynacargy).

Examiner's Eye on the game

Player of the match

Sarah Dillon (Milltown): Dillon was stylish and ruthless for Milltown and she showed the way for her side on the scoreboard. Rachel Dillon, Clodagh Dillon and Sinead Boyce all made big contributions. For Garrycastle, Kacey Mulvihill, Aine Lynn, Shannon Mulvihill and Aoife Connolly tried hardest to turn the tide.

Key moment

Garrycastle’s missed penalty in the first half could have been key.