Milltown overwhelm Shandonagh to secure first title

IFC final: Milltown 3-16, Shandonagh 0-7

Milltown produced a power-packed display, scoring an unanswered 2-4 after half-time, to overwhelm neighbours Shandonagh and lift the Peter Geraghty Memorial Cup for the first time in their history, in a one-sided intermediate football final at TEG Cusack Park on Sunday.

The writing was on the wall when Milltown led by 0-7 to 0-4 at the interval having played against a strong wind. Second half goals from Henry Duncan, Jarlath Boyce and Jack Duncan sealed an impressive 18-point victory in the end.

Dylan Murtagh became the first Milltown player to lift the famous trophy, and the winning captain was overjoyed as he paid tribute to all who made Sunday’s success possible.

“I want to thank all the players, the management, the club executive and everyone who has made today’s victory possible. It is a proud day for our club and all our supporters. Up Milltown,” he declared.

He paid tribute to Shandonagh, describing it as a huge battle and stressing the bond among the Milltown players. “Every one of you is my brother,” he added.

Milltown manager Barry Downey, a very composed character, observed: “It’s very special for the club. As a bunch of players and individuals and men, they’re a credit to their parish and their club. The two-pointer just after the break was huge. It was a real momentum swing there and we backed that up with a single point. When the goals came, it was a case of managing the game from there on out.”

The proud club has two senior titles to its credit, but Sunday's success was a first in the intermediate grade. Milltown face Ballinagar of Offaly (away) on November 14 in the Leinster IFC.

Scorers - Milltown: J Duncan 1-2 (2f), L Gunning 0-4 (1 2pt), C Lynn 0-3, B McGauran 0-3 (3f), H Duncan and J Boyce 1-0 each, C Dillon 0-2, A Geraghty 0-1 (1 ‘45), M Gunning 0-1.

Shandonagh: D Scahill 0-2 (1 2ptf), R Donnelly 0-2 (1f), R O’Brien, K Boyle and B Killian 0-1 each.

Milltown: Alan Geraghty; Sean Dillon, Bernard Kiernan, Diarmuid Maguire; Matthew Gunning, Shane O’Malley, Peter Ballesty; Henry Duncan, Dylan Murtagh; Jack Duncan, Conor Dillon, Jarlath Boyce; Ben McGauran, Conor Lynn, Luke Gunning. Subs: Patrick Somers for H Duncan (41), Aidan Maguire for Ballesty (51), Frank McLoughlin for Boyce (57), Paul Mahon for L Gunning (57), Conor Gibney for O’Malley (57).

Shandonagh: Cian Molloy; Ben Treanor, Aaron Craig, Maitiú Scully; Gareth Carr, Adam Treanor, Danny Scahill; Caelum Faughnan, Eoin Conlon; Rory O’Brien, Simon Carr, Brendan Killian; Tom Molloy, Ryan Donnelly, Kevin Boyle. Subs: Jake Costello for Donnelly (49), Daire Conway for S Carr (50), Joseph Cahill for B Treanor (57), Jack O’Brien for Killian (57).

Referee: Niall Ward (Garrycastle).

See this week's printed edition for photos and full coverage.