Goal hungry Loman’s retain U18 ladies title

St Loman's Mullingar 6-8, Coralstown/Kinnegad 2-7

It was a case of three touches yielding three goals as the rising stock of Katie Kilmurray continued. The talented forward was central to the dominance of St Loman’s in their retention of the U18 Division 1 title against a resolute but ultimately second-best Coralstown-Kinnegad in Multyfarnham GAA last Sunday afternoon.

Certainly, a case to be made for the young star to be recognised as the finest underage talent in the county. Kilmurray had a hat-trick inside ten minutes as further goals from cousin, Caoimhe, and one from the lively Rachel McKenna put paid to the efforts of the red jerseys in what was a high-tempo affair overall.

A turnover by the well-drilled defence of Alan Quinn’s side inside the opening minute ended with the first of the three early goals as Kilmurray fired past Hazel McNevin. Sarah O’Sullivan had the first attempt for the side on the N4 but Katie McGrath was alert. A tap-over free from Therese Murray got her side going but down the other end the second and third early goals arrived. While the third was a great soccer-style finish, it was preceded by the move of the game for the previous green flag as goalkeeper McGrath started the build-up which went through Abbie Norris, Caoimhe Kilmurray, Meabh O’Hara, and Paige Matthews before Kilmurray finished low, despite being fouled in the act of shooting. Loman’s looked more eager to get the ball forward and while Kinnegad did nothing wrong, they were simply second-best to most exchanges as Jayne Charles began to boss the middle third. With Lara McCartan, Shauna Traynor, and fullback Eimear Doonan pushes up to pressure the opposition, it was proving difficult for Jack Cooney’s charges to escape regularly and create opportunities. The first white flags for the eventual victors came as the opening quarter was ending – both Kilmurray and Matthews (free) on target. When a looping effort from out wide off the boot of Caoimhe Kilmurray hit the back of the net, the contest looked dead and buried for Kinnegad – 4-2 to 0-1 on twenty minutes. A brief response came as Murray’s long-range free went over the heads of the defenders on the line and into the top corner, before the full-forward added a lovely curling free. The response was emphatic as Matthews (free), O’Hara, and Katie Kilmurray (free) ended the half with the score 4-5 to 1-2.

The second period saw a slight upsurge in Kinnegad forward momentum at times, with Tori Coyne and Marie Cooney utilising their speed and power to force gaps in the middle and attack centrally. Coyne’s run drew multiple fouls, two of which Murray struck over in quick succession. Abbie McCauley put in a fine defensive block to deny Breslin but the rot was stopped only temporarily as Caoimhe Kilmurray added her second three-pointer from distance (despite some bizarre attempts by Kinnegad to literally scream her down). As quick as the net burst at one end, Murray had her second in the other following a fine run from O’Sullivan. McNevin pulled off a superb point-blank save from O’Hara but with Loman’s working so well for each other, the score was never going to swing. Murray would add two more frees to end her day as Kinnegad’s only scorer, while Breslin added a point before Rachel McKenna lobbed in the sixth just before the end. A final score of 6-8 to 2-7 reflective of one of the great team efforts from Loman’s as captain Abbie Norris accepted the cup from Westmeath LGFA Chairperson, Geraldine Giles, to cap a superb season for Alan Quinn, Andrea Martin, and Enda Matthews’ side.

Scorers - St Loman’s: K Kilmurray 3-3 (1 free), C Kilmurray 2-0, R McKenna 1-0, S Breslin, P Matthews (frees) 0-2 each, M O’Hara 0-1.

Coralstown-Kinnegad: T Murray 2-7 (7 frees, 1 goal from a free also)

St Loman’s: Katie McGrath; Abbie Norris, Eimear Doonan, Eve Scally; Aoibhe Hogan, Lara McCartan, Shauna Traynor; Jayne Charles, Caoimhe Kilmurray; Meabh O’Hara, Katie Kilmurray, Shannon Breslin; Rachel McKenna, Gráinne Cleary, Paige Matthews. Subs used: Orla McDermott for Scally (49), Keelin Burke for Cleary (59).

Coralstown-Kinnegad: Hazel McNevin; Elisha McCauley, Ellie McDermott, Abbie McCauley; Sorcha Ryan, Tori Coyne, Niamh Farrell; Marie Cooney, Sarah O’Sullivan; Emer Fogarty, Fearne Coyne, Aoife McGrath; Alysha Corr, Therese Murray, Síofra Ní Mhuirí. Subs used: Erin Peters for McGrath (48), Hazel Fox for Ní Mhuirí (57), Tara Geraghty for F Coyne (58).

Referee: Paul McCaughey (Milltown).

Examiner's Eye on game

Player of the Match

Katie Kilmurray (St Loman's): Katie Kilmurray was outstanding. Credit must go to others also across the field who contributed to Loman’s win. Jayne Charles, Caoimhe Kilmurray, Paige Matthews all excelled

Score of the Match

Take your pick! All eight goals could be considered but the second Katie Kilmurray goal was fantastic as the blues worked quickly from back to front.