Goals pave the way for Millmore Gaels victory

Millmore Gaels 5-10 Multyfarnham 1-12

An unanswered 2-4 from Millmore Gaels laid the foundation for victory over a spirited Multyfarnham side, in the Westmeath U15 Division 4 football championship final at Moynihan Park, Ballynacargy on Saturday.

After a spell of wet weather during the week, the host club had the pitch in great order for a double header of underage finals.

It was 2-4 to 1-6 in Millmore Gaels’ favour at the break and they kicked on impressively in the second half, scoring 3-6 to complete a terrific victory.

Multyfarnham made a great start and led by 1-3 to 1-0 after 10 minutes, but it was not the harbinger to brighter times ahead. Instead, a superior Millmore Gaels side found their feet and with the breeze behind them in the second half, they stormed to glory and it was a delighted Eoin Donohue who accepted the trophy from Pat Collins (Coiste na nÓg Iarmhí) after the final whistle.

Multyfarnham took the lead when Josh Mullaniff converted a second minute free, but Millmore Gaels found the ideal response as Harry Hughes soloed through to score the opening goal with a neat finish. Matty Murphy, who almost found the net, landed a point in response and then got his goal when he shot to the bottom corner. And Multyfarnham were soon three points clear after the lively Zak Bates shot over in the tenth minute.

An excellent point by centre back James Slevin, who burst on to the ball and shot over, cut the leeway and after Mullaniff shot over, Nick Finerty sent a daisy cutter to the net (following good work by Hughes and Sam Byrne). That left it all square (2-1 to 1-4) after a gripping 22 minutes of action.

Millmore Gaels would make it an unanswered 1-2 at this stage as Louie Dillon (free) and Jack Whyte shot minors, leaving them two points ahead.

They had a grip now and simply refused to relent, despite a point from Bates, after a fine Multy’ move. While the clearance was unconventional, the ball ended in the opposing half and Millmore Gaels earned a free that Charlie McGauran converted. Before the break, a well worked score saw Murphy on target for a gritty Multyfarnham side, who clearly had work to do against the elements in the second half.

Millmore Gaels went from 2-4 to 5-9 in the opening 18 minutes of the second half and this powerful surge set them up for victory. Included were two goals from Ricky Loran (after Eoin Donohue’s pass) and powerful midfielder Eoin Donohue, who pounced on a kick-out and found the net.

Harry Hughes (0-3) and Louie Dillon got the four points in this blistering spell by the Milltown/Ballymore outfit. A shell-shocked Multyfarnham side replied with Mullaniff (free) and Bates notching points, but it barely made a dent. Donohoe powered through to score another Millmore Gaels goal on 44 minutes before Dillon added a pointed free and at 5-9 to 1-8, the contest was done and dusted.

Mullaniff replied with a pointed free while Bates kicked the point of the match from an acute angle with the right boot (after Conor Ledwith, Caelan Keaveney and Mattie Murphy combined in a neat move). Mullaniff then added his fifth minor and Keaveney shot over in added time.

However, rather fittingly it was Millmore Gaels who had the last word here and Sam Byrne set up Ricky Loran for the final point of the match.

Scorers - Millmore Gaels: E Donohue 2-0, H Hughes 1-3, R Loran 1-1, N Finerty 1-0, L Dillon 0-3 (2f), J Slevin, J Whyte, C McGauran (free) 0-1 each. Multyfarnham: J Mullaniff 0-5 (3f), M Murphy 1-2, Z Bates 0-4, C Keaveney 0-1.

Millmore Gaels: Tristan Duncan; Darragh Maxwell, Jack McDonnell, Kyle Dillon; Shane Ahearn, James Slevin, Robbie Byrne; Eoin Donohue, Jack Whyte; Charlie McGauran, Louie Dillon, Sam Byrne; Harry Hughes, Ricky Loran, Nick Finerty. Subs: Adam Reynolds and Jamie Murtagh for C McGauran and N Finerty (59), Joe McGuinness for Byrne (60+3).

Multyfarnham: Charlie Graham; Joseph Melligan, Cian Kennedy, Donnchadh Flood; Ollie Murphy, Rhys Brady, Shane O’Meara; Cian O’Meara, Dara Kiernan; Conor Ledwith, Zak Bates, Sean Gannon; Josh Mullaniff, Mattie Murphy, Ben Thornton. Subs: Caelan Keaveney for Melligan (h-t), Harry Short for Gannon (40), Alan Walsh for M Murphy (60).

Ref: Vinny Cox (Rosemount).

Left: Pat Collins (Coiste na nÓg Iarmhí) makes the presentation to Eoin Donoghue of Millmore Gaels.