The Downs land another title

Westmeath U19 Division 2 football championship final: The Downs 2-14, Tyrrellpass 2-8

Andrew McKenna reports

Last Sunday, Lakepoint Park hosted the U19 Division 2 football championship final between The Downs and Tyrrellspass. After a downpour of rain early in the morning, the sun came out just in time for throw in.

Tyrrellpass started the brighter and pointed straight from the throw in through Peter Clarke. Clarke doubled his and his team’s tally with the very next play and moments later they were in dreamland after a well-taken gaol by Neale Pierson.

The Downs then finally got off the mark with two beautifully executed placed balls by Sean Colgan. The Sky Blues replied with their first free from full-forward Peter Pierson. However, this was to be his side’s last point of the half, with The Downs dominating the second quarter.

Colgan got the ball rolling with a free before kicking another from play shortly after, then Josh Murtagh pointed well off his left boot to leave only a point between the sides.

The impressive Oisín Murray then hit an excellent point to level proceedings, only for Tadhg Nolan and Michael Walsh to open their accounts and establish a two-point lead for The Downs, capping a spell of six unanswered points. Tyrrellspass’ task was made much more difficult when Daire Early was shown a red card on the stroke of half time for a striking action off the ball.

The Black and Ambers netted right from the throw in through Andrew Cunningham, who powered home from close-range. At this point, the outcome looked a foregone conclusion, but the Sky Blues responded with a purple patch of their own.

Neale Pierson and Peter Clarke were on target to reduce the arrears to three points. An inspirational point from Peter Pierson saw the gap reduced to two, and Tyrrellspass suddenly had all the momentum.

Cunningham steadied the ship for The Downs with an excellent point before a long-range free from Colgan made it a two-score game. It didn’t stay that way for long though, as Tyrrellspass hit their second goal mid-way through the half. After some quick thinking from Alan Farrell, who took a quick free, Neale Pierson finished coolly to the net, sliding the ball underneath The Downs’ goalkeeper Senan O’Driscoll to leave the minimum between the sides.

Colgan replied with another score from a placed ball, but the game took another twist when Scott Murtagh was dismissed for a stamp to see The Downs also reduced to 14 men.

The sides then traded two scores each with a pair of frees from Peter Pierson and Tadhg Nolan, followed by scores from play courtesy of Conall Dunne and Daniel O’Connor for their respective teams. Colgan continued to excel from dead balls with another to put three between the sides.

With two minutes left in normal time, The Downs were awarded a penalty for a foul on substitute Colin Burke. Tadhg Nolan took the resulting kick and thundered it home to seal a six-point win for Trevor Fitzpatrick’s men.

In the dying moments, a melee broke out between the two teams, which saw both of them receive pick up further red cards. Joseph Adegbore and Neale Pierson were the recipients for Tyrrellpass, along with Oisín Kelly and Daniel O’Connor for The Downs.

On the day The Downs were marginally the better side and deserved the victory adding another piece of silverware, to go alongside the Flanagan Cup at senior level. Super performances from Oisín Murray and Sean Colgan were instrumental in the victory.

Tyrrellspass showed great character, playing most of the match with a man less. but despite excellent displays from the Pierson brothers in particular, they came up just short.

At full time, The Downs captain Oisín Loughlin received the trophy from Des Maguire, chairman of Westmeath GAA’s football committee.

The Downs: Senan O’Driscoll; Conor Daly, Darragh Mullen, Darragh Lynch; Scott Murtagh, Josh Murtagh (0-1), Oisín Kelly; Oisín Loughlin, Brian Gaffney; Lorcan Mullen, Oisín Murray (0-2), Michael Walsh (0-1); Andrew Cunningham (1-0), Tadhg Nolan (1-2, 1-0 pen, 0-2f), Sean Colgan (0-7, 5f). Subs used: Daniel O’Connor (0-1), Colin Burke, Conor Daly, Alex Smyth, Jack Murtagh.

Tyrrellspass: Eoin O’Reilly; Cormac Eighan, Cormac Monaghan, Chris Daly; Phelim Brady, Kai Harte, Mark Devine; Joseph Adegbore, Daire Earley; Sean Gavigan, Conall Dunne (0-1), Peter Clarke (0-3, 1f); Neale Pierson (2-0), Peter Pierson (0-4, 3f), Alan Farrell.

Ref: Declan Nugent (Maryland).