St. Loman's feat in capturing a third successive senior championship was the highlight of another busy year on the local ladies football scene. Super St. Loman's completed a three-in-a-row of senior ladies football championship successes last September when they proved too strong for first-time finalists Kilbeggan Shamrocks at sunny Cusack Park. After a sluggish start, the Mullingar girls produced a classy display to cement their place as the top team in the county. The progress of this team has been remarkable since they won back-to-back junior and intermediate championships earlier this decade, and all the indications are that they will continue to be the team to beat for some time to come. Managed by Joe Maleady and PJ McManus, St. Loman's accounted for old rivals Milltown in their semi-final joust to set up a meeting with Kilbeggan Shamrocks in the decider. Like St. Loman's in 2002 and 2003, Kilbeggan had won successive junior and intermediate championships and had reached the final at their first attempt, beating the once mighty Rochfortbridge along the way. The Brosnasiders dominated the opening 10 minutes, but only had a solitary point - scored by Fiona Claffey - to show for their efforts. A jittery St. Loman's eventually settled to their task with Player of the Match Leona Archibald getting them off the mark before Stephanie Kelly put them in front. Niamh Durkan restored parity for Kilbeggan, but by now St. Loman's were beginning to turn the screw and points from Jennifer Hennessy and Archibald were followed by a Stephanie Kelly goal in the 19th minute after Hennessy's initial shot had been parried by Kilbeggan goalkeeper Aisling Reid. Hennessy and Archibald added further points to increase the Loman's lead before a Fiona Claffey reply left Kilbeggan trailing by 0-3 to 1-6 and with it all to do in the second half. The challengers resumed with a point from Triona Durkan, but five points in-a-row per Kelly, Archibald, Hennessy and Carol McKinley had effectively ended their challenge by the three-quarter stage. To their credit, Kilbeggan never gave up and their perseverance was rewarded when Edel McCormack set up substitute Laura Hannon for a late consolation goal. Fittingly, though, Archibald completed the scoring with a superb point in injury-time to herald in the hat-trick of championships for Loman's. Coralstown succeeded Kilbeggan as intermediate champions when they easily got the better of Mullingar Shamrocks after a replay. The former senior kingpins, with their mixture of youth and experience, were pushed to the pin of their collective collars when the sides first met at The Downs. Underdogs Mullingar got off to a great start when a point by the impressive Emma Morris was followed by an opportunist goal from Gemma Masterson in the 17th minute. Coralstown's response was rapid and they were level within three minutes thanks to 1-1 from Jo Raleigh. Morris restored Shamrocks' advantage, but Elaine Finn's 23rd minute goal gave Coralstown a 2-4 to 1-4 interval lead. Coralstown looked to be on their way to victory when Nuala Farrell fisted their third goal shortly after the resumption, but they could never come to grips with an inspired Emma Morris who scored an unanswered 1-2 to bring Shamrocks level. In a tension-filled finale, Elaine Finn edged Coralstown back in front, only for Ciara Morris to leave the sides level at full-time, 3-5 to 2-8. As so often proves to be the case, the replay was a major disappointment from a neutral's perspective with a dominant and physically stronger Coralstown team cantering to a 3-11 to 1-1 victory. Showing a number of changes to their starting line-up, the red and whites never looked back after the outstanding Elaine Finn goaled in the eighth minute. They quickly added a second goal when Louise Farrell fired home from close range, and another major from Finn had Coralstown 13 points clear at the break. Emma Morris eventually opened Shamrocks' account early in the second half and the same player added a goal to give them a glimmer of hope. But Coralstown were never troubled with sterling displays from the likes of Celeste Dermody, Claire Farrell, Maud-Anne Foley, Elaine Finn, Yvonne Dixon and team captain Joe Raleigh helping to keep the town side at bay. Appearing in their first junior final, Coralstown's near-neighbours The Downs pulled off a major surprise when they came from behind to claim a 1-10 to 1-9 victory over Tyrrellspass. Elizabeth Conneely's charges looked to be in serious trouble when they trailed by 0-4 to 1-6 at half-time, but a much improved second half display saw them overhaul a luckless Tyrrellspass, who have now lost three finals in-a-row. The first 25 minutes was a tit-for-tat affair with The Downs leading 0-4 to 0-3 before the Tidy Town stamped their authority on the final. A Bernie Alford goal gave them the lead and they seemed poised for victory when Gemma Gavin, Rachel Bagnall and Johanna Maher tagged on points before the break. But after Sarah Shanley and Bernie Corroon had clawed back points, Adreanna Doyle left just the minimum between the sides when she cut in from the left and fired a low shot past Tyrrellspass 'keeper Deirdre Harte for a well-taken goal in the 42nd minute. Corroon equalized from a free six minutes later and The Downs were not to be denied with another free from Corroon ultimately proving decisive. Milltown avenged their narrow senior championship semi-final defeat to St. Loman's when they overcame the county champions 2-10 to 2-9 after extra-time to win the Cup competition. Gerry Somers' team led by six points at half-time, but St. Loman's fought back to force extra-time. The sides remained deadlocked until Jenny Rogers set up Katie Somers for the winning point with time almost up. Mullingar Shamrocks gained a measure of compensation for their loss in the intermediate championship final replay when they beat Tyrrellspass to win the intermediate Shield final. Athlone claimed the junior Shield following their victory over St. Paul's. At underage level, St. Loman's were crowned minor 'A' champions following a replay win over Moate All-Whites. Tyrrellspass beat Kilbeggan in the minor 'B' final, while in the 'C' decider, Athlone defeated Clann Gaels. Garrycastle retained their under 16 'A' title with a 3-9 to 1-4 victory over Moate All-Whites. Rochfortbridge captured the 'B' crown at Coralstown's expense, the 'C' final saw Mullingar Shamrocks beat Athlone, while St. Paul's received a walkover from The Downs in the 'D' final. Milltown were queens of the under 14 grade, beating Moate All-Whites in the 'A' championship final and St. Loman's in the Feile. Tyrrellspass claimed the 'B' title with victory over Garrycastle, Mullingar Shamrocks proved too strong for Rochfortbridge in the 'C' final, and The Downs were winners over St. Paul's in the 'D' decider. In the under 12 'A' final, Moate All-Whites defeated Clann Gaels, Garrycastle triumphed over St. Loman's in the 'B' final, Ballycomoyle prevailed against The Downs in the 'C' final, while St. Paul's picked up their third 'D' crown at Milltown's expense. The St. Loman's panel which completed a hat-trick of senior championship wins was: Cait Flanagan, Elaine Galvin (captain), Niamh O'Mahony, Katie Heslin, Claire Gorman, Aileen Martin, Andrea Martin, Carla McManus, Susan Brady, Amy Matthews, Janine Cosgrove, Rhona Murtagh, Carol McKinley, Rebecca Dunne, Leona Archibald, Laura Newman, Sarah McManus, Ailish Cunnane, Emma Martin, Lisa Owens, Michelle Maleady, Caroline Kelly, Jennifer Hennessy, Linda Reddin, Therese Mimnagh, Stephanie Kelly. Coralstown's intermediate championship winning team was: Lourda Giles; Grainne Lynch, Noelle Gorman, Christina Raleigh; Tally Flynn, Celeste Dermody, Claire Farrell; Maud-Ann Foley, Elaine Finn; Regina Croash, Yvonne Dixon, Nicola O'Keeffe; Louise Farrell, Nuala Farrell, Jo Raleigh (captain). Subs used: Caroline O'Hara, Siobhan Leech, Sarah Kiernan and Aoife Duignan. The Downs team that edged out Tyrrellspass in the junior final was: Agnes Murtagh; Siobhan Corroon, Tina Monaghan, Emma Murtagh; Ceire Casey, Gillian Ferguson, Catherine Sheerin; Fiona Leavy, Claire Crowley; Stephanie Salmon, Aisling Doyle, Bernie Corroon (captain); Adreanna Doyle, Aileen Leavy, Sarah Shanley. Subs used: Ashling Monaghan and Margaret Monaghan. Tweet

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