Superior St Loman’s outclass the Longford champions Killoe

St Loman’s Mullingar . . . 1-20     Killoe Emmet Og . . . 1-10

With their razor sharp attack tearing the Emmet Og defence apart in a powerful first half performance, it was all over as a contest at the break at which stage the rampant Westmeath champions had built up a very commanding 1-11 to 0-3 lead.

Dealt a significant blow with the absence of their injured centre-half-back Darren Moffett, the game quickly developed into a fierce struggle for Killoe and the writing was on the wall from the moment the 2023 All-Star nominee Ronan O’Toole weaved his way through to score a goal for the visitors in the 12th minute.

That left the physically stronger St Loman’s side leading by 1-5 to 0-1, with Denis McGoldrick getting the Killoe point with four minutes gone on the clock, and there was just no stopping the influential O’Toole with John Heslin, Shane Dempsey, Sam and Danny McCartan also causing havoc. 

Killoe, to their credit, tried hard to make an impact in the second half and actually outscored the opposition 1-7 to 0-9 with Daniel Mimnagh getting a cracking consolation goal in the 55th minute.

The Longford champions were reduced to 14 players when substitute Cian Dooner was sent-off in the 48th minute for a second booking and their tale of woe was complete when another replacement Colm Coyle received a straight red card for a tackle on O’Toole in stoppage time. 

Both sides created a number of goal chances in this disappointing encounter played in difficult conditions in the aftermath of the heavy showers of rain and best for Killoe was their competent keeper Micheal Hughes who produced a couple of tremendous point-blank saves.    

KILLOE EMMET OG: Micheal Hughes; Niall Farrelly, Liam Hughes, Evan Farrelly; Gavin Farrelly, Ryan Moffett, Cian Farrelly; Paddy Kiernan (0-1), Ronan Keogh; Denis McGoldrick (0-1), Michael Quinn (0-1), Eamon Keogh; Daniel Mimnagh (1-1, point from ‘45), Mark Hughes (0-3, 1 free), Paddy Moran (0-1).

Subs:- Colm Coyle (0-1) for D McGoldrick (18 mins); Ronan McGoldrick (0-1) for N Farrelly (half-time); Cian Dooner for E Keogh (33 mins); Shane Clarke for R Keogh (41 mins); Ciaran Donohoe for C Farrelly (54 mins). 

ST LOMAN’S MULLINGAR: Jason Daly; Eoghan Hogan, Darragh O’Keeffe, Oisin Hogan; Jack Geoghegan, David Whelan, Enda Gaffney; Sean Flanagan (0-1), John Heslin (0-5, 4 frees); Peter Foy, Sam McCartan (0-4, 1 free), Kevin Regan; Danny McCartan (0-3, 1 mark, 1 free), Ronan O’Toole (1-2), Shane Dempsey (0-5, 1 free).

Subs:- Kelvin Reilly for P Foy (41 mins); Fola Ayorinde for S Flanagan (50 mins); Tristan Graham for K Regan (50 mins); Ryan Jones for E Gaffney (58 mins); Gerry Grehan for O Hogan (58 mins). 

Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow).