Sam McCartan, St Loman’s, gets clear of the Athlone duo of Conor Rushe and James Finlass during the Westmeath SFC game at TEG Cusack Park on Friday. Photo: John McCauley.

Cox goal seals victory as Athlone push Loman's all the way

Kieran Galvin

Published: Mon 22 Jul 2024, 4:59 PM

Last updated: Mon 22 Jul 2024, 5:49 PM

St Loman's Mullingar 1-15, Athlone 2-8

As expected, St Loman's Mullingar got the defence of their Flanagan Cup crown off to a winning start, but Athlone can take encouragement from their spirited display at TEG Cusack Park last Friday evening.

Having trailed by three points at half-time, Athlone rattled the reigning champions by scoring two second-half goals courtesy of Daniel Reid and Cillian Lynn. And the men in light blue and white drew level with 12 minutes remaining (0-13 to 2-7).

Ultimately, TJ Cox's superbly taken goal - which came in the 53rd minute after a wayward Athlone pass was intercepted - gave Loman's the impetus to secure a deserved victory.

With John Heslin not involved in this encounter, the Mullingar side still had plenty of scoring prowess on show. TJ Cox, Ronan O'Toole and Sam McCartan contributed 1-11 between them, while Peter Foy chipped in with two first-half points.

From Athlone's perspective, Cillian Lynn was impressive in attack, always showing for the ball and trying to make things happen. In addition, Stephen O'Connor made a welcome return to senior championship action and scored three points.

Ronan O'Toole opened the scoring by pointing a free he had earned himself. His Westmeath colleague Ray Connellan won the resulting kickout and levelled matters with a booming wind-assisted shot from about 60 metres. Four more points were shared evenly up to the tenth minute – Lynn and O'Connor scoring frees for Athlone, with Sam McCartan (a free) and Foy on target for Loman's.

The champions then took control, hitting four points on the trot. Cox (after a slick move), Foy and O'Toole (two frees) were the men on target. Athlone were struggling to curb the influence of the elusive O'Toole, but a brilliant left-footed point by O'Connor lifted the Shannonsiders, and Lynn then converted a mark after winning Benny Martin's delivery inside.

O'Toole set up Danny McCartan for a point to leave Paddy Dowdall's charges leading 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time. Athlone were fortunate to see three Loman's point attempts hit the woodwork in the first half and, at the other end, O'Connor's free met a similar fate just before the interval.

Athlone wasted a good chance to open the scoring in the second half, allowing O'Toole to do so from a mark instead. Loman's threatened to grab a goal when Sam McCartan played a one-two with Enda Gaffney, but Athlone goalie Darren Costello made a fine save.

Buoyed by this let-off, Eoin Jordan's side got right back in contention as a flowing move led to the game's first goal (38th minute). Lynn was central to the creation of the opportunity, with Shane Allen's pass giving substitute Danny Reid the chance to palm the ball to the net.

Sam McCartan steadied the Loman's ship with two points in quick succession, the first from a free off the ground.

But Athlone struck for their second goal on 43 minutes, following good work from prominent sub Mark Egan and O'Connor. Lynn applied a cool finish past regular Westmeath custodian Jason Daly.

Loman's again responded swiftly to conceding a goal, this time through a point from the lively Cox. Egan brought Athlone level and though Loman's sub Shane Dempsey edged his side back in front, Kieran Colclough pointed a mark to tie things up again (48th minute).

The crucial Loman's goal came when a pass from the otherwise excellent Lynn was intercepted by Sam McCartan. James Finlass tried to halt McCartan's progress by any means possible, but play continued and Cox fired an unstoppable shot to the Athlone net.

There only looked like being one winner from then on, with O'Toole and Cox adding points for Loman's, in between O'Connor's third at the other end.

Athlone will meet Caulry in the second round at Hogan Park on Sunday evening (7.30) and with the Mount Temple side having also lost their opening game, both teams are in need of a win. For their part, Loman's will meet Tang in Ballymore on Saturday evening (7pm).

SCORERS - St Loman's: TJ Cox 1-3; R O'Toole 0-5 (3f, 1 mark); S McCartan 0-3 (2f); P Foy 0-2; D McCartan and S Dempsey 0-1 each. Athlone: C Lynn 1-2 (0-1f, 0-1 mark); D Reid 1-0; S O’Connor 0-3 (1f); R Connellan, M Egan and K Colclough (mark) 0-1 each.

St Loman's Mullingar: Jason Daly; David Whelan, Darragh O'Keeffe, Oisin Hogan; Enda Gaffney, Jack Geoghegan, Sam McCartan; Kevin Regan, Sean Flanagan; Rory Sheahan, Ronan O'Toole, Peter Foy; TJ Cox, Fola Ayorinde, Danny McCartan. Subs used: Shane Dempsey for Ayorinde (45 mins); Kelvin Reilly for Sheahan (46) Conor O'Donoghue for Gaffney (46).

Athlone: Darren Costello; Matty Darling, Noel Mulligan, James Finlass; Michael Byrne, Diarmuid Martin, Kieran Colclough; Benny Martin, Ray Connellan; Stephen Flaherty, Shane Allen, Eamon Martin; Cillian Lynn, Stephen O’Connor, Conor Rushe. Subs used: Daniel Reid for Rushe (inj., 36 mins); Mark Egan for Flaherty (41), John Stapleton for Darling (47).

Referee: Alan Coyne (C-F/C/W).