Moloney hat-trick helps The Downs secure U20 Div 2 title

The Downs 6-10, Shandonagh 2-8

Three goals in the game’s third quarter proved the difference in Saturday’s U20 football Division 2 final at St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge GAA grounds, where The Downs took the honours against Shandonagh.

The victors had set the pace in this entertaining final, establishing a nine-point lead, before a resurgent Shandonagh side got right back into contention at half-time, when they trailed by just two points. Remarkably, The Downs scored three goals in the opening 10 minutes and at that stage it looked like this final would be a non-event.

Shandonagh fought gamely during a spirited revival, but the black and ambers simply carried too much firepower and showed a ruthless streak in front of goal that ultimately decided the outcome. Shandonagh were not at full strength on the day and powerful midfielder Eoin Conlon was one of a number of absentees, which made it a tough assignment for the Kilpatrick side. Rory O'Brien, Dillon Burke, Jake O'Brien and Peadar Glennon were others.

While that was a factor, The Downs showed sufficient quality at certain stages to suggest it would have taken an almighty effort to stop them adding the U20 Division 2 crown to senior title they won a few weeks’ earlier.

The game had scarcely settled when The Downs delivered the sort of start every manager dreams of. Barely a minute had ticked by when corner-forward Eoin Mullin hit the net after a dramatic triple attempt. His first shot was blocked and his second saved, but Mullin stayed alive to the break of the ball and, at the third time of asking, drilled home the opening goal.

Shandonagh responded admirably and on six minutes came agonisingly close to cancelling out that early blow. Attacking ace Will Scahill cut inside and unleashed a thunderous effort, only to see The Downs’ goalkeeper Lee Colgan repel the shot brilliantly. From Colgan’s kickout, Billy Moffatt soared to claim a superb high ball, but Shandoangh earned a free seconds later. Referee Gary Hurley applied a 50-metre penalty for dissent, presenting a routine scoring chance which Scahill converted for his side’s opening point.

If that suggested a settling period was coming, The Downs had other ideas. On ten minutes, corner-forward Padraig Monaghan teed up full-forward Sean Colgan, who powered inside his marker and rattled the net for their second goal. Moments later, The Downs struck again. From the restart, wing-forward Michael Moloney initiated a flowing move involving Colgan and Kian Loughlin before arriving on cue to finish low past goalkeeper Jake Dempsey for The Downs’ third major. Shandonagh were suddenly 3–0 to 0–1 behind and in real trouble.

Credit, however, must go to Shandonagh, who refused to buckle. On 13 minutes, Daire Cleary, Mark Sugrue, Scahill and Fionn Maguire combined superbly before Cleary clipped over a badly needed point. Soon after, Shandonagh carved out a gilt-edged goal chance through Sean Graham, whose shot was partially blocked by Colgan and deflected behind. From the resulting ’45, Scahill played a clever short pass to Cleary, who sent over another point.

Momentum at last flowed in Shandonagh’s direction. Wing-forward Jack Tynan curled a lovely left-footed point on 15 minutes, and Scahill absorbed some heavy attention thereafter. One robust frontal hit from Conor Power might easily have produced a caution, but the referee adjudged it to be a just a free.

On 22 minutes, another lapse in discipline from The Downs allowed Scahill to knock over a free after the referee again imposed the 50-metre penalty. Shandonagh kept pressing and three minutes later, midfielder Fionn Maguire finished off a sweeping move that began with centre-back Tom O’Brien and a gorgeous cross-field ball from Cleary.

By now the contest was beginning to feel like a test of resilience, and Shandonagh landed the score of the half on 28 minutes. Scahill won a kickout, burst past a series of defenders with a driving solo run and planted a low shot into the bottom corner past a stranded Colgan. It was a superb individual goal that lit up the final. On the stroke of half-time, midfielder John Fry added another point after good interplay involving Michael Fry and O’Brien, cutting the deficit further.

At half-time, The Downs led by 3-2 to 1-6.

Downs’ goal blitz

Shandonagh resumed with intent, and within the opening minute Scahill slotted a free after Cleary was fouled. But The Downs quickly steadied themselves. On two minutes, Monaghan clipped over a point, perhaps fortunate not to be pulled for overcarrying in the process.

The decisive moment arrived at four minutes. A high, hanging delivery from Sean Colgan dropped invitingly into the Shandonagh square, where it bounced and sat up perfectly for Moloney to fist home his second goal. It was a soft concession from Shandonagh’s perspective, and it sapped their challenge almost instantly.

From there, The Downs played with swagger and authority. On seven minutes, Colgan again pointed after Moffatt’s pass, and seconds later, Loughlin, substitute Conor Joyce and Colgan combined for another neat score, the ball flicked over the bar. The Downs were now dictating the terms completely.

Mullin added a stylish point on nine minutes, curling the ball over on his left boot, and on 14 minutes Moloney tacked on another after being denied a hat-trick goal by a sharp Dempsey stop. Moments later, Moloney would not be denied, the lively wing-forward blasting a shot to the net for his second major, giving Dempsey absolutely no chance.

The Downs’ goal rush continued into the 15th minute when Monaghan produced a brilliant, composed finish, soloing through and selling a dummy before driving home his side’s sixth major. They were now in complete control.

Shandonagh did respond with a pointed free on 18 minutes from Scahill after Tynan was fouled, but Mullin immediately answered with another tidy left-footed score. Shandonagh carved out a chance on 19 minutes, but Maguire’s effort was deflected behind for a ’45 after good work from Graham.

On 25 minutes, Shandonagh were handed a lifeline when Sugrue was fouled inside the square having taken on the defence from a free. He struck the penalty himself, but Colgan made a superb low save to his right, further embellishing his excellent outing.

Two minutes later, Shandonagh finally found a second goal when Cleary delivered a dangerous ball across the square for substitute Daniel O’Brien, who arrived to punch to the net. The Downs, though, had the final say. On 28 minutes, Sean Colgan swung over a fine point to close out the scoring.

Shandonagh showed admirable heart and flair at times, particularly in the first half, but The Downs’ greater depth and their devastating ability to turn half-chances into goals proved the difference on the day. They were certainly deserving winners and Billy Moffatt accepted the trophy from Westmeath County Committee chairman, Frank Mescall. The chairman paid tribute to both sides: "It looked like it would be a walkover at one stage, but fair play to Shandonagh, who dug in and made a good game of it. The Downs are keeping up a great run of victories at underage and adult level."

Scorers - The Downs: M Moloney 3-1, S Colgan 1-3, E Mullin 1-2, P Monaghan 1-1, B Moffatt 0-2, C McCormack 0-1.

Shandonagh: W Scahill 1-4 (0-4 from frees), Daniel O’Brien 1-0, D Cleary 0-2, F Maguire 0-1, J Tynan 0-1.

The Downs: Lee Colgan; Thomas Kearns, Andrew Brennan, Peter Conneely; Conor Daly, Jack Murtagh, Darragh Smith; Carl McCormack, Billy Moffatt; Conor Power, Kian Loughlin, Michael Moloney; Eoin Mullin, Seán Colgan, Pádraig Monaghan. Subs used: Conor Joyce for Power (half-time), Matthew Maguire for Smith (50), Daniel Kenna for Kearns (50), Darragh Vickery for Mullin (52), Niall Bardon for Monaghan (55).

Shandonagh: Jake Dempsey; Cathal Nevin, Rory McDonnell, Conor Walshe; Liam Bardon, Tom O’Brien, Michael Fry; John Fry, Fionn Maguire; Jack Tynan, Dáire Cleary, Seán Graham; David O’Brien, Mark Sugrue, Will Scahill. Subs used: Daniel O’Brien for David O’Brien (half-time), James Sugrue for Nevin (41).

Referee: Gary Hurley (Moate All Whites).