Loman’s hold on to overcome reigning champions Milltown 

St Loman's 2-6, Milltown 0-10

A tally of 2-2 from Katie Kilmurray gave St Loman’s the victory over reigning champions, Milltown, in the third round of the ladies’ senior football championship on Thursday evening last.

Under the blinding sunlight in Lakepoint Park, a game of two halves emerged as the victors went scoreless from play in the second period under relentless pressure from the Milltown forwards. In the end, some resolute defending, and a small slice of fortune in stoppage time meant the blues held on at the final whistle.

Things looked ominous for Loman’s as Kate Whyte fired the green jerseys in front off the opening attack, something the table-toppers had done in previous crushing wins over St Joseph’s and St Mary’s Rochfortbridge. In almost trademark fashion, Tom Dillon’s side looked to get scores with pace early but were undone by Kilmurray in the 7th minute. A super turnover from Ciara Blundell followed by a long-ball from Lucy McCartan eventually left the pacey youngster free before she buried to the net. Vicky Carr fisted over from the resulting kickout before an exchange of scores from Gráinne Byrne and Blundell left the score 1-2 to 0-2 near the quarter-hour mark.

Overcarrying became a feature due to the hounding pressure of both sides. Leanne Slevin found the target for her first of the day but the intensity dropped on occasion due to various stoppages for injuries on both sides, often due to heavy collisions. Coming towards the interval, Loman’s found another patch of scoring, starting with a fine point from another rising star of Westmeath football, midfielder Caoimhe Kilmurray. Almost instantly, Katie Kilmurray had the ball in the net again as she intercepted the restart to lob over Karen Walsh to the empty net. The point of the game came in the long period of stoppage time from Carr, ending a multi-player move that began with goalkeeper Jane McKenna. Half-time and after eight overcarrying frees and as many minutes added-on, the blues had control, 2-4 to 0-3.

The Milltown sideline were clearly unhappy at the level of possession being taken into contact in attack and so a rejig of approach was introduced. Caoimhe Donohue got things going with their first score in over twenty-minutes of football. The high-press on the kickouts from the Rathconrath side provided more but Slevin could not convert the close-range free. Five points without reply in a ten-minute spell suddenly brought the deficit to the minimum. Orlaith Sheerin, Sarah Dillon, Slevin, Clodagh Dillon, and a stunner from Gráinne Byrne off her trusted left made it 2-4 to 0-9 as Loman’s remained scoreless in the half.

With ten remaining in normal time, Clodagh Dillon levelled matters before the first home venture forward in some time yielded a free following a foul on Lucy McCartan. Katie Kilmurray tapped over to put her side back in front. She added a similar free three minutes later to leave the gap at 2-6 to 0-10. That would prove to be the final score of the contest as the remaining minutes – plus nearly ten of added-time for injuries – brought drama but no scores.

The closest coming in those additional minutes when Sarah Dillon, having done the hard work and rounding the goalkeeper, saw her outside-of-the-foot effort graze the base of the post and trickle wide, much to the disbelief of all in attendance, and on the pitch.

A big collision between Laura Murphy and Kelly Boyce-Jordan added further time to the original five minutes but a last-ditch turnover by Katie Dunne brought the final whistle from Barry Nea, much to the joy and relief of Ciarán Kilmurray’s side. Loman’s hang on in the end for another victory. Milltown suffer their first loss in the group.

Scorers - St Loman’s: K Kilmurray 2-2 (2f), V Carr 0-2, C Kilmurray, C Blundell 0-1 each

Milltown: L Slevin, G Byrne, C Dillon 0-2 each, C Donohue, O Sheerin, K Whyte, S Dillon 0-1 each

St Loman’s: Jane McKenna; Katie Dunne, Megan Ennis, Aileen Duffy; Ellen Kilmurray, Muireann Scally, Julie McLaughlin; Vicky Carr, Caoimhe Kilmurray; Lara McCartan, Lucy McCartan, Ciara Blundell; Sandra McGrath, Shannon Breslin, Katie Kilmurray. Subs used: Laura Murphy for McGrath (49), Annie Kilmurray for McLaughlin (56)

Milltown: Karen Walsh; Jilly Ballesty, Aoife Kenny, Louise Kiernan; Emma Murtagh, Kelly Boyce-Jordan, Rachel Dillon; Leanne Slevin, Tracey Dillon; Caoimhe Donohue, Gráinne Byrne, Orlaith Sheerin; Clodagh Dillon, Kate Whyte, Sarah Dillon. Subs used: Katie Somers for Donohue (37).

Referee: Barry Nea (Killucan)