St. Malachy's hang on

St. Malachy's survived vehement injury-time protests by The Downs.The Downs claimed they were entitled to what would have been a great chance to level the contest from a free, to eke out a vital first brace of senior football championship points in Cusack Park, Mullingar on Saturday evening last.Both sides were in dire need of a positive result from this game but it is the red and blacks who are now in better shape to avoid relegation. For their part, The Downs continue to slide down from their lofty position in Westmeath club football earlier this decade and the chance of winning the Flanagan Cup for the third time in seven years has now disappeared for Luke Dempsey's charges.St. Malachy's started the brighter and Ronan Whelan put them ahead with a converted 35-metre free from the ground after only 70 seconds. Soon afterwards, the Whelan brothers, Ronan and Sean combined well for the latter to point in style. However, The Downs took the lead with exactly six minutes on the clock when Declan Lynam was fouled inside the large parallelogram as he got set to shoot and Luke Folan slotted home the resultant penalty with aplomb. The men in black and amber extended their advantage to a clear goal as the midpoint of the first moiety approached, courtesy of a Barry Conroy 30-metre free (taken from his hands) and a fine left-footed point from Brendan Murtagh.The winners almost equalised in the next meaningful attack, Joe Clarke - who could well have shot - picking out Ronan Whelan, but his goalbound effort was smothered by Ciaran McCormack. Alan Mangan reduced the deficit with a well-taken free from an acute angle from 20 metres out and the same player followed up with a point from a routine free. Ronan Whelan then levelled the contest with a beautifully-curled effort from play. St. Malachy's struck the woodwork twice in the closing minutes of the half, Sean Whelan (from play) hitting the upright and Ronan Whelan's shot, from a 50-metre free, coming back of the crossbar into the grateful arms of Greg Crowley. However, they still managed to take the lead before the interval when Alan Mangan tapped over a free with the last kick of the half, leaving the scoreboard reading: St. Malachy's 0-6 The Downs 1-2.After missing a couple of early opportunities on the resumption of play, The Downs drew level in the sixth minute with a fine left-footed point from a tricky free by Declan Lynam. St. Malachy's proceeded to spurn three good scoring opportunities and they were made to pay for this profligacy when Westmeath star John Smyth bore down on goal and fisted over the lead point for The Downs. Substitute James Conroy hesitated when presented with a goal chance and an unconverted '45' ensued. A brace of points from Barry Conroy (a converted free and a neat score from play) put the losers a goal ahead by the 20th minute and seemingly heading for two precious championship points.However, Mick Lowry's troops soon struck for a vital goal, Eddie O'Neill finishing off a sweeping move in style from 15 metres. The game was now very much up for grabs and both teams missed difficult chances to go in front before Alan Mangan pointed superbly from a 45-metre free taken from his hands, in the first minute of added-time. The drama continued right to the end and James Conroy certainly seemed to be fouled in a scoreable position in the 33rd minute but Damien Maher waved play on and St. Malachy's held on by the narrowest of margins. The Downs' protests to the referee continued after the final whistle but they will now have to regroup to avoid the ignominy of relegation to the intermediate grade.St. Malachy's: Gary Jackson (capt); Ronan Corcoran, Johnny Tuite, Eamonn Óg Clarke; Robbie Jackson, Joe Clarke, David Langan; Tommy Carey, Paddy Corcoran; Darren Ruane (1-0), Kieran Favier, Eddie O'Neill; Alan Mangan (0-4, all from frees), Ronan Whelan (0-2, 0-1 from a free), Sean Whelan (0-1). Subs: John Gallagher (for P.Corcoran, inj, 44 mins), Pat Clarke (for O'Neill, 58 mins).The Downs: Ciaran McCormack; Niall Nolan, Sean O'Leary, Steven Cleary; Greg Crowley (capt), Mark Dalton, Sean Loughlin; Luke Folan (1-0, from a pen), Brendan Murtagh (0-1); Noel Molloy, John Smyth (0-1), Barry Conroy (0-3, 0-2 from frees); Declan Lynam (0-1, from a free), Brian Fitzpatrick, Shane Power. Subs: Jack Hogan (for Molloy, 29 mins), James Conroy (for Power, 30 mins), Ben Hogan (for Cleary, inj, 45 mins), David McDermott (for Nolan, half-time).Referee: Damien Maher (Ballynacargy).