Moate girls have no answer to goal hungry St Loman's

St. Loman's comprehensively overcame Moate at Shandonagh GAA grounds last Sunday evening to deservedly capture the Westmeath minor 'A' ladies championship title. Loman's ability to score goals proved crucial to determining the outcome of this game and, by the middle of the second half, the game was beyond the reach of Moate who, despite the desperate situation facing them, battled gamely right to the end. Full-forward Ciara O'Dowd was the scorer-in-chief for the winning side, notching up a fine tally of 2-1 during her time on the pitch. She was ably helped by captain Ciara Blundell, Sinead Morrissey, Fionna Robinson and second-half substitute Bridget Heslin who all managed to raise a green flag. Another pleasing asset of Loman's win was the fact that the final scoring total of 6-6 came from open play with a good spread of scorers (seven in all) throughout the team. For their part, Moate never stopped trying but it was the concession of goals (some of them very soft) that killed off their challenge. Although it would be Loman's who would go on to score goals at their ease, it was in fact Moate who managed to raise the first green flag of the day after just 46 seconds. A free kick was sent long toward the Loman's goal by midfielder Arlene Coughlan. The ball broke kindly to Claire Dolan who pulled on the ball from close range giving Fiona Keating little chance in the Loman's goal. St. Loman's replied almost immediately down the other end with O'Dowd finding the range after a well-worked move. But Moate reinforced their fine start on four minutes courtesy of a converted free from full-forward Christine Warburton, the first of her tally of 0-4 for the day. A wide apiece preceded the next score but when it did finally arrive in the tenth minute, it was a crucial one as it started the St. Loman's goal rout. There looked to be little danger when Ciara O'Dowd's shot for a point looked to be dropping safely into the hands of Moate 'keeper Rebekah Bowden. But unfortunately for Moate, the ball slipped from her grasp and into the net - a lucky break for Loman's but one they intended to build on. Just two minutes later, the ball was in the net again. This time, a flowing move that began in the half-back line and involved Sinead Morrissey, Sheila Kelly and O'Dowd culminated in Fionna Robinson shooting for goal. It wasn't the strongest of shots but the ball managed to sneak in through the tightest of gaps at the near post to give Loman's the lead for the first time in the match. It was one they would not relinquish as the piled on the pressure up front. By the 24th minute they had extended their lead to five after both Ciara Blundell and Sheila Kelly registered points. A Christine Warburton free cut the lead back down to four with four minutes to go in the half but, in injury-time, Moate were hit for another goal. And again it was a lucky one as Sinead Morrissey's free was again dropped into the net-time by Bowden. Just to compound the misery for Moate, Sheila Kelly tapped over her second score of the day just before the half-time whistle to put an eight-point margin between the two sides. Upon the resumption, Moate again started brightly but this time they couldn't represent it on the scoreboard. Instead, Loman's grabbed their fourth goal after six minutes. Sheila Kelly sent the ball over the top to Ciara O'Dowd, who touched the ball around the advancing Bowden and finished to the empty net. The writing was now on the wall for Moate and a further six minutes yielded a fifth Loman's goal. A shot for a point by O'Dowd rebounded high off the top of the post and substitute Bridget Heslin, only on the pitch a matter of minutes, reacted quickest in collecting the loose ball and firing to the back of the net. It was well and truly game over now. Now without a score since the 26th minute and desperately in need of goals, Moate almost got one with ten to go but a superb save from Fiona Keating denied Deirdre Farrell what would have been a fine goal. As the game ticked into injury time, points from Morrissey and Julie McLoughlin had extended the Loman's lead to 16. And then Moate got the goal they deserved when a quick free from Christine Warburton found Kelly Preston and she found the net from close range. But Loman's weren't finished either and when Sheila Kelly picked out Ciara Blundell in space, she neatly skipped around her marker and fired the ball to the back of the net. Two late points from Christine Warburton gave Moate some consolation but the day unquestionably belonged to St Loman's. SCORERS - St. Loman's: Ciara O'Dowd (2-1), Sinead Morrissey (1-1), Ciara Blundell (1-1), Fionna Robinson (1-0), Bridget Heslin (1-0), Sheila Kelly (0-2), Julie McLoughlin (0-1). Moate: Christine Warburton (0-4, 1 free), Kelly Preston (1-0), Claire Dolan (1-0). ST LOMAN'S, MULLINGAR: Fiona Keating; Alison Daly, Muireann Scally, Hannah Doherty; Jessica Dunne, Sandra McGrath, Julie McLoughlin; Katie Dunne, Sheila Kelly; Sinead Morrissey, Clodagh Cleary, Ciara Blundell; Fionna Robinson, Ciara O'Dowd, Carol Stephens. SUBS: Bridget Heslin for F. Robinson (38'), Emer Donoghue for C. O'Dowd (42'). MOATE: Rebekah Bowden; Jill Shortall, Aishling Warburton, Emma Rafferty; Aishling O'Neill, Lorna Henson, Michelle Molloy; Kalene McCormack, Arlene Coughlan; Kelly Preston, Clodagh Flanagan, Chloe Wheatley; Emma Shortall, Christine Warburton, Claire Dolan. SUBS: Isabel O'Neill for A. O'Neill (30'), Deirdre Farrell for E. Shortall (42'), Una Costello for J. Shortall (42'), Emma Buckley for C. Dolan (56').