Late goal breaks Athlone hearts as Shamrocks snatch victory

Westmeath LGFA Under-14 Division 1 Championship final

Mullingar Shamrocks 1-6 Athlone 0-8

By Ronan Fagan

Heartache reigned for the Athlone U-14 girls’ team in Ballymore last Sunday afternoon as a late Mullingar Shamrocks goal sealed victory by the minimum in this enthralling Division One final.

Played as a squally wind persisted over the duration, the final fare on show was of the highest calibre, with play flowing from end to end, and the skill levels on display were a compliment to the players and management of both teams.

Holding a three-point lead as the game entered the final five minutes, Athlone will be immensely disappointed not to have secured victory but credit is due to Shamrocks who never relented in their challenge, netting that vital match winning goal as full0time fast approached.

As an enthusiastic attendance watched proceedings unfold, it was Athlone who opened the scoring on six minutes when full forward and scorer in chief Sally Fleming pointed a free.

The impressive Fleming impacted the scoreboard two minutes later when pointing on the run, but Mullingar were swift to respond, centre forward Moya Kilmartin opening her account.

Kilmartin had her second point of the game midway through the first half to restore parity, with the industrious work of the Athlone defence most notable at this stage of the contest.

Kilmartin kicked her third point of the final on 21 minutes as Mullingar enjoyed a period of dominance. They were rewarded further on 28 minutes when midfielder Orla Nohilly pointed.

As half-time approached, Mullingar continued to pepper the Athlone goal and duly extended their lead on 30 minutes when Alexa Gavigan displayed her accuracy to leave three points between the teams at the interval (0-5 to 0-2).

Upon the resumption of play Athlone set a positive tone when Fleming pointed from the throw-in. This score seemed to galvanise her teammates, the impressive full forward reducing the Mullingar lead to the minimum on 36 minutes when pointing a free.

Fleming was once again to the scoring fore on 39 minutes when restoring parity to the contest, the Shannonsiders attaining possession sway as the second half elapsed.

Athlone defender Kate Moore positively impacted the scoreboard on 49 minutes as she pounced on an upright rebound to put her team into a one-point lead. And when Fleming split the posts five minutes later, it placed Athlone in a strong position as this final entered the closing stages.

Credit is due to the Athlone defence who stemmed numerous Mullingar attacks during this period of the contest and when Fleming kicked her seventh point of the game on 56 minutes, it looked almost certain that sky blue and white ribbons would adorn the prized silverware come the game’s conclusion.

However, the Mullingar players did not wilt despite facing into a three-point deficit with minutes remaining, full forward Suzi Corroon setting the tone for what was to follow when she pointed on 58 minutes.

Within sixty seconds the final had turned when a long ball into the Athlone defence was only partially cleared and substitute Clodagh Keane pounced on the loose ball to fire into an empty net much to the delight of the Shamrocks fans present.

The goal highlighted the resilience of this Mullingar team who refused to yield under the Athlone pressure exerted, particularly in the second half. The Shannonsiders had little opportunity to retrieve the situation, a goal bound effort from Fleming being well saved by Mullingar custodian Emily Ford, prior to the shrill of the referee’s final whistle.

An enthralling and free flowing final, the future most certainly appears bright for ladies football in the county.

Player of the match: There were several individual displays of note on both teams. For the victors, Alexa Gavigan carried the ball well throughout and she was complemented on the half forward line by Moya Kilmartin. However, Mullingar midfielder Orla Nohilly is chosen for the accolade, due to her ability to penetrate the Athlone defence with piercing runs and her exceptional ball handling skills given the prevalent weather conditions. The Athlone defensive duo of Lauren Daly and Sadhbh Higgins positively contributed to their club’s cause and their defensive work was complemented by Sally Fleming in the full forward line.

SCORERS – Mullingar Shamrocks: C Keane 1-0; M Kilmartin 0-3 (1 free); O Nohilly, A Gavigan, S Corroon 0-1 each. Athlone: S Fleming 0-7 (3 frees); K Moore 0-1.

MULLINGAR SHAMROCKS: Emily Ford, Amy Devaney, Alannah Burke, Alice Geelon, Saoirse Clinton, Ellie O’Donnell, Ava Sheahan, Elsa Bird, Orla Nohilly, Alexa Gavigan, Moya Kilmartin, Florence Geelon, Keela Doran, Suzi Corroon, Robyn Byrne. Subs: Clodagh Keane for Byrne; Masa Pesic for F Geelon.

ATHLONE: Sophie Somers, Rose Fleming, Caoimhe Nolan, Kate Moore, Eabha Purtill, Lauren Daly, Sadhbh Hughes, Lucia Wright, Maja Starkowska, Aoibheann Coughlan, Gabriela Wyrzykowska, Cara McEnroe, Leigha Donlon, Sally Fleming, Ava Gibbons. Subs: Beibhinn O’Mara for McEnroe; Cara McEnroe for Gibbons.

REFEREE: Ray Farrelly.