St Loman’s blitz Loughnavalley in second half to clinch title

It was a comfortable 18-point win for St Loman’s minor ladies at the end of their Division 1 final showdown with Loughnavalley on a bright yet cold Sunday morning in Shandonagh. The Mullingar side found their opposition hard to break down in the opening 30 minutes, bringing a five-point lead with them at half-time. The second half, however, was a different story, and the Valley were no match for a rampant Loman’s side.

The opening half hour can be best summarised as two teams in a constant struggle to break down the other. Both defences were strong, well-organised and thrived on turnover ball. Therefore, scores were hard to come by, the opening point coming in the fifth minute with Shannon Breslin’s score for St Loman’s, while she was later denied a goal two minutes later by Amy Doolon’s brilliant save. Leah Geoghegan had the chance to respond with a goal for Loughnavalley in the 15th minute, but her shot came crashing off the post, and a minute later, Shauna Traynor and Katie Kilmurray were involved when Shannon Breslin slid her shot under the goalkeeper and into the net. Morgan Corcoran responded for Loughnavalley with a free, but further points from Caoimhe and Katie Kilmurray left St Loman’s 1-3 to 0-1 in front at half-time.

St Loman’s would storm into a 13-point lead by the 37th minute in powerful fashion. Katie Kilmurray and Shannon Breslin scored before the latter assisted the former who slotted the ball into the roof of the opposing net just three minutes into the half. Four minutes later, Caoimhe Kilmurray rewarded a slick team move when she fired her shot into the corner. Pip Ruane responded for a shell-shocked Loughnavalley in the 39th minute, but by then, St Loman’s had their grip on the tie that wouldn’t yield to their opponent’s dismay. The midfielders would combine to see Caoimhe Kilmurray find the target in the 44th minute, while Shannon Breslin cut along the end-line moments later after a turnover earlier in the play to round Amy Doolon and score her second goal, and her team’s fourth. Morgan Corcoran slotted over a free for Loughnavalley two minutes after the final goal, only for Shannon Breslin to respond a minute later for the Mullingar team. The Valley’s final score of the match came from the right foot of Pip Ruane in the 52nd minute, while Lara McCartan, Maddie Mulderry and Caoimhe Kilmurray finished off proceedings for the victors.

Scorers - St Loman’s: Shannon Breslin 2-3, Caoimhe Kilmurray 1-3, Katie Kilmurray 1-2 (0-1 free), Lara McCartan and Maddie Mulderry 0-1 each.

Loughnavalley: Morgan Corcoran (0-2 frees) and Pip Ruane 0-2 each.

St Loman’s: Asha McCormack; Eimear Doonan, Eve Scally, Anna Sheehy; Aoibhe Hogan, Lara McCartan, Chloe Cahill; Caoimhe Kilmurray, Meabh O’Hara; Kate McDonnell, Katie Kilmurray, Emma Murphy; Keelin Burke, Shannon Breslin, Shauna Traynor.

Substitutes: Evie Kilmurray for Keelin Burke (half-time), Maddie Mulderry for Anna Sheehy and Katie McDonnell for Kate McDonnell (47), Norah Garry for Chloe Cahill (50), Ava Cummins for Emma Murphy (56).

Loughnavalley: Amy Doolon; Catriona Burke, Aoife O’Brien, Rose Macken; Emma O’Brien, Ellen Daly, Emer Claffey; Adele Geoghegan, Morgan Corcoran; Pip Ruane, Leah Geoghegan, Caoimhe McCann; Aoife Murphy, Sarah Thompson, Caoimhe Clarke.

Substitutes: Emma King for Emer Claffey (47), Anna Rami for Caoimhe Clarke, Charlotte Young for Catriona Burke and Roisin Tuite for Caoimhe McCann (57).

Referee: Jim Rock.