Two-goal Heslin underlines his class to secure Loman’s treble

WITH their marquee player and captain John Heslin leading the way, St Loman’s completed their first hat-trick of county titles in fine style at TEG Cusack Park.

The reigning champions always looking the more likely winners against last year’s runners-up, Tyrrellspass, in front of 5,276 spectators in ideal conditions for football

The game started in sensational fashion with Heslin scoring a wonderful goal after a mere 12 seconds, after exchanging passes with David Windsor directly from the throw-in.

Westmeath captain Ger Egan replied with a free for the challengers, but St Loman’s pounced for their second goal in the fifth minute – Heslin and former Offaly player Ken Casey combining delightfully for Sean Flanagan to find the net.

Tyrrellspass continued to plug away, with Egan reliable from placed balls. Remarkably, his miss from a 40-metre free in the 24th minute was the only wide at either end of the pitch in the entire first half.

Tyrrellspass trailed 2-5 to 0-8 at the break but were given real hope by the 29th-minute red card for St Loman’s full-back Shane Flynn. Instead, a fine point by Shane Dempsey and another free by Heslin increased the holders’ lead to five points within three minutes of the resumption.

However, a great solo point from wing-back Conor Slevin and Egan’s only point from play quickly cancelled out these scores.

The gap was still three points (2-10 to 0-13) in the 55th minute when Tyrrellspass defender Ben Gavin was dismissed, leaving both sides to finish the game with 14 men.

And Luke Dempsey’s men pulled away in the closing stages with points from Heslin (free), Casey and Flanagan, prior to that man Heslin taking Shane Dempsey’s pass and bearing down on goal, before giving Westmeath goalkeeper Darren Quinn no chance with a sublime low finish on the hour mark.

Egan’s ninth point of the afternoon was merely a consolation score for Alan Mangan’s charges.

SCORERS – St Loman’s: J Heslin 2-6 (0-6fs), S Flanagan 1-1, K Casey 0-3, S Dempsey 0-2, P Sharry 0-1. Tyrrellspass: G Egan 0-9 (8fs), C Slevin 0-2 (1f), B Gavin, A O’Brien, David Glennon 0-1 each.

ST LOMAN’S, MULLINGAR – J Daly; N O’Toole, S Flynn, G Grehan; G Glennon, P Dowdall, D Whelan; P Sharry, J Heslin; K Reilly, R O’Toole, D Windsor; K Casey, S Flanagan, S Dempsey. Subs: J O’Toole for Reilly (40), K Lynam for N O’Toole (46), C Reilly for J O’Toole (BC, 50), G Hickey for R O’Toole (60), C Kilmurray for Dempsey (60), B O’Loughlin for Windsor (60 + 1).

TYRRELLSPASS – D Quinn; S Quinn, J Gonoud, E O’Neill; B Gavin, B Slevin, C Slevin; C Dunne, Denis Glennon; V Sizychas, A O’Brien, D McNicholas; D Jessop, David Glennon, G Egan. Subs: K Geraghty for Jessop (42), P Sheridan for S Quinn (46), N Harte for O’Brien (52), M Geraghty for Dunne (56).

REF – D Nugent (Maryland).