Division 3 league defeat to St. Mary's

Kilbeggan's hopes of gaining promotion from Division 3 of the All-County League were all but ended on Sunday when they suffered a 0-9 to 2-8 home defeat to St. Mary's.

The Rochfortbridge men always looked the more likely winners, although a great second half rally by the home side had the margin down to a goal with only a few minutes remaining. The 'Bridge, however, scored the last two points to seal a deserved win.

The result means that Damian McLoughlin's charges remain on five points in Division 3 after two victories, two defeats and one draw. However, the management can take great encouragement from the battling qualities displayed by the team in the second half as they gear up for Friday week's JFC opener against Loughnavalley in Castletown-Geoghegan (throw-in 6.45pm).

St. Mary's dominated the first half and, aided by an Ian Cunningham goal, took a 1-6 to 0-3 lead into the break. When Robbie Kenny flicked home a second St. Mary's goal early in the second half after a long ball in by David Mitchell, Kilbeggan were staring at a heavy defeat, but they rallied brilliantly with six unanswered points, including four from veteran sub Keith Gorry, to leave just a goal in it.

However, the visitors finished the stronger to take the spoils.

Kilbeggan Shamrocks: Tadhg O'Gorman; Sean Pidgeon, Paul Maloney, Mel Kiernan; Kevin Smith, Jason O'Neill, Colm Draper; James Brennan, David Keenan; Paul Lewis, Mattie McCormack, Simon O'Neill; Liam O Conghtaile, Emmett Dalton, Tony Collins. Subs used: Fergal Scally, Keith Gorry, David Fennell and Finbarr Coffey.

Westmeath minors

Commiserations to the Fennell twins, Paul and David, who were part of the Westmeath team that suffered a heavy defeat to Dublin in the Leinster MFC in Parnell Park last Saturday.

The Lake County boys had no answer to a physically stronger Dublin team and will be hoping to do themselves justice in the backdoor series.

U10 South Westmeath league

Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's played Moate All-Whites in the third series of games in the South Westmeath league at Streamstown last Sunday. The U10s seem to be attracting lovely sunny mornings for football at the moment and are performing exceptionally well in the favourable conditions.

Two games were played simultaneously under the Go Games Quick Touch Rules. The skills on display in both games were excellent with once again some clinical score taking in particular. Next up is Athlone who will provide the opposition for Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's in the penultimate game of this group in a couple of weeks' time.

Team 1: Danny Scully, Dylan McDonald, Pierce Weir Norris, Dean Slevin, Aine Pettit, Cahal Mahe,r Conor Carroll, Tara Fox, Leah Farrell, Sarah Deering, Kieran Boyle.

Team 2: Yuri Tierney, Sinead Robbins, Orlaith Robbins, Ciara Maxwell, Karen Keegan, Jordan McDonald, James Hanlon, Andy Conway, Cahal Finn, Eoin Dixon, Eoin McCormack.

U12s lose challenge to Tyrrellspass

On Wednesday of last week, Kilbeggan/St. Joseph's made the short trip over to Tyrellspass to play a challenge game against the home side.

The game provided for an excellent contest, with little or nothing between the two teams. Tyrellspass shaded the game in the end with the final scoreline reading Kilbeggan/St. Josephs 1-10 Tyrellspass 2-08.

This was excellent preparation for the upcoming league match against St Malachy's/Ballinagore this Wednesday, 20th April in Ballinagore at 6.45 pm. All squad members are asked to be there at 6.15pm.

Team: Rory O'Neill, Ryan Coughlan, Patrick Claffey, Martin Ward, Eoin McCormack, Stephen Carroll, Declan Rogers, Brian Keegan, Ross Elliffe, Jordan Lynam, Niall Carey, Dylan Maloney, Dylan Hawe, Shane O'Callaghan, Ryan O'Neill and Euan McDonnell.

Brave effort by U14s in Feile Peil na nOg

Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's bowed out of this year's Feile competition in Kinnegad on Wednesday of last week.

In a very strong group of four teams which included Killucan, Rosemount and St.Loman's, Kilucan came out on top, winning all three games on the night to progress to the county final. Kilucan will now play holders Athlone for the privilege of representing Westmeath at the National Feile finals in Cork during July.

Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's played St. Lomans in their opening game. The format for the group was a round robin competition with each game being 15 minutes per half. Despite Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's scoring the first point, St.Loman's dominated the first half and went in eight points up. Half Time: Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's 0-2 St.Lomans 2-4.

In the proverbial game of two halves Kilbeggan/St.Josephs were superior in the second half but just couldn't put enough scores on the board. The added 1-1 to get within four points of Loman's midway through the second half. Loman's then killed off the game with a last-minute goal. Final Score: Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's 1-3 St. Loman's 3-4.

Scorers for Kilbeggan/St.Josephs were Sean Maher (1.02) and Sean Pettit (0.01)

Next up was a bit of a local derby against Rosemount. Rosemount started like a house on fire and raced into a 2-3 to no score lead after six minutes. Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's got back in to the game by scoring 1-3. Half Time: Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's 1-3 Rosemount 2-4.

Within two minutes of the start of the second half, Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's were level and were four points ahead midway through the half. Rosemount put a huge effort in and got a goal back with two minutes to go. The Kilbeggan defence stood resolute for the rest of the game not letting a determindc Rosemount get a shot away to level the scores. Full Time: Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's 3-5 Rosemount 3-4

Scorers for Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's: Brendan McMahon (0.01), Sean Maher (2.02), Morgan Mealiffe (1.00), James Fox (0.01), Sean Hanlon (0.01)

Last up was a must-win encounter against a physically strong and skilful Killucan side. Once again Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's started slowly and were 2-1 to 0-1 down after six minutes. Kilbeggan had a good spell but only put a point on the board. Kilucan then killed off the game scoring another 2-1. Half Time: Kilbeggan/St.Josephs 0.02 Kilucan 4.02.

Kilbeggan/St.Josephs lost James Fox just before half-time to what looked to be a bad calf tear. We wish James a speedy recovery. With the game more or less settled, the second half was played at more of a sedate pace. Full Time Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's 1-2 Kilucan 5-2.

Scorers for Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's: James Finnegan (0.01), Sean Maher (0.01), Morgan Mealiffe (1.00)

Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's: Keith Corcoran, Bart Gorski, Colm Heffernan, Ciarán Egan, Jack Farrell, James Fox, Hugh Boyle, Morgan Mealiffe, James Finnegan, Sean Hanlon, Brendan McMahon, Sean Pettit, Ronan Cooper, Sean Maher, Aaron McNamee, Dean Keegan, Kian Cooper, Gearoid Farrell, Aaron McDonald, Eoin Kelly, Michael Pettit.

Rosemount avenge Feile defeat

Less than 24 hours after both teams were knocked out of the Feile, Rosemount and Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's squared up against each other again in Division 1B of the league in Rosemount. It was Rosemount who got the better of Kilbeggan/St.Josephs by one point, 1-12 to 3-5, on this occasion.

Rosemount scored the opening two points before Sean Maher bundled the ball to the net to put the visitors a point up. Rosemount pointed twice before Sean Pettit leveled the scores again. Rosemount once again went two points clear. Sean Maher tapped over a point before the home side went three points clear.

Kilbeggan/St.Josephs scored three frees one after the other, two from Sean Pettit and Brendan McMahon kicking over the other. The sides went in level at half time: Rosemount 0-8 Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's 1-5.

With 10 minutes gone in the second half, the Roses were once again two points up. Colm Heffernan hit a rasping shot which struck the post and deflected wide. From the kick-out James Finnegan gathered the ball and went on a solo run before blasting the ball to the net to put Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's a point up.

From the next attack, Sean Maher scored his second goal. At this stage there was 17 minutes left for play. Another point by the home side was followed by a goal to once again level the scores. Some resolute defending and erratic shooting prevented Rosemount from scoring until two minutes from time when they kicked the winning point. Full Time: Rosemount 1-12 Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's 3-5

Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's: Keith Corcoran, Ciaran Egan, Morgan Mealiffe, Bart Gorski, Ronan Cooper, Jack Farrell, Hugh Boyle, James Finnegan (1.00), Colm Heffernan, Sean Pettit (0.03 .02 frees), Dean Keegan, Sean Hanlon, Gearoid Farrell, Sean Maher (2.01), Brendan McMahon (0.01 .01 free), Aaron McDonald, Kian Cooper, Eoin Kelly, Michael Pettit.

U16s comfortable winners of Castledaly

Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's maintained their 100 per cent start to Division 3 of the U16 league on Monday evening of last week when they defeated Castledaly by 1-23 to 2-4 in Kilbeggan.

The home side looked to have benefited from a couple of hard training sessions since their last match and were quickest out of the blocks. Adam Arthurs, Nigel Scally, Andy Scally, Christopher Gorry and Dean Fitzgerald all combined to put 1-6 on the scoreboard without reply after 11 minutes. It was Andy Scally who rattled the onion bag following some good link play between Thomas Moran and Nigel Scally.

Castledaly had a decent spell of pressure during the middle of the first half but some tremendous blocking in defence by Thomas Kinihan, Valentinas Sizchas and Shane Keenan kept the visitors' score to only two points for the half. Adam Arthurs (2), Ciarán Nannery and Andy Scally added points for the home side to leave the half time score: Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's 1-10 Castledaly 0-2.

Within the first 10 minutes of the second half Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's added another five points from play but Castledaly were putting on the pressure and scored two goals. This could have been more but for Jamie Plume, Shane Keenan and John Dinnigan doing a very professional job sweeping up loose ball and using it well.

The defence was well marshalled by Thomas Barrett in the goals. In the last third of the game, the stubborn Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's defence kept the Castledaly attackers at bay, conceding only two pointed frees in the process. Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's rattled over another eight points to run out easy winners.

Kevin Flaherty, Mark Heffernan, Francis Digan and Patrick Egan all did well when introduced, proving that there's big competition for places on this team. Next up for the U16s is a trip to the home of the senior football champions Garrycastle. Before then a few more tough training sessions will surely put some more petrol in the tank!

Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's: Thomas Barrett, Shane Keenan, Jamie Plume, Thomas Kinihan, Valentinas Sizchas, John Dinnigan, Christopher Gorry (0.02), Thomas Moran, Andy Scally (1.05 .01 free), Nigel Scally (0.03), Dean Fitzgerald (0.04 .01 free), Ciarán Nannery (0.02), Adam Arthurs (0.07), Kevin Flaherty, Mark Heffernan, Francis Digan, Patrick Egan.

U16 challenge v Ballycumber/Tubber

Kilbeggan/St.Joseph's U16s made their first excursion into the Faithful County for a challenge game in Tubber last Friday.

The game itself was a fine game of free flowing football against a strong home outfit. Despite only just coming out on the wrong side of the result, the U16 management team were very impressed with the attitude and performance of their players on the night. Indeed taking some of the numerous chances created may have produced a different result. Overall, this was a great preparatory outing with the upcoming league games in mind. Tweet

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