Milltown complete championship hat-trick in fine style
Milltown 2-15, The Downs 3-3
By Gerry Buckley
Milltown’s recent dominance of the Westmeath Ladies senior football championship was maintained in emphatic style in front of a big crowd in ideal conditions for football at TEG Cusack Park last Sunday afternoon, the green and white-clad outfit full value for their nine-point win against The Downs.
Despite getting off to the best possible start, the underdogs were always playing catch-up from the second quarter onwards.
Two more timely goals gave hope to the losers’ large fan base present but, in truth, Tom Dillon’s talented troops were not flattered by the winning margin.
After a fine rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann by Sorcha Ní Cheallaigh, referee Paul O’Malley threw in the ball for this eagerly-awaited decider between a team laden with big match experience and senior final debutants. Ironically, however, it was the latter who got off to a dream start with a goal after just 18 seconds, Lucy Power availing of great work by Megan Dowdall to find the net.
However, the reigning champions were on level terms by the sixth minute, courtesy of a great brace from open play by Sarah Dillon and a converted free (following an off-the-ball foul) by Leanne Slevin.
Another unanswered hat-trick of points had Milltown three ahead (0-6 to 1-0) by the end of the opening quarter, the scores coming from the boots of Rachel Dillon (a great solo effort), Slevin (a routine free), and Sarah Dillon (whose shot hopped over the bar when many observers felt it had tailed wide).
Slevin, who a fine game all through in and around midfield, increased her side’s lead in the 17th minute, but Johnny Murray’s plucky charges were on level terms by the 21st minute via a tricky free conversion by Beth McGuire and a great goal, started and finished by Megan Dowdall. Slevin and Niamh Nolan traded points from frees, but the holders edged ahead in added-time with a great angled point from Gráinne Byrne, to lead by 0-9 to 2-2 at the interval.
Points from Sarah Dillon (a trademark individual effort within 20 seconds of the resumption of play) and Slevin (a fabulous left-footed shot) increased Milltown’s lead to three by the 34th minute. The Downs’ woes were soon added to when full back Helen Walsh was sin-binned and Slevin converted the resultant free with her right foot.
In the 38th minute, a great move by the holders ended with Bronagh Beglan rifling the ball past Sarah McGuire, but the girls in black and amber replied in style when Megan Dowdall picked out Beth McGuire who superbly rolled the ball past Karen Walsh for the losers’ third goal of the contest in the 40th minute.
However, the Milltown ladies demonstrated their vast experience in the final 20 minutes as they outscored their opponents by 1-3 to 0-1. A classy point from Clodagh Dillon and another Slevin free preceded the decisive goal from Clodagh Dillon in the 59th minute.
The sides exchanged points from frees in added-time, Nolan’s lobbed effort (assumedly an attempt to manufacture a face-saving goal) and Slevin’s curled shot cancelling each other out.
After the match, Geraldine Giles, chairperson of the Westmeath Ladies Football Board, presented the Jack Lyster Memorial Cup to the joint-winning captains, Rachel Dillon and Leanne Slevin, while Amy Duignan, on behalf of the sponsors Village Barn, presented the player of the match award to Laura Kiernan.
Player of the match: Laura Kiernan (Milltown). The winners’ centre half back read the game superbly throughout and invariably used the ball well when she gained possession.
Key moment: Milltown’s patient response to the shell-shock of conceding a goal after a mere 18 seconds, as they fired over a series of well-taken points.
Talking point: The Downs’ rise up the ranks of the ladies’ game in the Lake County is noteworthy, and the huge numbers they had in the mini-game during the interval would indicate a great interest at a young level in the very progressive club.
Stats watch: Wides - Milltown 7 (first half, 3); The Downs 4 (2). Yellow cards - Milltown 0; The Downs 1 – H Walsh.
Footnote: Before the game, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of four recently deceased people with strong links to Westmeath GAA – Kelly Nagle, Pauric Kirby, Robert Balfe, and Kathleen McNamee.
Scorers – Milltown: L Slevin 0-8 (6f), C Dillon 1-1, S Dillon 0-4, B Beglan 1-0, R Dillon, G Byrne 0-1 each. The Downs: B McGuire 1-1 (0-1f), L Power, M Dowdall 1-0 each, N Nolan 0-2 (2f).
Milltown: Karen Walsh; Emma Ballesty, Kelly Boyce Jordan, Nicky Feery; Emma Murtagh, Laura Kiernan, Rachel Dillon; Leanne Slevin, Tracey Dillon; Bronagh Beglan, Gráinne Byrne, Orlaith Sheerin; Clodagh Dillon, Sinéad Boyce, Sarah Dillon. Sub used: Aoife Kenny for Beglan (60).
The Downs: Sarah McGuire; Aisling Egerton, Helen Walsh, Lauren Guilfoyle; Aoife Rowan, Niamh Nolan, Róisín Scally; Lucy Power, Megan Dowdall; Olivia Glynn, Amy Dagg, Holly Dowdall; Niamh Rowan, Beth McGuire, Michelle Bohan. Subs used: Gillian Ferguson for Scally (36), Meadbh Scally for Dagg (45), Niamh Keogh for Bohan (51), Kristabella Tamosiunaite for A Rowan (55), Emily McNamee for Glynn (55), Francesca Walsh for B McGuire (59).
Ref: Paul O’Malley (Killucan).