St Loman’s find a little extra to deny Tubberclair
St Loman’s Mullingar 1-25 Tubberclair 2-20 (AET)
By Paul Hughes
The old saying “the old dog for the hard road” rang true in TEG Cusack Park last Saturday evening as experienced campaigners St Loman’s, Mullingar knocked fancied newcomers Tubberclair out of the Westmeath SFC at the quarter-final stage, though they were pushed all the way by the youthful South Westmeath outfit.
It took over 80 minutes of thrilling football to separate the sides, with dramatic late two-pointers from Tubberclair duo Eoghan McCabe and Tom Kelleher buoying the Section ‘B’ winners to force extra time.
With Sam McCartan steadying the ship, John Heslin at his usual best from dead balls and two-pointers, and Sean Flanagan, Shane Dempsey and Danny McCartan picking off vital scores, St Loman’s – though occasionally vulnerable at the back – were more finessed in shot selection, kickout battles and ball retention.
It wasn’t just the veteran campaigners who delivered. Young substitute Cillian Plunkett, introduced after 40 minutes, made a season-saving intervention for the Blues by hindering Tubberclair’s Fred Kelleher from firing over a winner with the final kick of normal time.
St Loman’s may have become accustomed to draws in 2026 but they’re now also well-schooled in the art of toughing it out, and only a fool would write Paddy Dowdall’s charges off in their forthcoming semi-final against Coralstown/Kinnegad.
For Tubberclair, valuable lessons were banked to steel them for next year. Having emerged from Section ‘B’ playing a highly attractive brand of football, they will surely challenge for the Flanagan Cup in the next few years.
The southerners, co-managed by Keith Higgins and Danny Sammon, drew first blood with a two-point free from Eoghan McCabe, but St Loman’s soon levelled through Sean Flanagan (after a surging run) and a John Heslin free. By the tenth minute, Tubberclair led 0-4 to 0-3 following well-worked scores from Paul Garvey and Tadhg Moody, with Danny McCartan replying for Loman’s.
Tubberclair were then reminded of the importance of small margins when, after fine work by the returning Matthew Whittaker, both Garvey and Kealan Connell tested St Loman’s goalkeeper Jason Daly. Moments later, Heslin converted a two-point free and instead of potentially leading by four, Tubberclair trailed by one.
Heslin increased the lead with a free but Tom Kelleher and Connell had levelled matters by the 25th minute. In between, Fred Kelleher almost netted for Tubberclair with a low drive from a tight angle, but he was denied on the line by Darragh O’Keeffe.
Heslin then nudged the Mullingar men two ahead with a terrific two-pointer – despite losing his footing – before Shane Dempsey shot over on the turn to stretch the lead to three. Connell and Flanagan traded scores from play for their respect sides, leaving the Blues full value for their 0-10 to 0-7 lead at the interval.
St Loman’s started the second half brightly when Danny McCartan curled over a sublime two-pointer off the outside of his right boot. At the other end, Paul Garvey almost netted for Tubberclair after claiming a long ball from Tom Kelleher. Jason Daly was equal to the finish, and Garvey won and dispatched a mark for his troubles.
Heslin kept the scoreboard ticking over with a point from play but Tubberclair, upping the ante after falling behind by five points, responded with scores from Tom Kelleher (a nice point off his left) and Eoghan McCabe (a free).
Then, on 42 minutes, Tubberclair got the equaliser when Kelleher picked out Kealan Connell with a lofty pass down the right flank. Connell had options but galloped towards goal and thumped a breathtaking finish past Jason Daly. The men from around Lough Ree then took the lead (1-11 to 0-13) with a fine point from James Madden.
Entering the final quarter, St Loman’s were reeling but found an opening after a well-crafted move involving Sam McCartan and Sean Flanagan. Nellie Duffy’s tame shot was saved by Kevin Fagan, but as Heslin chased the rebound, Stephen McGonagle brought him down. McGonagle was booked and Heslin confidently drilled the resultant penalty into the bottom corner. St Loman’s led by two.
At the other end, Tubberclair’s Fred Kelleher rattled the crossbar with a powerful left-footed shot and when Heslin punished this with a two-point free, St Loman’s looked to be pulling away.
Heslin then had a goalbound shot blocked by McGonagle and when Tubberclair were then awarded a 54th-minute penalty for a foul on Oisín O’Meara, it was game on again. However, Fred Kelleher blasted the resulting kick over rather than under the bar, and although he made some amends for the miss with a point moments later, Tubberclair were still two adrift.
Sam McCartan then teed up his brother Danny for a point but as the pendulum of play continued to swing wildly, Kealan Connell almost snuck in for a Tubberclair goal, but kicked high and off the upright.
Eoghan McCabe (a free) and Sam McCartan exchanged scores but on the stroke of 60 minutes, McCabe heaped pressure on the Saints with a beautifully struck two-pointer to leave the minimum between the sides (1-17 to 1-16).
St Loman’s tried to run down the clock with possession football and in stoppage time, doubled their lead when Kelvin Reilly set up Shane Dempsey for his second point.
Remarkably, Tubberclair then produced their second two-pointer in as many minutes, this time from the boot of Tom Kelleher. A subsequent St Loman’s counter attack broke down and in dramatic fashion, Tubberclair had a final chance to win it in normal time.
They worked the ball beautifully down field with a series of foot-passes before Fred Kelleher eventually got it onto this left peg for what looked like a certain winner. However, St Loman’s sub Cillian Plunkett made a dart for Kelleher and got enough of his body in the way to ensure the Tubberclair forward sliced the ball wide.
With the sides locked at 1-18 apiece, 20 minutes of extra time ensued. The Mullingar men’s experience showed early doors and Sam McCartan despatched a two-point free from 55 metres, while Danny McCartan (a fisted effort) and Kelvin Reilly also found the target. However, a badly needed two-pointer from Taylor Slevin kept Tubberclair in contention (trailing 1-22 to 1-20).
In the second half of extra time, St Loman’s pulled away again, with John Heslin shooting the lights out with a wonderfully struck two-pointer.
But Tubberclair had reintroduced Westmeath star Matthew Whittaker – still not fully recovered from injury – during the mini-break and with five minutes to go, he worked the ball in from the left to tee up Oisín Meara for a powerful finish. That second goal reduced Tubberclair’s arrears to a single point, but there would be no further bites at the cherry.
With three minutes to go, Sam McCartan finished off a patient St Loman’s move with a point and the Blues played “keep ball” for the dying embers of the game, setting up a reprise of last year’s semi-final.
Man of the match: John Heslin (St Loman’s, Mullingar). Experience got St Loman’s over the line on Sunday - the vast experience of the likes of Sam and Danny McCartan, Shane Dempsey, Sean Flanagan and Heslin, who shades this accolade for his quality two-pointers. Tubberclair also had plenty of contenders here, including Kealan Connell, Tom Kelleher and Eoghan McCabe.
Scorers - St Loman’s: J Heslin 1-11 (1-0pen, 2tp, 2tpf, 0-2f); D McCartan 0-5 (1tp); S McCartan 0-4 (1tpf); S Flanagan and S Dempsey 0-2 each; K Reilly 0-1. Tubberclair: E McCabe 0-6 (1tp, 1tpf, 2f); K Connell 1-2; T Kelleher 0-4 (1tp); O O’Meara 1-0; T Slevin (tp), P Garvey (1 mark) and F Kelleher (1 pen) 0-2 each; T Moody and J Madden 0-1 each.
St Loman’s, Mullingar - Jason Daly; David Whelan, Darragh O’Keeffe, Mikey Weir; Ciaran Smyth, Eoghan Hogan, Jack Geoghegan; Sean Flanagan, Sam McCartan; Kevin Regan, Danny McCartan, Nellie Duffy; Shane Muldarry, John Heslin, Shane Dempsey. Subs: Cillian Plunkett for Regan (40 mins), Kelvin Reilly for Muldarry (50), Nathan Lally for Weir (56).
Tubberclair - Kevin Fagan; Stephen McGonagle, Cathal Tighe, Kyle Fagan; Tom Kelleher, James Madden, Matthew Whittaker; Tadhg Moody, Sean Claffey; Paul Keegan, Taylor Slevin, Eoghan McCabe; Fred Kelleher, Paul Garvey, Kealan Connell. Subs: Gavin Delaney for Keegan (39 mins), Finn Duffy for Garvey (46), Oisín O’Meara for Whittaker (51), Daire O’Connor for S Claffey (53), Whittaker for O’Connor (h-t, e-t), S Claffey for Moody (12, e-t), Keegan for Slevin (15, e-t).
Referee - Enda Kelly (Castledaly).