Late scores seal the deal for The Downs

The Downs 1-12, Kilbeggan Shamrocks 1-9

(After extra-time)

A thrilling Division 6 football final last Saturday evening in Cusack Park was decided twice by late scores from the Downs.

Firstly, they levelled the game in normal time in the final minute with a two pointer and then won it in extra-time with a late goal to break Kilbeggan Shamrocks’ hearts on two occasions over the 80 minutes played.

In nearly monsoon-like conditions, with showers of torrential rain throughout, it was a wonder we got any sort of game at all and the phrase aqua football was raised more than once, but great credit is due to both teams for making a very entertaining spectacle that in truth no one deserved to lose. That being said it was possibly The Downs’ use of their substantial bench that won them this game with fresh legs making a big difference, especially in added time. Kilbeggan Shamrocks ran themselves to standstill and had simply no more to give.

The opening exchanges were permeated by downpours which made football almost impossible, although the Downs should have had a goal before Michael Coffey opened the scoring for Kilbeggan with a well-taken point. Ben Harte replied with a two-pointer for The Downs before Danny Scully levelled when a goal seemed on the cards for the Shamrocks.

Matthew Maguire put the Black and Ambers ahead again, but great work by Ray Kennedy and Michael Carton set Cillian Rochford up for a goal which he converted in some style, and Niall Carey added a point for Kilbeggan to lead by three. They should have had a second major with Rochford denied by some brilliant defending, and a slice of luck, before Harte pulled one back for The Downs from a free. Kilbeggan Shamrocks led by 1-3 to 0-4 at the short whistle.

After the break, The Downs took the initiative and hit three in-a-row from two Harte frees and Tadgh Nolan from a very narrow angle and they now led. However, Kilbeggan hit back immediately with Coffey and Dean Fitzgerald pointing two excellent scores for the Shamrocks to lead again. But, as the weather worsened, so did the overall standard, and it was a full 19 minutes before a Dean Fitzgerald free put Kilbeggan two ahead with just over 90 seconds of normal time remaining.

The Downs looked devoid of a reply, but up stepped Matthew Cunningham to level the match in the 60th minute with an outstanding two-pointer from a very acute angle, and despite a late chance for Kilbeggan that went astray, we now headed for extra-time.

Fatigue was now a factor and The Downs’ sub Eoin Murray and the impressive Harte put them two up early doors, but Kilbeggan simply would not lie down. They levelled before the break with Conor Delaney and Cillian Rochford kicking two superb points from play and we were still no closer to a resolution.

Michael Coffey kicked Kilbeggan Shamrocks ahead 30 seconds into the restart, but it was all The Downs after that and Cunningham levelled again as they piled on the pressure. The Shamrocks withstood it to their credit and with the game heading for penalties, they had a chance to win it with a close-range free, but it went agonisingly wide.

From the kick out, The Downs created a brilliant move that ended with Matthew Cunningham sliding to the net for the game-defining and winning goal after a quite epic 80 odd minutes.

Scorers - The Downs: Matthew Cunningham 1-3 (1 2 Pointer), Ben Harte 0-6 (3 frees; 1 2 pointer), Tadgh Nolan, Matthew Maguire and Eoin Murray 0-1 each.

Kilbeggan: Cillian Rochford 1-1, Michael Coffey 0-3, Dean Fitzgerald 0-2 (1 free), Danny Scully, Niall Carey and Conor Delaney 0-1 each.

The Downs: Senan O’Driscoll, Nathan Lynott, Gavin Murphy, Thomas Kearns, Darragh Smith, Conor Daly, Daniel Keena, Oisin Loughlin, Taylor Daly, Matthew Cunningham, Tadgh Nolan, Conor Power, Ben Harte, Adam Conneely and Matthew Maguire. Subs: Andrew Cunningham for Maguire (26 mins), Jack Murtagh for Kearns and Cian McCourt for Lynott (H/T), Eoin Murray for Conneely (45 mins), Conor Duncan for Smith (58 mins), Ryan Mannering for Keena (H/T, E/T), Darragh Smith for Daly (77 mins), Scott Murtagh for Andrew Cunningham (79 mins).

Kilbeggan Shamrocks: Conor Mullins, Senan Claffey, Mel Kiernan, Martin Ward, Danny Scully, Colin Draper, Diarmuid Egan, Ray Kennedy, Niall Carey, Cillian Rochford, Michael Coffey, Dean Fitzgerald, James Finnegan, Conor Delaney and Michael Carton. Subs: Jack Mullins for Egan (63 mins), Jacob Browne for Carey (77 mins).

Referee: Jim Rock (Coralstown/Kinnegad).