Following their defeats in the 2006 and 2007 junior championship finals, Milltown were hoping it would be a case of third-time lucky last year, but a comprehensive semi-final defeat to Mullingar Shamrocks put paid to such hopes. However, new secretary Conor Reilly is confident they can make amends in the coming season. Those who believe in omens in Milltown GAA had good reason to believe that 2008 would be their year. After all, the last time the club lost two successive junior finals in 1994 and '95, they bounced back in '96 to take the spoils. After losing the 2006 and '07 finals to Caulry and Rosemount respectively, nothing less than victory last year was going to satisfy the Milltown faithful. The official opening of Sean Doolin Memorial Park on May 25 had created a feel-good buzz, but sadly this didn't extend to the playing field where the green and wides failed to live up to expectations. After overcoming St. Joseph's in the championship quarter-final, they crashed to a 1-10 to 2-14 semi-final defeat to Mullingar Shamrocks' second string. What made the loss all the more disappointing was the fact that Milltown had an excellent record in previous meetings between the sides, with their last Hugh Daniels Cup success in 2003 coming at the expense of the town team. "The general consensus was that we under-performed last year," new Milltown secretary and half back Conor Reilly ruefully reflects. "Our aim at the start of the year was to go one better than the last two years and win the championship. But we came up against a strong Shamrocks team in the semi-final and they beat us with a bit to spare. "It was very disappointing because it was the first time that I can remember us losing to Shamrocks at junior level. We beat them in the 2007 semi-final and in the 2003 final when many of their current senior team were playing. It was a hard one to take, but it happened and we have to try to put things right this year." Conor, who is joined on the team by his brother Fergal, who was a county minor a few years ago, claims the loss of several key players through summer emigration hit Milltown hard in 2008. "A few of the lads went to the US and we were weakened as a result," he says. "Donal Kenny, Conor O'Farrell, James Walsh, Patrick Gavigan and Joe Kenny missed most of the championship and they would be first team regulars. A club of our size can't afford to be without anyone, especially when you're hoping to win a championship." Under the management of former player Tom Dillon and his selectors David Molloy and Pete Ballesty, Milltown showed mixed form in the championship group stage. They drew with St. Paul's in their opening game before securing their first win against Ballycomoyle at Springfield. The green and whites made hard work of beating the North Westmeath whipping boys, who led by 0-3 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter. But Milltown eventually got to grips with their unfancied opponents and helped by a Declan Rooney goal, they fought back to lead by 1-5 to 0-4 at half-time. Within three minutes of the restart, Stephen Somers and Fergal Reilly had put six points between the sides and that's how it was at the final whistle with Milltown running out 1-10 to 0-7 winners. After easily accounting for Bunbrosna's second team, Milltown faced championship favourites St. Mary's in a game which would decide the group winners, and who would qualify directly for the semi-finals. Tom Dillon's charges were widely regarded as St. Mary's main rivals for championship success, but the Rochfortbridge men proved much too strong in a 4-7 to 0-7 victory. That result meant that Milltown had to be content with a quarter-final against St. Joseph's at Bunbrosna. In one of their better championship performances, two goals in as many minutes midway through the second half propelled the Milltown-Rathconrath men to a 2-8 to 0-9 victory. With Joe Kenny in fine scoring form, Milltown led 0-5 to 0-4 at the interval, but St. Joseph's twice levelled through Declan Nannery and Fergus McCormack after the restart before, in the 43rd minute, Kenny pounced on a defensive mistake to fire the opening goal. The Streamstown/Horseleap outfit responded with another McCormack point, only for Milltown to go straight back down the field and score a second goal through Johnny Downes. Michael Dillon and Joe Kenny pushed the green and whites seven points clear before Declan Nannery clawed back two points for the losers from frees near the end. The victory over St. Joseph's ensured that Milltown travelled to Shandonagh for their semi-final joust with Mullingar Shamrocks in a confident frame of mind. After leading twice early on, Milltown fell 0-2 to 0-3 in arrears when Ciaran O'Meara pointed. But two points from Joe Kenny had them back in front before Adam Corroon beat Damien Burke with a powerful shot to help Shamrocks to a 1-7 to 0-7 lead at half-time. After Corroon had opened the second half scoring, Kenny had a brace of frees to leave two points between the sides. However, Shamrocks then hit a purple patch that yielded four unanswered points. Milltown needed something and Johnny Downes should have scored a goal when put clean through, but his shot went over the crossbar rather than under. From the kick-out, though, Stephen Somers found Joe Kenny and he made no mistake with a superb goal to make it a two-point game once again with 10 minutes remaining. But just when it seemed the momentum was with Milltown, Shamrocks replied with a killer goal from substitute Mark Irwin, and they put the result beyond doubt with further points from Gary and Adam Corroon. Further disappointment followed for Milltown when they suffered a first round defeat to St. Mary's in the Junior Cup. They had satisfactory league campaign, however, finishing in mid-table in Division 3. Over the past decade or so, Milltown has emerged as one of the strongest ladies football clubs in the county. After capturing their first senior championship in 2007, they had high hopes of putting titles back-to-back last year and looked to be well on their way when they qualified for the final against Garrycastle. But a wasteful performance, which included two penalty misses, saw them edged out a 1-7 to 1-8 scoreline. Garrycastle led 1-6 to 0-3 at half-time after Laura Halligan had seen her penalty saved in the 22nd minute. Despite hitting five wides immediately after the restart and having a second penalty saved, Milltown eventually drew level when Faye Kearney set up Bronagh Beglan for a goal with six minutes remaining. Garrycastle responded with two points, and although Ruth Kearney reduced the deficit to the minimum with a point in injury-time, it wasn't enough to save the champions from defeat. However, Milltown gained some consolation from their feat in claiming senior cup honours for the third year in succession following their victory over Coralstown/Kinnegad. The highlight of Milltown's year was undoubtedly the official opening of Sean Doolin Memorial Park on Sunday, May 25. Incorporating the new Milltown/Empor Parish Community Centre which boasts four new dressing rooms, four meeting rooms, a main hall and an upstairs area, the facility is one of the finest of its kind anywhere in the midlands and is a tribute to the foresight and ambition of Milltown GAA and the local community. Speaking at the official opening which was performed by county board chairman Tom Farrell and marked by a senior football challenge between Westmeath and Leitrim, former Milltown secretary Jim Dalton said: "It's the culmination of great work between the GAA club and the Community Centre Committee over the years and the pitch itself is dedicated to the late Sean Doolin." Looking ahead to the new season, Dalton's successor as secretary explains that winning the junior championship will once again be Milltown's primary goal. "Our aim is the same as last year - to win the junior championship. We were disappointed with last year's effort and are determined to make amends. We have a good mixture of young and experienced players who are capable of bringing success to the club," Reilly concludes. The Milltown team which lost the JFC semi-final to Mullingar Shamrocks was: Damien Burke; Ciaran Byrne, Paddy Gavigan, Bernard Kiernan; Mike Dillon, Frank McLoughlin, Conor Reilly; Paul Mulvaney, Stephen Somers; Paul Mahon, Fergal Reilly, Sean Somers; Joe Kenny, Willie Keegan, Johnny Downes. Subs used: Michael Connell, Ronan Eivers, Conor O'Farrell, Declan Rooney and Bernard Glynn. Tweet

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