By Damien Maher
St Loman’s are facing into next Sunday’s Leinster Club Senior Football Final at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise (2pm) with a virtual clean bill of health and the positive news is that wing back David Whelan has recovered from a quad injury that kept him out of the semi-final.
Centre forward Ronan O’Toole is the Mullingar side’s main injury concern after he sustained a shoulder injury against Simonstown Gaels last Sunday week, but he will almost certainly start for the blues, who are slight favourites (evens) to defeat Moorefield (11/10) of Kildare. Manager Luke Dempsey put his St Loman’s side through their paces last Sunday morning before looking ahead to the biggest day in the club’s history and the vastly experienced bainisteoir will have an insight into the strength of Moorefield, a club he trained to Kildare senior titles in 2013 and ’14.
Dempsey is enthused by the character his St Loman’s side has shown this season, particularly in recent games where they were were forced to dig deep to see off Longford champions Mullinalaghta and of course Meath’s Simonstown Gaels in the semi-final.
“A group dynamic overrides the individual efforts of some clubs that are very dependent on individuals just doing the business and I think this year, especially with players who came off the bench – who probably could have started – they have carried us through tough times. It is the most pleasing aspect of this year, the entire panel effort. The likes of Kieran Lynam, Conradh Reilly and all players who have came in off the bench have made a real difference,” he said.
GREAT FEELING
The mood in the St Loman’s camp is upbeat and positive. There’s a renewed belief, almost about people in the club and morale is high, the general feeling being that Sunday may well be their day.
“The mood couldn’t be better. The players are buoyed by the fact that it’s historic. It’s new; they have never been playing Leinster club football at this time of the year before in St Loman’s. It’s great – no apprehension or nerves needed because it’s something novel and new. When you see Christmas lights flashing in Mullingar and you’re going training, it’s a great feeling that your club is still involved in the provincial campaign,” enthused Dempsey.
Yet, there’s a realisation that St Loman’s have a massive battle on their hands if they’re to make history next Sunday and win the Leinster title for the first time ever. Dempsey knows the Moorefield players by name, realises that they’re a huge club with big player numbers and strong resource.
Eanna and Cian O’Connor are key men, though the latter picked up a red card against Rathnew and will be out. Niall Hurley-Lynch and Ronan Sweeney are key men in attack and Sweeney has been described by Dempsey as a marvellous ambassador for football.
Daryl Flynn at midfield is strong, as is Kevin Murnaghan in defence and Liam Callaghan.
“We are under no illusions. There are two great clubs involved on Sunday. The fact that you would stay two years (in Moorefield) – and it was my own choice then to give up travelling and leave – and then spend three years in St Loman’s, shows that there are two fantastic clubs involved. Whosever wins on Sunday will have deserved it for the effort they have put in to club football in the province,” he said.
Dempsey also knows Moorefield manager, Ross Glavin very well having managed him as a player with the Newbridge club.
“He’s a great fella and was a fantastic footballer. Himself and Frank Hannify (a joint managerial team) were great players when I was there. They did a great job in Ballyteague before assuming the mantle at Moorefield,” commented Dempsey.
The St Loman’s supremo is well aware that his side cannot give Moorefield the kind of start they gave both Mullinalaghta and Simonstown Gaels. “We won’t get away with it against Moorefield. We have looked at that and hopefully we will have addressed it for the final, because nothing less will do,” he said.
A massive collective effort will be required if the ideal Christmas present is to make its way to Mullingar next Sunday evening.
“The players have earned the right to be here and I just hope for their sake that they perform to their full potential,” added Dempsey.
