Dillon major gives Milltown the platform for victory

Leinster LGFA senior club championship quarter-final

Milltown 1-12, Tinahely 0-10

A superior Milltown side emerged with a five-point victory over Wicklow’s Tinahely on Sunday in the Leinster ladies football senior club championship quarter-final, in resplendent sunshine at Sean Doolin Memorial Park.

With home advantage, the Westmeath champions dominated for long stretches and never trailed against a tenacious Tinahely side. At half-time Milltown led by five points, 0-8 to 0-3, and a splendid goal from corner forward Clodagh Dillon in the 33rd minute helped them establish a hugely commanding lead (1-10 to 0-3).

Tinahely showed great character to outscore the home side by 0-7 to 0-2 in the remaining 29 minutes but ultimately it was that Dillon strike that gave Milltown the necessary breathing space as they advanced to a semi-final meeting with Dublin’s Kilmacud Croke’s next weekend.

Milltown, who lost to the same opponents last year in this competition, took the lead early on when the lively Sarah Dillon soloed through and pointed before Gráinne Byrne doubled their advantage in the fifth minute. The Wicklow visitors then replied with a brace of points from Aoife Gorman and Rachel Byrne, both of whom were really dangerous in the Tinahely attack.

Sinead Boyce soon had Milltown ahead with a point, a score that was the catalyst for a terrific spell. Sarah Dillon (two), Leanne Slevin (free) and Kelly Boyce Jordan each added minors as Milltown went 0-7 to 0-2 ahead by the 24th minute. The Westmeath champions’ movement, awareness and execution were excellent during this spell.

After Tinahely’s Aoife Gorman scored a fine solo point, Leanne Slevin - not for the only time - worked a free short with Sarah Dillon and after taking the return pass, shot over. It ensured Milltown of a 0-8 to 0-3 lead at the interval.

Tinahely applied pressure early in the second half and CIara Byrne’s high delivery was almost forced home by Jackie Kinch, but the ball went wide with Milltown ‘keeper Karen Walsh facing a strong aerial test. In the third minute, Milltown made the breakthrough at the other end as Sarah Dillon set up Clodagh Dillon for a wonderful goal, her shot finding the roof of the net.

Orlaith Sheerin’s pass sent Sarah Dillon clear to point, while Leanne Slevin again played a one-two from a free before firing over to put 13 points between the teams.

Although trailing heavily, Tinahely refused to capitulate and six unanswered points brought them right back into contention. Milltown were reduced to 14 players when Bronagh Beglan was sin-binned and that was perhaps a factor in the Tinahely resurgence.

Ciara and Rachel Byrne combined for the latter to point, while Aoife Gorman shot over in the 40th minute; Sarah Byrne scored a fine point after a slick counter attack and a Jackie Kinch free left six points between the teams.

Kinch soon notched another free and when Rachel Byrne shot over from play (after Aoife Gorman’s powerful run), the lead was just four points (1-10 to 0-9).

Crucially Milltown got the next score when Sarah Dillon was fouled and Leanne Slevin again exchanged passes with Clodagh Dillon before pointing. On the hour mark, Kelly Boyce Jordan made another foray into the opposition half before setting up the returning Bronagh Beglan, whose shot skimmed the crossbar and went over.

The Wicklow visitors, who finished the game with 14 players when Shannagh Goetelen was sin-binned, had the final say when Laura McGrath pointed in the fourth minute of added time, but it offered only consolation at this late stage and it was Milltown who progressed to the last four.

Scorers - Milltown: S Dillon and L Slevin (1f) 0-4 each, C Dillon 1-0, G Byrne, K Boyce Jordan, S Boyce and B Beglan 0-1 each.

Tinahely: A Gorman and R Byrne 0-3 each, J Kinch 0-2 (2f), S Byrne and L McGrath 0-1 each.

Milltown: Karen Walsh; Emma Ballesty, Kelly Boyce Jordan, Aoife Kearney; Emma Murtagh, Laura Kiernan, Rachel Dillon; Leanne Slevin, Tracey Dillon; Bronagh Beglan, Gráinne Byrne,, Orlaith Sheerin; Clodagh Dillon, Sinead Boyce, Sarah Dillon. Sub: Kate Whyte for G Byrne (53).

Tinahely: Shona Byrne; Ciara Stokes, Sarah Hickey, Emily Hadden; Niamh Kenny, Áíne Byrne, Eimear O’Sullivan; Aimee Maher, Shannagh Goetelen; Emily Mulhall, Eimear O’Brien, Aoife Gorman; Rachel Byrne, Jackie Kinch, Ciara Byrne. Subs: Sarah Byrne for E Hadden and Róisín Byrne for E O’Brien (HT), Loretta Gilbert for N Kenny (45), Laura McGrath for C Byrne (52).

Ref: Angela Gallagher (Dublin).

Examiner’s Eye on the game

Player of the match

Sarah Dillon (Milltown): Sarah Dillon, Leanne Slevin, Kelly Boyce Jordan, Emma Murtagh, Rachel Dillon and Orlaith Sheerin each made telling contributions over the course of the game. It’s such a well-balanced Milltown side that it’s almost impossible to choose a player of the match, but Sarah Dillon gets the vote after another impressive display in attack.

Score of the match

Gráinne Byrne scored a point in the 13th minute that really typified the collective work rate of this Milltown side. After Tinahely had been overturned, five different players combined, including Byrne, Sinead Boyce, Tracey Dillon, Clodagh Dillon and Bronagh Beglan before Byrne applied a fine finish.

Turning point

The Milltown goal on 33 minutes: sarah Dillon set up Clodagh Dillon, whose shot found the roof of the net. Tinahely were soon facing the proverbial mountain.