AIB Leinster Club Senior Football Championship Final

Moorefield (Kildare) 1-14, St Loman’s (Westmeath) 2-10

One of the greatest comebacks ever in the AIB Leinster Club Championship resulted in a sensational victory by Moorefield in the Senior Football final at O’Moore Park.

Six points down with time running out, the Kildare kingpins hit 1-4 without reply in the closing seven minutes (including over five minutes additional time), with the inspirational Kevin Murnaghan clipping over the winning point.

Ronan Sweeny had thrown them a lifeline with a goal in the first minute of injury time and as they laid siege to their opponent’s goal, Eanna O’Connor contributed two points after Sweeney’s goal to bring them level.

It was the cruellest of defeats for St Loman’s. Second half goals by Ken Casey and Ronan O’Toole put them in control as they overturned a 0-7 to 0-4 half time deficit to lead by 2-10 to 0-10 by the 53^rd minute.

But then it all went wrong. A black card for Ken Casey, some defensive errors at the worst possible time, and the sending off of influential Paul Sharry all contributed to their downfall.

Even before the late drama, it had been a memorable, hard-hitting game with some superb individual displays and no-nonsense tackling.

It began at a blistering pace and although the first half featured some wayward shooting, the sides were tied at 0-3 apiece after 20 minutes.

Moorefield then took control around the middle third and this was rewarded with unanswered scores, as they deservedly established a 0-7 to 0-4 interval lead.

But with former Offaly forward Ken Casey in fine form, St Loman’s took control after the resumption and when he fired to the net in the 37^th minute, they led by 1-7 to 0-7. They looked the most likely winners from then on and particularly after Ronan O’Toole’s goal gave them six points breathing space, 2-10 to 0-10.

Perhaps understandably, they began to concentrate on defensive duties from that point on, but it all went wrong as Moorefield refused to concede defeat and showed the importance of playing to the final whistle with a never-to-be-forgotten recovery.

Moorefield Scorers: Eanna O’Connor 0-8 (5f), Ronan Sweeney 1-1, James Murray 0-2, Eddie Heavey, David Whyte, Kevin Murnaghan 0-1 each.

St Loman’s Scorers: Ken Casey, Ronan O’Toole 1-2 each, John Heslin 0-2 (1f),  Paul Sharry 0-2, Shane Dempsey, Kelvin Reilly 0-1 each.

MOOREFIELD: Tom Kinsella; Mark Dempsey, Liam Healy, Liam Callaghan; Kevin Murnaghan, James Murray, Sean Healy; Daryl Flynn, Aaron Masterson; David Whyte, Eddie Heavey, Ian Meehan; Eanna O’Connor, Niall Hurley Lynch, Ronan Sweeney. Subs: Aaron Mullins for Meehan (40), Adam Sweeney for Masterson (52), Sean Dempsey for Callaghan (55).

ST LOMAN’S MULLINGAR: Jason Daly; Gary Glennon, Gerry Grehan, Jason O’Toole; Neil O’Toole, Paddy Dowdall, David Whelan; Paul Sharry, John Heslin; David Windsor, Ronan O’Toole, Kelvin Reilly; Ken Casey, Sean Flanagan, Shane Dempsey. Subs: Kieran Lynam for Flanagan (29), Conrad Reilly for N O’Toole (h/t), Ciaran Kilmurray for Whelan (55), Billy O’Loughlin for Casey (58, black card), Shane Flynn for Windsor (61).

Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin).