Reigning champions St Loman's qualified for their seventh successive Westmeath SFC final after coming through a thrilling battle with Coralstown-Kinnegad at TEG Cusack Park yesterday.

Westmeath star Ronan O'Toole was the Blues' hero on this occassion, kicking four stunning points in a whirlwind finish. Then, with time almost up, Fola Ayorinde hit an unstoppable goal to set the seal on a hard-fought 2-14 to 1-13 victory.

Kinnegad, who were aiming to bridge a 23-year gap to their last final appearance, looked down and out when trailing 1-4 to 0-0 on 15 minutes. Peter Foy's goal straight from the throw-in set the tone for a dominant first-quarter from St Loman's.

But the underdogs showed remarkable resilience to get back into the contest, hitting 1-5 without reply. Points from Ger Leech, Callum Cruise and Darren Giles - the trio were unerring from placed balls throughout - and a well-taken goal by Jack Torpey left Liam McNeill's charges one up at half-time, 1-6 to 1-5.

They worked tirelessly to maintain that momentum in the second-half and stretched their advantage to three points at the second water-break. But St Loman's refused to relent, and as the lead changed hands down the home straight with some magnificent point taking from both sides in atrocious conditions, the Blues were able to close out the contest with moments of brilliance from O'Toole before Ayorinde made sure of the win.

Garrycastle will provide the opposition to the holders in the final after the Athlone club defeated The Downs 3-12 to 3-7 in the earlier throw-in. The winners led from pillar to post to book a repeat of the 2019 Flanagan Cup decider in which they beat St Loman's by four points.

 

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