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St Lomans Mullingar 4.14 Athlone 0.12

St Lomans finished off their group in fine style with a win against Athlone in Rochfortbridge on Sunday evening last. Second half goals from John Heslin(2), Ciaran Kilmurray and Shane Dempsey sent the blues on course for victory. 

The teams were level on two points each after twelve minutes with John Heslin on target for the blues. The second point was a result of wonderful defending from Neil O Toole and Paddy Dowdall. Noel Mulligan and John Connellan were Athlone’s scorers. Both teams traded points midway through the half with David Whelan and Heslin(2) kicking over for St Lomans. Resolute defending from Shane Flynn set up one of Heslin’s points. St Lomans put clear daylight between the teams in the final few minutes of the half. Kelvin Reilly got his name on the scoresheet before Ken Casey brought a wonderful save from Athlone goalkeeper Conor Devaney to deflect his shot over the bar. Paul Sharry kicked a classy score with the outside of his boot before John Heslin kicked his fifth point of the half to leave the score 9 points to 6 points in favour of the blues.

St Lomans made a bright start to the second half scoring 1.01 in the opening five minutes with substitute Ciaran Kilmurray scoring the goal. Athlone hit their best spell in the game clocking up three unanswered points with Jack Quinn, John Connellan and John Stapleton raising the white flag. 

Paddy Dowdall stopped their revival when he ran through to kick a point and from here the blues never looked back. Kelvin Reilly sent a thundering shot off the crossbar and maybe if “Hawkeye” was in play then a goal might have been awarded as his rebound looked to have crossed the line! A goal soon followed however when Shane Dempsey coolly finished to the net after a brilliant Ken Casey pass. Athlone added points from John Connellan, Jordan Marshment and Paul Bannon but Shane Dempsey replied two of his own. St Lomans added two more goals in the final few minutes with John Heslin converting a penalty after Ciaran Kilmurray had been fouled. The sublime pass from Garrett Hickey to Kilmurray couldn’t go unmentioned. Heslin’s other goal was the result of a long solo run through the Athlone defence and he neatly slotted to the net.

Team; Stephen Gallagher, Neil O Toole, Shane Flynn, Jason O Toole, Sean Flanagan, Paddy Dowdall(0.01), David Whelan(0.01), Paul Sharry(0.01), Fola Ayorinde, Kelvin Reilly(0.01), Ronan O Toole, David Windsor, Ken Casey(0.01), John Heslin(2.06,1pen, 3f), Shane Dempsey(1.03). Subs Used; Ciaran Kilmurray(1.00), Garrett Hickey, Billy O Loughlin, Kevin Regan, Senan Russell, Chris Gilbert.