Loman's through to meet Garrycastle in the county final

Garrycastle will face St Loman's in the Westmeath senior football final on Sunday week after the Mullingar side enjoyed a surprisingly comfortable victory in their semi-final over fancied Coralstown-Kinnegad. Loman's secured the victory despite playing the last 16 minutes with just 14 men after the dismissal of John Heslin but Coralstown/Kinnegad never raised their game above the mediocre and indeed the scoreline probably doesn't reflect the superiority that the Mullingar side had over the hour. The only period that Kinnegad ever looked threatening was just after the break when the scored 1-2, including a very dubious penalty, and actually were just a single point behind going into the last quarter but they really lacked any sort of drive or direction and their comeback stalled and the game ran away from them when Ciaran Kilmurray scored a marvellous goal on 56 minutes and from there to the finish St Loman's played out the time safe in the knowledge that they would contest their first Senior County final in 41 years. If they were sore or tired after two tough battles against local rivals Mullingar Shamrocks then it didn't show and from the minute that referee Damian Maher threw the ball in it was obvious who the hungrier and more determined side were. That being said Kinnegad were disappointing and they seemed to be like a rabbit caught in the headlights at times and never really settled and perhaps the occasion got to them at times as they never played anything like the type of football that has served them so well for most of the season. The relief and joy of the St. Loman's faithful was palpable and infectious at the final whistle and the weight of history seemed to dissipate in a sea of blue. Team manager Water Burke has done a marvellous job with an under achieving St Loman's side this year and his charges have impressed when it has mattered most and there is a steel and flair about this side that has been missing for many years. Davitt, McKinley add the experience at the back and both were excellent on Saturday but Glennon, Russell and particularly Paddy Dowdall came of age with a fine half-back line display in total. Lambden and Heslin held sway for most of the game but Heslin's rashness almost cost his team the game and despite his undoubted ability he must curb his enthusiasm. The two Lynams, Conor and Kieran are improving with every game while Reilly was at his best but Sharry stole the show and when his team needed him most he stood tallest and just gets the nod as the game's best player but this Loman's team are peaking at the right time and have skill, youth and experience in abundance and will take some beating. Scorers: St. Lomans: Kieran Lynam 0-4, 2 frees, Conrad Reilly 0-3, Ciaran Kilmurray 1-0, John Heslin 0-2, 2 frees, Paul Sharry 0-2, Tommy Lambden, Conor Lynam 0-1 each. Coralstown/Kinnegad: Alan Giles 0-5, 4 frees, Eamonn Fleming 1-0, Cian Flynn, Wayne Fox, Fergal Dardis and Joe Kenny (free) 0-1 each. St. Loman's: Stephen Gallagher, Seanie Murphy, James Davitt, Kenny McKinley, Gary Glennon, Paddy Dowdall, Senan Russell, Tommy Lambden, John Heslin, Conrad Reilly, Jonathan Plunkett, Conor Lynam, Paul Sharry, Kieran Lynam, Ciaran Kilmurray. Subs: Stephen Gilmore for Murphy 44 mins Coralstown/Kinnegad: Damian Molloy, Jason Lynch, Stephen Bracken, Ronan Doyle, Ronan Foley, Eamonn Fleming, Derek Griffin, Niall Kilmartin, Cian Flynn, Wayne Fox, David Kilmartin, Alan Giles, Fergal Dardis, Mark Gorman, Jason Cully. Subs; Joe Kenny for Flynn 43 mins, Enda Leonard for Griffin 51 mins. Referee: Damian Maher, Ballynacargy.