Dillon sisters to the fore as Milltown retain their title

Milltown 2-12 St Loman’s Mullingar 2-7

By Paul Hughes

Milltown’s big-game experience proved crucial as they eclipsed their would-be dethroners St Loman’s, Mullingar in the highly anticipated replay of this year’s Westmeath LGFA Senior Championship final at The Downs last Saturday.

The Rathconrath side, celebrating their ninth title in 15 years under bainisteoir Tom Dillon, rode their luck with a brace of fortuitous goals from Sarah Dillon. But in fairness, they deserved their 2-7 to 2-4 lead at the short whistle, following a high-quality and fiercely competitive first half.

St Loman’s should have made inroads when Milltown midfielder Tracey Dillon was sin-binned for Milltown five minutes after the restart. However, the Blues were wasteful going forward and failed to make that ten minutes of numerical advantage count.

Milltown led by six with as many minutes to go and with their defence firing on all cylinders, St Loman’s were afforded little space and never looked likely to conjure a smash-and-grab victory late on. With only three points and seven wides to show for their second-half efforts, Ciaran Kilmurray’s troops could have no complaints.

The girls in green started the brightest possession wise but Sarah Dillon missed the target twice. Indeed, the Westmeath star kicked all six of Milltown’s wides but ultimately what she scored was more crucial than what she missed. Dillon opened the scoring after latching on to a quick free from Laura Kiernan and with eight minutes gone, Rachel Dillon – a pivotal creative presence for Milltown throughout – teed up Sinéad Slevin to double that advantage.

With Milltown’s physicality notable in the drawn game, St Loman’s matched their opponents this time around, making for an intense opening ten minutes with plenty of close contact and ferocious pressing. Referee Vinny Cox allowed the game to flow, and the result was a pulsating first half.

With ten minutes gone, St Loman’s got a chance to take the lead when McCartan picked out Katie Kilmurray down the left flank. Kilmurray cut inside and drove a low shot at goal, but Milltown’s Sinéad Byrne was equal to it.

Milltown then took a three-point lead when St Loman’s were penalised for a breach of positional rules and Sarah Dillon tapped over the resultant free. However, the Blues raced into the lead with four points in six minutes, and they largely had Caoimhe Kilmurray to thank for settling them into the game. She set up her cousin Katie for the opening St Loman’s score on 15 minutes before kicking two exquisite points of her own to level matters.

Jayne Charles then underlined the Blues’ new-found confidence with a fine point after scything her way past a couple of tackles but Milltown soon took the lead again thanks to Gráinne Byrne (a free) and Leanne Slevin (a fine score).

That lead chopped and changed over the ensuing ten minutes with a flurry of goals. With 21 minutes on the clock, Shannon Breslin picked out Katie Kilmurray who drove a low left-footed shot to the Milltown net.

Back came Milltown a minute later when Sarah Dillon, going for a point, landed the ball in the net. Clodagh Dillon’s attempt to rush in and help the ball on its way with her outstretched fist undoubtedly distracted St Loman’s goalkeeper Annie Kilmurray, and there was more than a hint of a square ball. However, after consulting his umpires, the referee allowed the goal to stand.

Then, on 27 minutes, St Loman’s regained the advantage when a curled free from Katie Kilmurray fell kindly for Megan Dowdall, who rifled a powerful left-footed shot to the Milltown net. Caoimhe Kilmurray could have notched a third Loman’s goal moments later but Milltown ‘keeper Sinéad Byrne’s heroics stopped her dipping effort from crossing the line.

There was further drama in stoppage time when Sarah Dillon, with a point on her mind, got enough dip on the kick to raise another green flag. Milltown now led a shellshocked St Loman’s 2-5 to 2-4. There was still time for two further Milltown scores before the break, with Rachel Dillon and Gráinne Byrne doing the honours.

St Loman’s needed to get out of the traps with some early scores but had no luck, with an effort from Lucy McCartan grazing the crossbar. Milltown extended their lead to four when Sarah Dillon teed up Leanne Slevin for her second score.

Milltown then suffered a blow on 35 minutes when midfielder Tracey Dillon was yellow-carded and sin-binned, giving Loman’s a real chance to make up ground. However, the Rathconrath outfit showed little ill effects from their numerical quandary and while Dillon was benched, St Loman’s only scored once, courtesy of Katie Kilmurray (a curled effort on 45 minutes).

Meanwhile, Milltown defended furiously and continued to attack with vigour. They could have had a couple of goals; Rachel Dillon fisted over on 36 minutes with a goal arguably on, and four minutes later, Loman’s breathed a sigh of relief when goalkeeper Annie Kilmurray stopped Sinéad Slevin en route to what looked like a certain three-pointer.

The girls in green got a real lift on 44 minutes when Sarah Dillon kicked a lovely score to put them six points ahead. When Katie Kilmurray then shot over for Loman’s, Tracey Dillon returned to the fray and Milltown were back to full strength. They restored their six-point lead on 54 minutes courtesy of a Gráinne Byrne free.

While St Loman’s continued to misfire and suffered a couple of injuries, they were given some cause for optimism when sub Evie Kilmurray crafted a lovely score after jinking past Emma Ballesty. However, the Saints badly needed a goal that never looked like coming and after Katie Kilmurray kicked a free in stoppage time, they were still four adrift. From the subsequent attack, Sarah Dillon curled a terrific point off her right boot to ensure a deserved win for Milltown.

Afterwards, Westmeath LGFA chairperson Geraldine Giles presented the Jack Lyster Cup to Milltown captain Louise Kiernan.

Player of the match: Rachel Dillon (Milltown). A huge presence in the drawn final, Dillon was on top form again last Saturday with a powerful display down the left flank, creating chances and getting herself into scoring positions, finishing with two points. Leanne Slevin and Sarah Dillon were also immense for Milltown, while wing back Henrietta Kiernan and their relentless full back line warrant special mention.

What's next: Milltown know all about Wicklow kingpins Tinahely and will renew acquaintances with them at Sean Doolin Park in the opening round of the Leinster LGFA Club SFC tomorrow (Sunday, 2pm).

Scorers - Milltown: S Dillon 2-4 (0-1f); G Byrne 0-3 (2f); R Dillon and L Slevin 0-2 each; S Slevin 0-1. St Loman’s: K Kilmurray 1-4 (0-1f); M Dowdall 1-0; C Kilmurray 0-2; Evie Kilmurray 0-1.

Milltown - Sinéad Byrne; Emma Ballesty, Aoife Kenny, Gemma Keena; Henrietta Kiernan, Louise Kiernan (captain), Rachel Dillon; Leanne Slevin, Tracey Dillon; Abbie Sheerin, Gráinne Byrne, Laura Kiernan; Clodagh Dillon, Sinéad Slevin, Sarah Dillon. Subs: Bronagh Beglan for S Slevin (42), Kelly Boyce Jordan for H Kiernan (48).

St Loman’s, Mullingar - Annie Kilmurray; Lara McCartan, Muireann Scally, Aoibhe Hogan; Ellen Kilmurray, Katie Dunne (captain), Holly Dowdall; Caoimhe Kilmurray, Megan Dowdall; Shauna Traynor, Lucy McCartan, Jayne Charles; Gráinne Cleary, Shannon Breslin, Katie Kilmurray. Subs: Eleanor Corcoran for Traynor (h-t), Evie Kilmurray for Breslin (37), Aileen Martin for Hogan (inj., 51), Keelie Mulderry for Scally (inj., 53), Paige Matthews for Cleary (60+1).

Referee - Vinny Cox (Rosemount).