Garrycastle seek ‘great eight’ as St Loman’s stand in their way

Garrycastle will be bidding to win the Flanagan Cup for the eighth time when they face St Loman's Mullingar in the Westmeath SFC final tomorrow (Sunday) at TEG Cusack (3.30pm).

St Loman's have won four of the last six titles, including three in succession from 2015 to 2017. For their part, Garrycastle's last senior county crown came in 2014, when they defeated Mullingar Shamrocks in the final. 

The sides met at the semi-final stages of last year's championship when St Loman’s emerged victorious, before losing out to Mullingar Shamrocks in the decider. 

In their six games in this year’s championship, Garrycastle haven’t conceded a goal in five of them but, remarkably, the exception saw them leak five goals against Sunday’s opponents. St Loman’s dished out a 5-14 to 2-12 hammering to Garrycastle in the last round of group games. However, a major caveat can be attached to that heavy defeat in that Garrycastle were not only already through to the knockout stages, they were virtually assured of a semi-final place.

In any case, of more relevance to Sunday’s final is the last knockout game between the sides - last year’s semi-final which Loman’s won by 2-10 to 0-12, a game where the concession of two soft goals proved crucial in derailing Garrycastle’s hopes. 

There is a perception that St Loman’s are not as formidable as they were a couple of years ago when they completed the three-in-a-row in 2017. But it's worth remembering that, later that year, they should really should have been crowned Leinster champions when they allowed a winning position to be scuppered by Moorefield’s smash and grab raid.

There has been a considerable amount of turnover in the Loman’s team, particularly in defence, in the last couple of years - but Luke Dempsey's side are still rated as firm favourites by the bookies on Sunday. 

How Garrycastle cope with the threat of John Heslin will surely be pivotal to the outcome. In the 2013 semi-final between the teams, Heslin famously scored 2-16, surely a record in a Westmeath SFC match. Garrycastle were rightly aggrieved about the inordinate amount of added time played that day and some questionable frees, but it was a game that showed the absolute class that Heslin possesses and he delivered an exhibition of scoring.

At the other end, Garrycastle will need Alex Gardiner to hit top form as, when he’s on song, he can be a match winner. Jack Donohue and Justin Barrett, two players who were away during last year's campaign, have made a significant difference to Garrycastle this year and they will be hoping for influential displays from them. Jason Nugent has also emerged as a valuable option in the Garrycastle attack.

Given the scoring capability in the St Loman’s ranks, it will be interesting to see if Garrycastle adopt a defensive approach. Garrycastle will surely funnel players back when they don’t have the ball and cutting out the supply to the dangerous St Loman's forwards will be high on the priority list.

Their defeat in last year’s final to neighbours Shamrocks is likely to be a major motivating factor for St Loman’s. Yet Garrycastle won't lack incentive either as they look to bring the Flanagan Cup back to the south of the county for the first time in five years.

The curtain-raiser to the eagerly awaited senior decider is the Under-17 football championship final between St Martin's (Maryland/Tang and Millmore Gaels) and Coralstown/Kinnegad (1.30pm).

FLASHBACK... 2009 Westmeath SFC final

Garrycastle 3-8 St Loman's Mullingar 0-6

Tomorrow's clash will be the second Westmeath SFC final between the clubs - with Garrycastle winning the only previous decider ten years ago (2009).

Interestingly, current Garrycastle manager Gary Dolan was the victorious captain on that occasion and he scored one of Garrycastle's goals that day. The other goals came from James Dolan and substitute Alan Daly (who replaced the injured Shane Mulvihill) as Anthony Cunningham's charges claimed an emphatic victory.

It was a day to remember for the Dolan clan with Dessie chosen for the official man of the match award after an outstanding display which included five points.

Then 17-year-old John Heslin lined out at midfield in that final for a St Loman's team managed by Walter Burke. Conor Lynam was top scorer for St Loman's in that final but Garrycastle's greater experience and craft proved a bridge too far.  

Garrycastle team & scorers: Cathal Mullin; Paraic Rattigan, John Gaffey, Enda Mulvihill; Mark McCallon, Karl Henson, Doron Harte; Aidan Browne, Seanie O'Donoghue; James Dolan (1-0), James Duignan (0-1, free), Shane Mulvihill; Paul Dillon (0-2, 2f); Gary Dolan (captain, 1-0), Dessie Dolan (0-5, 1f). Subs used: Alan Daly (1-0), Stephen O'Reilly, Tom McHugh, David O'Shaughnessy, Jonathan McGuire. 

St Loman's Mullingar team & scorers: Stephen Gallagher; Seanie Murphy, James Davitt, Kenny McKinley (captain); Gary Glennon, Paddy Dowdall, Senan Russell; Tommy Lambden, John Heslin; Conradh Reilly (0-1), Jonathan Plunkett, Conor Lynam (0-4); Paul Sharry, Kieran Lynam (0-1, free), Ciaran Kilmurray. Subs used: Steven Gilmore, John Ahearne, Emmett Cahill, Willie McGovern, Conor Cochrane. 

Referee: Sean Carroll (The Downs).

Final Fixtures (Sunday, October 13)

Shay Murtagh Precast Westmeath Senior FC Final
TEG Cusack Park: Garrycastle v St Loman's Mullingar, 3:30pm, Damien Maher.

Radisson Blu Hotel Westmeath Minor (Under-17) Football Championship Final 
TEG Cusack Park: St Martin's v Coralstown/Kinnegad, 1:30pm, Ken Gunning.