“A class act.”
14 seconds was all it took John Heslin. The TEG Cusack Park crowd were struck with awe for the next few minutes, few hours after.
Before the ball was even thrown in, the Westmeath assassin was facing down the Tyrrellspass goals. He leaped highest to collect the referee’s lob, took one effective backward step, before searing through the opposition defence with a relentless forward surge.
This was St Loman’s bidding for three titles in a row. This was John Heslin laying down a marker. This was a man, a team who meant business.
Often, players like to ease themselves into the game. To get their hands on the ball a few times before really making their mark. Heslin had tunnel vision, he was boring down the pitch before the defenders knew where they were.
You may question the Tyrrellspass defence for being so open, but it really is hard to defend against blinding pace coming straight at you.
.@StLomansGAAClub captain John Heslin spoke to Gerry Russell after they made it three-in-a-row https://t.co/ahs8RnA9cO
— Midlands 103 Sport (@MidlandsSport) October 29, 2017
Despite putting his head down like a charging bull, Heslin wasn’t running down a blind alley. His instinct, his vision was in tact.
With a brief glance, he tossed the ball across to his teammate, who completed the one-two movement expertly, and quickly with the return ball one that Heslin could run on to, one that gave him even more forward momentum.
Loman’s meant business.
The 24-year-old surged again, without breaking stride or deviating from that arrow-like beeline down the throat of the Tyrrellspass defence and goals.
They came forward to meet him, to try and tackle him. They were turned inside out, upside down.
Then came the finish, a rocket off the right boot that rifled straight into the top corner of the net.
The goalkeeper was stranded. He didn’t even attempt to stop the ball. You couldn’t blame him.
Heslin wasn’t done there, Loman’s weren’t done there. He soon added another goal, and six more points as he guided the Mullingar club to a 3-13 to 0-14 victory, and a sixth Paddy Flanagan cup.
“Heslin, you think he scores a lot for Westmeath, have a look at his returns for St Loman’s,” said Colm Parkinson on last Thursday’s GAA Hour Show.
“He is a class act,” said teammate Ronan O’Toole to SportsJOE.
Just another game for the Loman’s captain.
Hope so, best goal I've ever seen in Cusack park anyway
— Paul O'Donohoe (@PaulOhDee) October 29, 2017
It’s hard to argue with that.
Hat-tip to St Loman’s half forward Ronan O’Toole for sending this our way.
