Sarah Dillon remains upbeat despite much Westmeath adjustment

She picked up the ball deep inside her own half, laid it off, and made her way up field.

Sarah Dillon was just on as a substitute, and she had more energy than anyone else on the field at Parnell Park. The 14-year-old kept going, she advanced into the Cahir half and, after four of her Milltown teammates combined, it was her turn on the ball. She took it and rifled it into the roof of the net – Dillon was always destined for greatness.

"Looking back on it now, it was all a blur," said Dillon.

"I remember, Dad put me in for the last ten minutes and coming onto the pitch, it was the second ball I got my hands on, I got it around halfway and I kept running and running. Thankfully when I did kick it, it did go in. Our goalie made a save with the last kick of the game and that kind of secured it. It was absolutely brilliant. Everyone came out on the pitch as well."

Dillon comes from a family steeped in Gaelic games, and she grew up with just one field separating her house and the Milltown pitch.

Her father Tom, who previously wore Westmeath maroon, got involved early before his daughters, Tracey, Rachel and Sarah, joined up with the club. They would all go on to represent their county, too.

"Dad has been training me since I was Under-6 or Under-8," said Dillon.

"I have been going over with him all the time. Just to go over to kick a few points with my brother and sisters. From a young age, watching dad play football the whole way up, I did nothing else, except go over with my friends after school, kicking around. We grew up in that environment and it has worked out, thank God."

Milltown were crowned All-Ireland intermediate club champions in December 2015 when manager Tom called on his youngest daughter Sarah, to make the difference.

T