Moate crowned champions with victory over St Loman's

Moate All Whites 3-8 St Loman’s, Mullingar 1-9 (AET)

Moate All Whites were crowned Westmeath U-20 Division 1 football champions with a dramatic victory over St Loman’s, Mullingar in last Saturday night's final in Kinnegad.

For long spells the quality of the game was quite poor but that will hardly bother the All Whites, who banished the memory of a lacklustre first-half display by lifting their performance levels thereafter, eventually securing a deserved victory after extra-time.

In a year when their flagship team just about retained senior status - narrowly winning a relegation play-off against Shandonagh - this victory is a huge boost for the Moate club.

Yet things looked far from promising for the All Whites at half-time, when they trailed by 0-6 to 0-2. Even allowing for the difficult conditions, a scoring return of two points - both frees - was a bleak statistic. To make matters worse, whatever advantage that was accruing from the wind was in Moate's favour in the opening half.

But when the game was in the melting pot, Moate showed the greater appetite for victory with players like Daragh Lowry, Aodhan Curran, Tadhg Heavin and Ronan Murray leading the way.

The All Whites also had the ability to strike for goals at crucial times, with Tobby Conteh scoring two, while Hagan Niall's green flag sealed victory in the closing minutes of extra-time.

From their perspective, St Loman's were left to regret only managing to score one point in the second half. And remarkably, no starting St Loman's player scored during the second half of the regulation game or in extra-time.

Impressive Loman's substitute Eoin Meehan scored three points, and their goal came from fellow sub Nedas Bielicas, but these scores were not enough to derail Moate's march to the title.

Afterwards, amid scenes of unbridled celebration, Moate All Whites joint captains Sam Fannin and Tobby Conteh were presented with the trophy by Westmeath GAA chairman Frank Mescall.

Man of the match: Aodhan Curran (Moate All Whites). When Moate were floundering in the first half, Curran was one of the few players to excel and he was a creative influence when moved to centre-forward. Daragh Lowry, who appeared to be fouled almost every time he got the ball, would also be a worthy choice for the accolade. Top scorer Tobby Conteh and Tadhg Heavin were prominent from the start of the second half onwards, while the spirited Ronan Murray, Eoin Bracken and Cian Whitney also made notable contributions.

For St Loman's, Mikey Weir, Daniel McCann, Oisín O'Hara and valuable substitute Eoin Meehan were among those to have good moments.

Scorers - Moate: T Conteh 2-3 (0-1 free); H Niall 1-0; T Heavin and E Bracken (2f) 0-2 each; R Murray 0-1. St Loman’s: N Bielicas 1-0; E Meehan (1f) and D McCann (2f) 0-3 each; M Weir, S Mulderry and C Plunkett (f) 0-1 each.

Moate All Whites: Sean Furey; Tom Gorman, Cian Whitney, Michael Henry; Ronan Murray, Daragh Lowry, Aodhan Curran; Tobby Conteh, Eoin Bracken; Tadhg Heavin, Sam Fannin, James Mitchell; Hagan Niall, Jack Lappin, Daragh Madden. Subs used: Dean O’Neill for Lappin (39 mins); James Murray for Madden (inj., e-t, 2nd half).

St Loman’s, Mullingar: Callum Butler Dolan; Tom Dorr, Riley Sheahan, Thomas Meehan; Seanaí Bracken, Ciarán Smyth, Mikey Weir; Oisín O’Hara, Cillian Plunkett; Shane Mulderry, Mark Tunney, Daniel McCann; Tadgh Kenny, Ross Clinton, Seán Plunkett. Subs used: Jack McCann for Clinton (39 mins); John Casey for Bracken (inj., 40); Eoin Meehan for Tunney (50); Nathan Sleator for T Meehan (inj., 50); Nedas Bielicas for Mulderry (start of extra-time); Byron Graham for Kenny (e-t, 1st half); Mark Tunney for S Plunkett (e-t, 2nd half).

Referee: Barry Nea (Killucan).

*See more in this week's paper.