St Loman's underline Leinster title credentials with Dunshaughlin dismantling

This was a performance so full of power, craft and quality as to immediately mark out the Mullingar men as serious contenders.

Sun, 03 Nov, 2024 - 15:53

Paul Keane

Leinster club SFC: St Loman's, Mullingar (Westmeath) 2-17 Dunshaughlin (Meath) 2-4

Did we just witness the AIB Leinster club SFC champions elect in Navan?

There's a long way to go from a Round 1 opener to crossing the winning line, of course, but this was a performance so full of power, craft and quality as to immediately mark out the Mullingar men as serious contenders.

It's seven years since St Loman's had the title snatched from them in dramatic circumstances by Moorefield and they haven't returned to a final since despite claiming four more county crowns.

They're clearly focused on a long winter campaign this season as they hit the ground running in Navan and had victory all but secured by half-time, when they led 1-9 to 1-1.

Fola Ayorinde's early goal helped put St Loman's eight points clear at the interval and leading scorer Danny McCartan, who struck 1-3, added a second goal after the break in a surprisingly comfortable 13-point win.

Dunshaughlin won their first title since 2002 a fortnight ago and were hopeful of replicating their provincial triumph from that landmark season 22 years ago.

But in line with the more recent terrible record of Meath clubs in this competition, they fell at the first hurdle without laying a glove on their opponents.

Aaron Murphy's 24th minute goal kept them just about in it and captain Jared Rushe added a second for Richie Kealy's side early in the second-half.

But the closest they got to Loman's even after that Rushe goal was seven points as the side managed by Paddy Dowdall strode to a huge win.

County man John Heslin didn't score for Loman's until the 46th minute but suddenly took off from there, finishing with five points.

There were strong performances too from Sam McCartan and Ronan O'Toole while Ayorinde finished with 1-2.

St Loman's have secured a quarter-final clash with Castletown of Wexford but it remains to be seen when that game is played.

It's down for next Sunday, in Mullingar, but Loman's manager Dowdall said that his understanding is that a hurling clash on the Castletown side of things could force the football game to become a midweek fixture.

St Loman's, Mullingar scorers: Danny McCartan 1-3, Fola Ayorinde 1-2, John Heslin 0-5 (0-2f, 0-1m), Sam McCartan 0-3 (0-1 45), Sean Flanagan 0-2, Jack Geoghegan 0-1, Ronan O'Toole 0-1.

Dunshaughlin scorers: Aaron Murphy 1-1, Jared Rushe 1-0, Ciaran McCarrick 0-2, Mathew Costello 0-1 (0-1f).

St Loman's, Mullingar: Jason Daly; Darragh O'Keefe, Jack Geoghegan, Oisin Hogan; Eoghan Hogan, David Whelan, Sam McCartan; John Heslin, Sean Flanagan; Kelvin Reilly, Ronan O'Toole, Rory Sheahan; Fola Ayorinde, Shane Dempsey, Danny McCartan.

Subs: TJ Cox for Dempsey h/t, Kevin Regan for Sheahan 44, Enda Gaffney for Oisin Hogan 45, Peter Foy for Ayorinde 54, Conor O'Donoghue for Whelan 55.

Dunshaughlin: Tim O'Sullivan; Niall Byrne, Jared Rushe, Adam Kealy; David Fildes, Daryll McKenna, Ciaran McCarrick; Charlie O'Connor, Conor Gray; Conor Duke, Ruairi Kinsella, Ben Duggan; Aaron Murphy, Mathew Costello, Luke Mitchell.

Subs: Fursey Blake for McKenna 22, John McDonagh for Ruairi Kinsella 30, Fiach Hartigan for Fildes h/t, Neil Byrne for Duggan 44, Tadhg O Dushlaine for Niall Byrne 63.

Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow).