The Downs crush Moate to reach third successive final
The Downs 5-17, Moate All Whites 2-13
Experience, strength in depth and an all-round superior presence combined to give The Downs an edge in Saturday’s Westmeath SFC semi-final at TEG Cusack Park, where they were facile winners over Moate All Whites.
The Downs reached their third successive final with this 13-point victory and they showed why it will be difficult to dislodge them as champions. There were certainly times when they looked vulnerable and defensively there is plenty for manager Dermot Power to work on, but their overall display was authoritative in what was a bitterly disappointing semi-final.
On the back of their minors winning the Division 1 final and their junior side reaching the final, it completed a memorable weekend for a great club.
The Downs led by 2-10 to 1-3 at half-time and the first half seemed as if it was just a case of them swatting away Moate’s every effort. The Moate goal after 15 minutes was a typical example. Tobby Conteh lobbed ‘keeper Trevor Martin when his shot dipped viciously and found the net, but 30 seconds later The Downs had the ball in the net again through Luke Loughlin after a devastating attack.
That was the general trend. The Downs won the second quarter by 1-7 to nil and that was a devastating blow to Moate All Whites’ chances.
Yet, despite their overall dominance, The Downs struggled to assert control in the early stages and the semi-final was 13 minutes old before they sprang to life. Midfielder Charlie Drumm powered forward to score a wonderful goal, his strength and pace ripping through the heart of the opposing defence before he found the top corner.
That score, followed by a Michael Moloney point, left it 1-3 to 0-1.
The All Whites, doing well against the breeze, hit back with Conteh’s goal, but after Loughlin found the net, he converted a free and Tom Tuite flicked over after The Downs created a great goal chance. Kevin O’Sullivan, Josh Murtagh and Niall Mitchell all combined before Mitchell teed up Tuite, who flicked the ball over from close-range.
Loughlin and centre-back Ciaran Nolan both scored quality two-pointers for The Downs as they established total control before the break.
Although The Downs got the opening score of the second half through Billy Moffatt, Moate All White offered stern resistance and the deficit was halved by the 40th minute. Robbie Forde’s instinctive first-time shot found the net following a pass by sub Ruairi Cunningham in the fifth minute. Forde shot over and Conteh landed a two-pointer free to make it 2-11 to 2-6, but once again The Downs found another gear.
Luke Loughlin, who had just converted a free, lined up for another on 42 minutes and, with the opposing defence switched off, he found Niall Mitchell who crashed the ball to the roof of the net. Spontaneity on the part of the defending champions, but a serious lack of concentration on Moate’s behalf.
Two minutes’ later, another slick move led to Mitchell flicking home his side’s fourth major, their pace and movement outstripping the Moate defence. It was now 4-12 to 2-6 and despite Forde and Conteh (free) landing fine two-pointers in the final quarter, as a contest, this game was long since decided.
The Downs added a fifth goal when Ian Martin flicked the ball to the net in the 56th minute and that stage 17 points separated the teams. Conteh (with a two-pointer free) sub Billy Berry and Harry Niall got the final four points of the game for Moate, but it was merely consolation at that stage. Niall had been switched to full-forward as his side went in search of goals, but in general they found The Downs’ defence an uncompromising unit.
Moate All Whites enjoyed a productive spell in the third quarter that brought 1-3 without reply, but the concession of the third goal was a blow from which they couldn’t recover. For them it’s a costly learning experience and while they will be pleased to have overcome Athlone to reach their first semi-final in 29 years, there is considerable progress to be made if they’re to take the next step.
This was a senior championship semi-final and ought to have been a lot more competitive. The wisdom of changing the format to all three teams from the weaker section qualify will come under scrutiny.
The Downs, who first put forward the old format in 2017, will be focused on their performance on the field of play in the coming weeks. For them there is plenty to feel positive about and the fact that players are returning from injury is a major boost. Jonathan Lynam will surely benefit from the game; Kevin O’Sullivan and Niall Mitchell likewise. Joe Moran played no part but is likely to feature come county final day.
Things are building for a big finale.
“At the start of the year this is exactly where we wanted to be,” said winning manager, Dermot Power, who did his best to talk up the semi-final. He is wise enough to know it was too easy for long stretches.
“We are happy where we are, but there are aspects of our game that we have to work on and I would say training will be spicy over the next few weeks. You cannot at this stage (lose concentration); you are playing against team who are too good. If you have your foot on their throat, you have to keep it there,” he added.
Scorers - The Downs: L Loughlin 1-7 (1tp; 0-3f), N Mitchell 2-1 (0-1m), M Moloney 0-4, C Drumm and I Martin 1-0 each, C Nolan 0-2 (tp), T Tuite 0-2, B Moffatt 0-1.
Moate All Whites: T Conteh 1-4 (2tpf), R Forde 1-4 (1tp; 1f), P Gorman, Harry Niall, D Nulty, D Delaney and B Berry 0-1 each.
The Downs: Trevor Martin; Eanna Burke, Josh Murtagh, Oisin Murphy; Jonathan Lynam, Ciaran Nolan, Michael Moloney; Lorcan Mullen, Charlie Drumm; Kevin O’Sullivan, Ian Martin, Billy Moffatt; Luke Loughlin, Niall Mitchell, Tom Tuite. Subs: Oisin Loughlin for Murphy (51), Philip Martin for Tuite (56), Ben Harte for O'Sullivan (57), Dan O'Callaghan for Loughlin (59), Peter Murray for Burke (60).
Moate All Whites: Peter McDonald; Luke Whitney, Cathal O’Brien, Andrew Gorman; James Bracken, Cian Whitney, Daragh Lowry; Paul Gorman, Harry Niall; Eoin Bracken, Hagan Niall, Dylan Nulty; Tobby Conteh, Robbie Forde, Darragh Delaney. Subs: Ruairi Cunningham for E Bracken (h-t), Sam Fannin for Lowry (34), Billy Berry for Hagan Niall (37), Ronan Murray for Delaney (46), Dean Corbally for A Gorman (inj., 48). Ref: Enda Kelly (Castledaly).