In a year when the ladies football senior championship decider sadly wasn't played, the intermediate and junior finals took centre stage. Here, we review the ladies football year. Milltown capture intermediate crown Beaten finalists after a replay in 2001, Milltown atoned for that disappointment at Cusack Park last August when they overcame Mullingar Shamrocks by 6-8 to 3-4 to become intermediate champions. The victory ranks as Milltown's greatest achievement to date and reflects the tremendous progress the club has made over the past few years. Pitted against a Mullingar Shamrocks team that had won the junior championship in 2001, Milltown produced a mighty second half display to take the spoils. Shamrocks took the lead after just 10 seconds when Emma Ledwith pointed, but Milltown never looked back after their inspirational centre forward Laura Halligan opened her goalscoring account in the seventh minute. The Rathconrath side stretched their advantage with points from Halligan and Olive Heduvan, but a Tanya Farrell goal had Shamrocks back on level terms after 16 minutes. After Halligan and Gemma Masterson had exchanged points, Ann-Marie Creagh blasted to the net to give Milltown a 2-3 to 1-3 lead. Halligan swooped for her second goal in the 24th minute before Natalie Kerrigan rattled the net for Shamrocks. However, late points from Creagh and Carmel Downes ensured Milltown of a 3-7 to 2-4 lead at the break. The second half was dominated by Tom Walsh's charges who outscored Shamrocks by 3-1 to 1-0. The Milltown goals were scored by Halligan (two) and Carmel Mahon, while Cassidy accounted for the losers' only score of the half. The victorious Milltown team was: Niamh Mulligan; Ruth Heduvan, Maura Coloe, Aoife Wallace; Donna Finnerty, Martina Rooney, Triona McGuinness; Karen Walsh, Helen Walsh; Carmel Downes, Laura Halligan, Tracey Philips; Carmel Mahon, Olive Heduvan, Ann-Marie Creagh. Subs used: Fiona Geragthy, Lisa Somers, Sylvia O'Reilly and Uan Moynihan. Junior joy for St. Loman's St. Loman's made amends for their final defeat to Mullingar Shamrocks in 2001 when they saw off the challenge of Clann Gaels by 4-7 to 3-4 in an exciting junior championship decider at Cusack Park last August. The Mullingar side's success was built around the dominance exerted at midfield by Rhona Murtagh and Amy Matthews who scored six points between them. Aisling Kearney notched 2-3 for Clann Gaels, but St. Loman's superior all-round strength secured their promotion to the intermediate grade. Loman's had established a 3-5 to 2-1 lead at the break, with Stephanie Kelly, Emma Martin and Carol McKinley accounting for the goals. On the restart, Laura Newman swooped for Loman's third goal to effectively put the game beyond their opponents' reach. The superb Kearney scored a third Clann Gaels goal late on, but the physically stronger Loman's side comfortably held on for victory. The St. Loman's team was: Aisling Layde; Elaine Whitelaw, Therese Mimnagh, Elaine Galvin; Michelle Maleady, Andrea Martin, Aileen Martin; Rhona Murtagh, Amy Matthews; Carol McKinley, Cait Flanagan, Emma Martin; Laura Newman, Stephanie Kelly, Suzanne Watters. Subs used: Janine Cosgrove, Aisling Reynolds, Katie Heslin, Lorna Archibald and Kathy Maleady. Loman's add under 16 'A' crown St. Loman's captured the under 16 'A' ladies football title with an impressive 4-7 to 3-3 victory over Garrycastle at Springfield last October. After Jennifer O'Loughlin and Leona Archibold had exchanged early points, Garrycastle took a 1-1 to 0-1 lead when Edel O'Reilly slotted a penalty past goalkeeper Aisling Layde. Ciara McCormack tagged on a point before Amy Matthews reduced the deficit to the minimum with a right-footed goal. In the 18th minute, the Mullingar side took the lead when Claire Gorman scored their second goal. Carla McManus made it 2-2 to 1-2 before Maggie McDonagh brought Garrycastle back onto level terms with their second goal after 22 minutes. However, a brace of points from McManus gave Loman's a 2-4 to 2-2 lead at the break. Two points continued to separate the sides until Charlene Elliott rattled the St. Loman's net to restore Garrycastle's advantage. This was really putting it up to St. Loman's, but they responded in magnificent fashion. First, team captain Aileen Martin soloed out of defence before unleashing a powerful shot to the roof of the Garrycastle net. Then, substitute Michelle Colgan tagged on two points before the same player sealed victory with a fourth St. Loman's goal three minutes from the end. St. Loman's: Aisling Layde; Sile Marie Martin, Katie Heslin, Alva O'Reilly; Sinead Owens, Aileen Martin, Lisa Owens; Jean Cosgrave, Amy Matthews; Claire Gorman, Leona Archibold, Caroline Kelly; Carla McManus, Gillian Molloy, Sarah McManus. Subs used: Michelle Colgan and Angela Sheerin. Under 14 titles for Loman's, 'Bridge and Moate In an under 14 championship final treble-header at Springfield on September 14 last, there were wins for St. Loman's, Rochfortbridge and Moate All-Whites. In the under 14 'A' decider, St. Loman's defeated Milltown by 5-8 to 1-4 to add to their earlier success in the Feile competition. Milltown had plenty of possession, but failed to turn it into scores. Loman's held a 2-4 to 0-3 lead at half-time with Leona Archibald scoring both goals. On the restart, Gillian Molloy and Jean Murtagh added goals to give the Mullingar side a commanding 4-6 to 0-3 advantage. In the closing stages, Archibald completed her hat-trick, while Aisling Penrose managed a consolation goal for Milltown. Rochfortbridge claimed the under 14 'B' championship crown with a 4-5 to 2-4 victory over Athlone. Following an evenly contested first half, the 'Bridge found an extra gear in the second period to run out convincing winners. Emma Kiernan scored an early goal for Athlone, to which Aisling Flanagan replied from the penalty spot. Kiernan added a second goal midway through the half, but a scrambled Claire Judge goal had the 'Bridge on level terms, 2-2 each, at the break. Louise Conlon edged the Shannonsiders back in front on the restart, but Rochfortbridge went on to dominate the half with a further brace of goals from Claire Judge putting the seal on their victory. In the 'C' final, a powerful first half display helped Moate All-Whites to a 2-9 to 1-6 victory over a Tyrrellspass side who were left to regret two missed penalties either side of half-time. An Edel Glennon goal gave Tyrrellspass an early lead, but a goal from Sinead Egan provided Moate with a major boost as Egan, Darina Keenan, Stacey Holloway and Triona Geoghegan tagged on points to leave them ahead by 1-8 to 1-1 at the interval. Points from Carol Mealiffe and Phillipa Maher reduced the deficit following the changes of ends, but a second Moate goal from Holloway went a long way towards deciding the outcome. The St. Loman's team was: Caroline Kelly; Sile Marie Martin, Katie Heslin, Albhe O'Reilly; Sinead Owens, Lisa Owens, Claire Gorman; Janine Cosgrove, Leona Archibold; Susan Brady, Michelle Colgan, Carla McManus; Jean Murtagh, Sarah McManus, Gillian Doyle. Subs used: Kate Dale, Claire McDermott, Anne Murtagh, Claire Brazil and Laura Cahill. The Rochfortbridge team was: Michelle O'Sullivan; Jacqui Glennon, Grace Gavin, Aoife Hyland; Andrea Gorman, Lisa Kelly, Gillian Gonoud; Aisling Flanagan, Karen McDermott; Davina Wallace, Xeria Wallace, Sinead Whelehan; Claire Judge, Orla Hanrahan, Niamh Maguire. The Moate All-Whites team was: Marcella Reilly; Maeve McDermott, Maeve Guilfoyle, Amy Keenan; Linda Carroll, Shauna Egan, Anne-Marie Carroll; Triona Geoghegan, Darina Keena; Sinead Egan, Catriona Gavin, Heather McCormack; Emma Young, Stacey Holloway, Claire Kelly. Leinster 'B' glory for county under 14s Westmeath ladies football received a major boost when the county under 14 team produced a magnificent display to overwhelm Carlow by 3-10 to 0-2 in the Leinster 'B' final at Portlaoise on April 19 last. The Lake County girls laid the foundations for their victory in the first half when, despite playing against a strong breeze, they amassed 1-7 while restricting Carlow to a solitary point. With team captain Fiona Leavy superb in the half back line, Westmeath were always in control and this triumph should auger well for the future of the game in the county. After a sluggish start, Westmeath got on top between the 15th and 20th minutes when Triona Geoghegan, Susan Kiernan and Xenia Wallace scored four unanswered points between them. Wallace notched the opening goal after 23 minutes to leave Westmeath in a strong position at the interval. Carlow battled bravely on the restart, but a goal from Geoghegan in the 43rd minute ended their faint hopes of staging a recovery. Ten minutes from the end, Wallace added her second goal to seal an emphatic win for Westmeath. The Westmeath team was: Tara Fletcher; Susan Brady, Sinead Owens, Sinead Whelehan; Ruth Kearney, Jennifer Rodgers, Fiona Leavy; Sarah Kincaid, Karen McDermott; Susan Kiernan, Xenia Wallace, Orla Connaughton; Emma Morris, Triona Geoghegan, Sarah McManus. Subs used: Johanna Maher, Sinead Walker, Laura McWade, Gillian Gonoud and Joanna Rodgers. Tweet

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