Saints maintain senior status with timely victory

St. Loman's, Mullingar won the battle to stay out of the relegation playoff in Cusack Park Mullingar on Sunday night last as they easily disposed of a tame Kinnegad challenge.Don’t let the score line fool you, The Mullingar blues were good value for this win and but for a very late rally from Kinnegad then this could have been comfortable. In the dying moments a Kinnegad goal would have drawn the game and turned the whole game on its head but they wouldn’t have deserved it having played second fiddle for large parts of this game.Level at the break, St. Lomans took over completely in the second period and at one stage led by 7 but they faded badly in the closing stages and were happy to hear the final whistle and are now guaranteed Senior football next season while for the Reds it’s a playoff with St. Malachys to stay in the upper echelons of Westmeath football.Ironically Kinnegad started the better and Cian Flynn looked in on goal in the opening minute only to be fouled and Alan Giles converted the resultant free. John Heslin levelled matters for Lomans with a great point off his left boot after five minutes but Kinnegad had another goal chance when a great through ball by David Flynn found Fergal Dardis but his shot was brilliantly blocked by Gary Glennon. Shane Flynn missed a simple chance after Conor Lynams effort came off the post and on the break Giles put Kinnegad in front. Derek Griffin put two between the sides after a long build up from Kinnegad but tow Heslin frees levelled matters before the 20 minute mark. A fumble by Joe Rossiter in the Kinnegad goal gave Heslin the simplest of frees to tap over but a Giles free levelled matters just before the break. There then followed some truly awful attempts from both sides before referee Niall Ward blew to end an eventful but rather mediocre first half.Loman’s manager Walter Burke must have had magic water at half time as his team came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half and after a wonderful individual score from Conor Lynam had put his side ahead, Johnny Plunkett profited from some truly awful Kinnegad defending to double that lead. Niall Kilmartin entered the fray for Kinnegad and Conrad Reilly for Lomans but it was the Lomans substitute that had the bigger influence and his unselfish running began to open up the Kinnegad defence. Shane Flynn saw a goal chance tipped over the bar by Rossiter before Heslin kicked a super score from a narrow angle and then a great ball from Reilly found Conor Lynam who hit a super score to put 6 between them. Lomans could have buried their opponents at this stage but they missed some very scorable chances indeed before Paul Sharry pointed a 30 yard free but that was as good as it got for the blues and they retreated into their shell and Kinnegad made a last stand.Jason Lynch got their first of the comeback after moving up field from his corner back role and then the subs got in on the act. Niall Kilmartin could have had a goal for Kinnegad but good defending denied him to just a point. Clive Kiernan pointed from a sideline ball before a fisted effort from Stephen Cole left just a goal between the sides with time running out and a goal would have saw them through but try as they might they could not penetrate for the equalising goal.Conor Lynam, Kelvin Reilly, Gary Glennon and Heslin were the pick of the bunch for Lomans while Conrad Reilly’s introduction was timely but their man of the match was undoubtedly Paddy Dowdall who was outstanding and after a miserable season at least they have maintained their place at the top table and will build on that. Kinnegad will wonder how they have gone from a semi-final last year to relegation playoff this year and but for some sterling displays from David Kilmartin, Griffin, Giles and Jason Cully and their subs then they could have been beaten far easier in this game and they must now lift themselves for the challenge ahead.Scorers: St. Lomans: John Heslin 0-5, 3 frees, Conor Lynam 0-3, Paul Sharry (free), John Plunkett, Shane Flynn 0-1 each. Coralstown/Kinnegad: Alan Giles 0-3 2 frees, Jason Lynch, Derek Griffin, Niall Kilmartin, Clive Kiernan(sideline) and Stephen Cole 0-1 eachSt. Lomans: Stephen Gallagher, David Rushe, Gary Glennon, James Davitt, Stephen Gilmore, Paddy Dowdall, Kelvin Reilly, Tommy Lambden, Paul Sharry, John Plunkett, Conor Lynam, Shane Flynn, Conor Cochrane, John Heslin, Kieran Lynam. Sub: Conrad Reilly for Cochrane 38 mins.Coralstown/Kinnegad: Joe Rossiter, Jason Lynch, Ronan Doyle, Killian Foley, David Kilmartin, Wayne Fox, Derek Griffin, Cian Flynn, Stephen Bracken, Ronan Foley, Eamonn Fleming, Alan Giles, David Flynn, Fergal Dardis, Jason Cully. Subs: Niall Kilmartin for David Flynn 38 mins, Clive Kiernan for Griffin for 42 mins, Stephen Cole for Fleming 54 mins, Joe Kenny for Ronan Foley 57 mins.Referee: Niall Ward, Garrycastle.