LGF Div.1 League Final: Milltown 4-17 Mullingar Shamrocks 0-4

Our senior LGF team's superb run in qualifying for the Division 1 League final ended in disappointment in Shandonagh on Thursday evening when the team was well beaten by a Milltown team that delivered a superb exhibition of Ladies Gaelic Football. The former All-Ireland champions returned to the kind of form that saw them capture the national title a few years ago and their skill levels, their physicality, decision making, combination play, score-making and taking and their relentless approach even when the game was over as a contest could only be admired.

With their county players in flying form and showing no aftershocks from the rout in Limerick, Milltown led by 2-8 to 0-2 at the interval. Sarah (0-7 on the night) and Clodagh Dillon, Katie Somers and Leanne Slevin were in fine scoring form; a brilliant double save by Lauren McCormack from Sarah Dillon was one of the first-half highlights. Lauren had a nunber of other fine saves on the night and her handling and kicking was excellent. At the other end, Shamrocks were unfortunate when a great defence splitting move ended with a Karen Hegarty shot smashing off the crossbar and rebounding to safety. Emma Morris and Gemma Kerrigan had Shamrocks scores.

Milltown maintained their dominance in the second half and doubled their first-half tally; Anna Jones and Gemma Kerrigan added two points to the Shamrocks total.

The achievement of our girls in qualifying for the club's first senior final should not in any way be diminished by this defeat; the team tried to the bitter end and showed some flashes of the form that secured the final place (that was three months ago when the last league matches were played). On the night Milltown were unbeatable. There will be other days and the championship opener against The Downs is just around the corner.  

Mullingar Shamrocks: Lauren McCormack; Melek Fagan (Shauna McNicholas), Niamh Spellman, Lorna Morris (Claire Fagan); Cliodhna Spellman (Sophie Hegarty), Áine Melody, Niamh Kennedy (Chloe Swarbrigg); Michelle Buckley and Anna Jones (0-1); Casey McDermott (Susanna Buckley), Emma Morris (0-1) (Liveta Lazauskaite), Gemma Kerrigan (0-2); Carole Finch (Sarah Geoghegan), Karen Hegarty, Clara Thornton.

Special Notice: The youngest spectator present in Shandonagh was 3-week-old Billy Corroon. We congratulate Steven and Aoibhínn Corroon on the latest addition to the family.