Athlone crowned champions as early blitz paves the way

Wright Windows Westmeath LGFA Junior Championship final

Athlone 3-15 Milltownpass 2-9

Five-points apiece from the magnificent Brionna Geoghegan and full-forward Keeva Reid helped Athlone to the Westmeath LGFA Junior Championship in Coralstown-Kinnegad GAA grounds last Saturday.

Athlone's victory was primarily thanks to a blistering opening salvo where they rattled off 2-2 inside the opening three minutes to leave the underdogs of Milltownpass with a mountain to climb. Although the top scorers in the division made a superb attempt to undo the damage in the second period, they were not allowed reach fifth gear as John Molloy's side won out with plenty to spare.

There was a sense of shock from both groups of supporters in the early stages. The deluge of rain may have eased before throw-in but Athlone replaced it with a blitz of their own. With the first attack, Gemma Mannion found a few yards of space and decided to put her head down before burying to the net. From the kickout, Keeva Reid dispatched her first point before her next shot seconds later was palmed to the net by Niamh Byrne. Incredibly, without getting out of their own 45-yard line, Milltownpass had conceded again, this time Brionna Geoghegan curling her effort over.

A shellshocked Milltownpass side eventually escaped and opened their account. Claire Gaffney, the main driving force of the team, pointed after Caoimhe Coogan was unlucky to saw her shot bounce out via the inside of the post. Some expert last-ditch defending from Jillian Begley denied Coogan a chance for goal before Lorna Mulvihill pointed from the breakaway the interception created. A fantastic left-footed long ranger from Ava Martin made it 2-4 to 0-1, all inside seven minutes of non-stop action.

Athlone goalkeeper Aoife Temple was called into action soon afterwards and although Gorman pointed the rebound from close range, the save stopped a certain goal. Seconds later, Temple repeated the dose, this time holding on to a firm strike from the corner-forward once again.

At the far end, Athlone had the chance for their third goal on 12 minutes but Byrne saw her penalty clip the post before going wide. Milltownpass lost Erin Cleary to injury and the misery continued as Mulvihill ended a great team move involving Leah Nugent, Tara Khan and Grace McGlynn. Geoghegan was proving to be a weapon with her frees and her finest came on 20 minutes as her side's tally reached 2-7.

Agonisingly, Gorman would be denied by the inside of the post (almost identical to Coogan's earlier effort) while Athlone ended the half leading on a scoreline of 2-11 to 0-4.

The mood changed early in the second half as Orlagh O’Brien and Gorman (two) fired over before Alanna Coogan struck a goal on 42 minutes. When Katie Henshaw saw yellow moments later, the 'Pass had their tails up (even with the gap still at 2-13 to 1-7). Momentum was on their side and on the next attack, Gorman’s fielding set up Caoimhe Coogan to slot home. When Gorman fired over there were five points between the sides.

But Athlone stopped the rot and killed any hope with a goal from Mulvihill and defended the remainder of the game well. Afterwards, Athlone captain Eimear O’Rourke lifted the Aisling Maguire Cup aloft.

Player of the match: Brionna Geoghegan (Athlone). Geoghegan was sensational from the off and her scores from various angles and distances were a joy to watch. But credit also to Katie Henshaw at the back and Keeva Reid at full-forward for stellar displays.

What it means: Athlone are Junior champions for 2023 and will head up to the Intermediate grade next season.

Scorers - Athlone: L Mulvihill 1-2, B Geoghegan (3 frees) and K Reid 0-5 each, N Byrne 1-1, G Mannion 1-0, A Martin 0-2. Milltownpass: S Gorman 0-6 (1f), A Coogan 1-1, C Coogan 1-0, C Gaffney and O O’Brien 0-1 each.

Athlone: Aoife Temple; Jillian Begley, Katie Henshaw, Eimear Galvin; Kasey O’Neill, Eimear O’Rourke, Leah Nugent; Tara Khan, Ava Martin; Gemma Mannion, Grace McGlynn, Brionna Geoghegan; Niamh Byrne, Keeva Reid, Lorna Mulvihill. Subs used: Áine DiTullio for McGlynn (38 mins), Eva Gregg for O’Rourke (44), Ellen O’Connell for O’Neill (58). Rest of panel: Chloe Moran, Ciara Murphy, Emma Johnson, Sorcha O’Rourke, Aine Martin, Gracie Loftus, Ella Colclough, Jade McGuinness, Lucy Allen, Michaela Manion, Anita Sheerin, Gillian Murray, Cindy Zhang, Shauna Moylan, Sarah McNamara, Aoife Gill, Cathy McGettigan.

Milltownpass: Rachel Flood; Amber Geoghegan, Ellen Flanagan, Kelly Burke; Mairéad Lynam, Eve Wallace, Amber Boyce; Claire Gaffney, Orlagh O’Brien; Naomi McNamee, Caoimhe Coogan, Jade McNamee; Erin Cleary, Alanna Coogan, Sadhbh Gorman. Subs used: Charlotte Butler-Clyne for Cleary (inj., 19 mins), Laura Gaffney for Wallace (h-t), Sorcha Gallagher for Lynam (41), Orlaith Flanagan for J McNamee (51)

Referee: Enda Kenny (Ballinagore).