On Sunday last our senior men contested the 2025 Westmeath senior football championship final versus local neighbours Coralstown/Kinnegad, the clubs third final in four years. 

In wet and windy conditions in TEG Cusack Park, it was Coralstown/Kinnnegad who got off to the better start and led in the early stages of the game with Darren Giles pointing for the first score of the game. Tom Tuite soon after levelled proceedings before James Maxwell put Coralstown/Kinnegad in the lead again. From this moment on, The Downs started to get to grips with the game and after a shot dropped short from Ian Martin the eventual man of the match Kevin O’ Sullivan was first to react to flick the ball past the Coralstown/Kinnegad goalkeeper Jason Macken scoring the first goal of the game putting The Downs ahead on 10 minutes. From this point on, The Downs started to take control of the middle third battle to score seven points on the bounce through Dean Egerton, Luke Loughlin (who scored five points including two 2 pointer frees) and an excellently executed point  from the weaker left boot of Tom Tuite.  At this juncture, The Downs led on a score-line of 1-8 to 0-2 and seemed to be cruising before Brian Cooney registered Coralstown/Kinnegad’s third point and then CKG were handed a lifeline after a Ger Leech free dropped short into The Downs square and from the breaking ball Darren Giles was deemed to be fouled with Coralstown/Kinnegad awarded a penalty which Callum Cruise converted despite the best efforts from Trevor Martin. The Downs reacted to this setback well after Luke Loughlin slotted over The Downs ninth point on the stroke of half-time to leave the score at half-time in favour of The Downs 1-9 to 1-3.

The Downs  played against the breeze in the second half and it was Coralstown/Kinnegad who struck the first score of the half , a 2 pointed free from Ger Leech after The Downs had breached the new “3 up rule “. Coralstown/Kinnegad were penalised for the same breach just a few minutes later where Luke loughlin wisely opted to take the easy free from the 21 yard line to get the scoreboard ticking for The Downs against the breeze . From the proceeding Coralstown/Kinnegad kickout, The Downs won possession and via a blistering run from Luke Loughlin and a pass across the square falling to the boot of Dean Egerton to fire home for our second goal of the game. In the next play Kevin O’ Sullivan was denied another goal for his side after some good last ditch defending from Coralstown/Kinnegad. Ger leech almost immediately cancelled out this goal with another 2 pointed free after being fouled. Scores were hard to come by over the next few minutes before strong running from Jonathon Lynam and Kevin O’Sullivan who then found the on rushing Ian Martin who fired home with a first time pull off the ground to score The Downs third major of the day. Once again Coralstown/Kinnegad responded with another 2 pointed score this time from Darren Giles to bring the gap back to five points before Dean Egerton fired a point of both left and right foot to put the gap back to seven points in favour of the black and amber clad outfit again. Coming down the stretch in the final ten minutes, Coralstown/Kinnegad rallied to pull the gap back to three points through Darren Giles with a point from play and yet another 2 pointed free before the Coralstown/Kinnegad full back Danny woods pointed to reduce the gap back to 3. Though as they had done All game the downs lads found the perfect response at the crucial stages of the game as another strong run from Loughlin who then teed up Jonathon Lynam for the Downs fourth goal of the match to seal a memorable victory and an 11th senior football title for The Downs, a second in four years on a full time score of The Downs 4-12 Coralstown kinnegad 1-15. The lads now go onto to face Offaly champions Tullamore in the quarter final of the Leinster championship in Cusack Park in 2 weeks’ time.

Division 1 Minor Final Na Dúnta 0-11 Mullingar Shamrocks 0-14

It was an historical and proud day for our club on Sunday, as both our Minor and Senior teams, fielded for the first time in the same year in their respective top tier Westmeath GAA County Finals. The Minor game was relocated from Cusack Park because of weather and to protect the pitch for the Senior final. Huge thanks go to St Lomans GAA for making their pitch in Dovida, Lakepoint Park available in perfect condition. An acknowledgement also to our many loyal supporters from Na Dúnta, who turned out in such large numbers to support our Minor team, undeterred by neither the long day nor the need to relocate to Cusack Park for the Senior game. The final offered us a mouth-watering pairing of the top two teams in the Minor Championship league section – The Downs (undefeated) and Mullingar Shamrocks (with just one narrow loss to The Downs). Furthermore, Mullingar Shamrocks had lifted the Minor league title in June, The Downs narrowly missing out on a place in the final based on scoring difference.  So, the scene was set for a highly competitive battle between two evenly matched teams, in front a huge supportive crowd, in difficult wet and swirling wind conditions, blowing across pitch, favouring neither team in either half.

 

From the throw in both teams set about their task with zeal. Mullingar Shamrocks opened the scoring with a two pointer from the accurate boot of Cillian Mooney in the 4th minute. The Downs drew level with well taken points from play Darragh Kenny in the 7th and Kian Loughlin in the 9th minutes, added by strong running from defence by Conor Joyce, Finn Raeside, Michael Moloney and Peter Conneely.  A tough physical & competitive battle between two evenly matched teams ensued, with both creating and missing chances in difficult conditions and against tight defences. 

 

Around the 17th minute of the half, Mullingar Shamrocks began to exert some dominance around the midfield and middle third of the pitch. They were eventually rewarded for this dominance with a point from Padraig Casey in the 19th minute to retake the lead, a lead they never subsequently relinquished. Between the 21st and 29th minute, they had a purple patch adding six unanswered points from the boots of Hugo Corroon (x3), Cristóir Ormsby (x1) and a fortuitous two pointer from Padraig Casey, whose shot bounced on the ground and over the bar. During that period, The Downs goalkeeper Lee Colgan and the full back line of Conor Joyce, Sean Flynn and in particular Andrew Brennan did extremely well to prevent a goal. The Downs finished the half on a positive with converted advanced free from Eoin Mullin (for a three-up breach) to leave the scoreline at 0-3 to 0-9.

 

Half time saw some needed changes by The Downs coaches, Dylan Ledwith did very well in replacing the injured Jamie Kelleghan. Finn Brennan came to midfield to work with Luke Myler to bring parity to that section and Michael Moloney moved into the forward line to add strength and scoring threat there. The Downs needed a strong start to the 2nd half, and this was provided in the opening minute via an Eoin Mullin converted free. That point was quickly cancelled out by the lively Hugo Corroon.

 

The changes worked and along with an increased work rate by The Downs all over the field, they gained a period of dominance where points were added from the boot of Padraig Monaghan and another Eoin Mullin free. The lead was then reduced to three points by the 15th minute of the half after a well worked point involving Darragh Kenny and Conor Cleary was finished by Michael Moloney. The Downs looked to further boost their attack through the introduction of Aaron Connaire and Josh Murtagh. 

 

However, Mullingar Shamrocks managed to regroup and regain dominance again around the middle third, primarily through high fielding of Cristóir Ormsby and the strong running of half back Rory McCaul. The resulting pressure on The Downs defence resulted in a couple of converted frees from Cillian Mooney and Padraig Casey. A fine point from Rory McCaul followed, extending Shamrocks lead back out to six points by the 25th Minute of the half.

 

The Downs now throw further caution to the wind and Eoin Daly entered the fray up front. Mullingar Shamrocks failed to convert a goal chance against a stretched Downs defence. Michael Moloney converted a fine free. An Eoin Mullin two pointer attempt just drifted left of the post. Padraig Monaghan further reduced the gap with another point from play in the 30th Minute. Two minutes into the indicated three minutes (minimum) of injury time, Padraig Monaghan converted a fine two pointer from a kick off the ground reducing the gap to a one score game of just two points. The game would hinge on the resulting kick out, which Cristóir Ormsby won, resulting in a play that ended with a final point by Hugo Corroon. The final whistle blew on a scoreline of 0-11 to 0-14.

 

Congratulations to Mullingar Shamrocks with their win on the day. They have added a second Minor title, having completed in the last three Minor Finals.  

 

We thank and congratulate our minor team and coaches Paddy Monaghan, Vinny Conneely, Sean Loughlin and Ronan Curran for their achievements and for giving our club an historic day. Though naturally very disappointed, the progress made with this group of players is clear for all to see, with them both competing in their first Division 1 final at underage and for The Downs reaching a Division 1 final Minor for the first time since 2019 (a number of those involved that day lined out for our Senior Final).

 

The Downs Squad is: Darragh Vickery, Enda Moran, Fionn Kelly, Padraig Monaghan, Peter Conneely, Conor Cleary, Finn Brennan, Ronan Donoghue, Lee Colgan, Conor Joyce, Andrew Brennan, Luke Myler, Finn Raeside, Eoin Daly, Jamie Kelleghan, Michael Moloney, Oisin McGrath, Dylan Ledwith, Cormac Mitchell, Kian Loughlin, Sean Flynn, Billy Dunne, Darragh Kenny, Eoghan Mullin, Josh Murtagh, Billy Carroll, Aaron Connaire

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