Heslin the hero as St Loman's snatch draw with Garrycastle

John Heslin

Westmeath SFC final

St Loman’s, Mullingar 0-13 

Garrycastle 0-13 

A converted 30-metre free by John Heslin with the last kick of the game ensured St Loman’s, Mullingar held on their Westmeath senior football title for at least another week after a pulsating decider at TEG Cusack Park.

St Loman’s led by a point (0-3 to 0-2) after eight minutes, but Garrycastle – managed by their former player Gary Dolan, Dessie’s brother – took control and they fired over seven unanswered points, three of them from Michael Monaghan, by the 25th minute. Garrycastle were full value for their four-point lead at the interval (0-9 to 0-5).

The opening ten minutes after the break was full of ragged and disjointed football, with both sides – St Loman’s, in particular – kicking poor wides. Gardiner’s 40-metre free with the last kick before the second water break was Garrycastle’s first score of the half, leaving them in front by 0-10 to 0-7.

The last quarter was full of drama, if not necessarily quality football. A brace of points from Heslin, including his only score from play, left his side a point down approaching the end of normal time. The introduction of 42-year-old Dessie Dolan at that stage was a surprise to the huge crowd. With time almost up, Gardiner bore down on goal and opted to go for a goal that Jason Daly saved. But there was still time for Heslin to save the day with his last-gasp free.

Scorers for St Loman’s: J Heslin (0-7 (5f, 1m), TJ Cox (0-3), R O’Toole, P Foy, K Reilly (0-1 each).

Scorers for Garrycastle: A Gardiner (0-4 (1f), M Monaghan 0-3, T O’Halloran (f), J Dolan, J Sheerin, J Gaffey, J Barrett, C Cosgrove (f) (0-1 each).

ST LOMAN'S MULLINGAR: J Daly; D Whelan, O Hogan, D O’Keeffe; J Geoghegan, K Reilly, C O’Donoghue; S Flanagan, S McCartan; R Sheehan, R O’Toole, TJ Cox; F Ayotrinde; J Heslin, P Foy. 

Subs: K Regan for Sheehan (23), P Dowdall for O’Donoghue (27), S Dempsey for Foy (35), K Casey for Hogan (44).

GARRYCASTLE: S Brennan; M McCallon, J Donohue, G McCallon; D Harte, J Gaffey, B Kelly; A Monaghan, J Barrett; T O’Halloran, E Mulvihill, E Monaghan; M Monaghan, A Gardiner, J Dolan. 

Subs: J Nugent for E Monaghan (44), C Cosgrove for Kelly (50), J Sheerin for M Monaghan (52), D Dolan for O’Halloran (60).

Ref: D Maher (Ballynacargy).