Milltown cruise through Leinster opener in Longford
Conor Sheerin scored five points for Milltown today in Longford
Milltown sailed through their opening Leinster Championship assignment as they blitzed Longford champions Mostrim at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
The big question surrounding the Kildare champions coming into the game was how much the exertions of two epic encounters with Suncroft over the previous fortnight, and the emotional high of victory and the ensuing celebrations, had taken out of them.
In the end, however, those concerns proved unfounded against a side that had competed in the Longford Senior Championship for almost 60 years before suffering relegation in 2025. Mostrim bounced back at the first attempt by claiming the Intermediate title.
Having won that decider on October 4, it might have been expected that a fresher Mostrim outfit would hold an advantage over a battle-hardened Milltown side. Instead, it looked like a rusty team up against a finely tuned Kildare champion.
Milltown had already built a five-point lead before effectively settling the contest with two goals in the space of a minute shortly after the 21st minute.
Ronan O'Shea struck first, finishing clinically after good approach play, and Ben Curran quickly followed with another well-taken goal to leave Mostrim reeling.
The Kildare champions almost made it three goals in as many minutes, but Paddy Donogue saw his effort brilliantly blocked by the foot of Mostrim goalkeeper Ciaran Garvey.
Milltown's dominance was reflected on the scoreboard as they took a 2-9 to 0-0 lead into the interval and they were never pushed out of their comfort zone after the restart.
Mostrim finally registered their only score of the afternoon when Ronan Courtney converted a free in the 51st minute.
Kildare clubs have won this Leinster Intermediate Championship in each of the last three seasons and, while sterner examinations surely await, Milltown's display suggested they are fully focused on replicating the provincial success enjoyed by the county's representatives in recent years.
On this evidence, they have the quality, organisation and momentum to make a serious impact in the weeks ahead.
Next up will be a quarter-final in two weeks against either Kilkenny's Mullinavat or Meath's Duleek Bellewstown.
Omar Dunne; Jamie Cross, Cian Buckley, Sean Murphy, Kevin Byrne, Colin O’Shea 0-1, Liam Kelly 0-1; Joe Dunne, Conor Sheerin 0-5 (1tpf, 2fs); Ben Curran 1-2, Alan Dignam 0-3, Niall Finnegan, Paddy Donogue 0-4 (2f, 1m), Ronan O’Shea 1-0, Ben Heuston 0-2. Subs: Sam O’Hara for Byrne, 37; Shane Daly for Finnegan, 42; Karl Downey for Dignam, 48; Tom Stapleton for Murphy, 53; Garvan Walsh for Heuston, 53.
Ciaran Garvey; Shane Sheridan, Padraig Cahill, Killian Courtney, Dario Cigliano, Jack Belton, James Connell; Shane Kiernan, Thomas Doyle; Niall Quinn, Ronan Courtney 0-1f, Martin Coyle, Liam Greene, Tiarnan Hussey, Padraic Joyce. Subs: Fintan Coyle for M Coyle, h/t; Kaylem Lynn for Joyce, 35; Adam Connaughton for Quinn, 45; Caolan Hussey for T Hussey, 48; Niall Campbell for Sheridan, 55.
Ultan McElroy (Louth).
