Blundell and Kilmurray goals see St Loman’s home in terrific game

St Loman's 2-19, St Mary's R'bridge 4-10

After many drab football encounters this season, it was totally refreshing to see a terrific open, attacking game at Lakepoint Park on Thursday evening as St Loman’s held firm against an inspired St Mary’s fightback in the Westmeath ladies senior football championship.

The competition got under way in splendid weather and two fine teams served up a memorable first round match in which St Loman’s led by six points after nine minutes and after an initial recovery from the visitors, were still leading by 2-15 to 3-6 entering the final quarter before establishing an eight-point lead. A resurgent Rochfortbridge side scored 1-4 in the remaining 20 minutes (including added time) to push St Loman’s all the way in what was a pulsating encounter.

At half-time it was 2-9 to 3-4 in St Loman’s favour, but that was only after a gritty fight back from St Mary’s, who responded superbly after Ciara Blundell’s low strike found the net in the seventh minute to help the home side establish a six-point lead. Substitute Nicola Judge and Ayesha Roche pounced for two goals in the space of five minutes, the first a fine strike, while Roche’s low effort came at the end of a flowing move in which Ava Balfe and Aoife Brady were prominent. That levelled the match (2-2 to 1-5) after 17 minutes.

Remarkably, Nicola Judge’s second goal – an opportunist finish with the hand when the ball came back out to her – put the visitors ahead by two points (3-2 to 1-6).

An unanswered 1-3 between the 25th and 30th minutes saw St Loman’s regain control and that was a crucial five-minute spell – the goal coming from Katie Kilmurray, who fired a left-footed shot past Keira Kelly. There was a similar pattern to the second half as the home side established complete control again with the first three points and while St Mary’s had a spell, the St Loman’s lead was still considerable as the final quarter began and two Aileen Duffy points, plus a fine score from Ciara Blundell, saw them lead by 2-17 to 3-6 with 11 minutes of normal time to play.

However, there was plenty of time remaining, including a considerable period of added time, during which St Mary’s summoned another outstanding effort, scoring 1-3 without reply. Elizabeth Carey goaled in dramatic style: St Loman’s had just taken a kick-out, but St Mary’s won possession and with ‘keeper Jane McKenna back-peddling, Carey’s accurate shot found the net.

Crucially, Vicky Carr scored a great point to steady St Loman’s, who almost got a third goal only for Katie Kilmurray to be denied and Shannon Breslin to strike the crossbar in the follow-up. It was all part of a rip-roaring finish.

Overall, one couldn’t say enough about this match, it was simply refreshing to watch and whether the quick pick up could speed up the men’s game enough to make it half as interesting might be worth an experiment. The pace was relentless from start to finish and it’s a great credit to both teams and respective managers Kieran Kilmurray and David Mitchell.

Scorers – St Loman’s: K Kilmurray 1-6 (0-3f), C Blundell 1-3, L McCartan 0-3, A Duffy, V Carr, C Kilmurray 0-2 each, S Breslin 0-1. St Mary’s: N Judge 2-0, K Geoghegan 0-5 (3f), M Brick 0-4 (4f), A Roche, E Carey 1-0 each, A Balfe 0-1.

St Loman’s: Jane McKenna; Ellen Kilmurray, Muireann Scally, Aileen Duffy; Lara McCartan, Katie Dunne, Julie McLaughlin; Annie Kilmurray, Vicky Carr; Laura Murphy, Caoimhe Kilmurray, Ciara Blundell; Lucy McCartan, Shannon Breslin, Katie Kilmurray. Subs used: Megan Ennis, Meabh O’Hara, Sandra McGrath.

St Mary’s: Keira Kelly; Niamh Carey, Aoife Moran, Rebecca Nolan; Jen Whelehan, Aoife Brady, Becky Scally; Fiona Coyle, Niamh McDermott; Michaela Brady, Catriona Dunne, Ayesha Roche; Megan Brick, Ava Balfe, Kacey Geoghegan. Subs used: Nicola Judge, Elizabeth Carey, Lucy Brogan, Jenny Judge.

Ref: Paul McCaughey (Milltown).