The Downs edge out Loman's to retain Westmeath crown

Shay Murtagh Precast Westmeath SFC final: The Downs 1-18 St Loman’s, Mullingar 0-20

The Downs have retained the Westmeath senior football title for the first time since 1970 after edging out St Loman’s, Mullingar at TEG Cusack Park today (Sunday).

The victory also sees the black and amber outfit go ahead of their modern day rivals on the overall roll of honour with 12 titles.

In what was an entertaining final amid pleasant weather, with plenty of fine scores from both sides, The Downs did just enough to hold on to the Flanagan Cup.

Ronan O’Toole’s late two-pointer left The Downs hanging on by the minimum margin, but the defending champions crucially won possession from the resulting kickout. No doubt, Alan Coyne’s final whistle moments later was greeted by a mixture of relief and joy in the The Downs camp.

St Loman’s will have their share of regrets about this defeat as they missed a number of point scoring chances in the second half.

Having scored the game’s only goal, with a palmed finish late in the first half as part of a 1-6 tally, Niall Mitchell was chosen for the TG4 man of the match award. Mitchell was a useful focal point at full-forward and he also moved out to midfield to help his side win possession from kickouts, a facet of the game in which they often struggled.

Westmeath star Luke Loughlin was always a threat for The Downs and he finished with 0-6 to his credit.

John Heslin was once again top scorer for St Loman’s with a haul of 0-10, with three two-pointers from frees part of that tally.

The aforementioned Ronan O’Toole, an All-Star nominee with Westmeath in 2023, was the most significant of three changes made to the published St Loman’s starting line-up.

O’Toole has been based in Australia in recent years but watching Westmeath manager Mark McHugh will surely hope that the creative attacker will join the Westmeath fold for the 2027 season.

Overall, it was a game that showed the standard other clubs in Westmeath must reach if they are to make a meaningful bid for Flanagan Cup success next year.

Afterwards, Westmeath GAA chairman Paddy Wallace presented the Flangan Cup to Luke Loughlin and Ian Martin, joint captains of The Downs.

The Westmeath champions will now meet Longford counterparts Clonguish in the first round of the Leinster club SFC on Sunday, November 1 at TEG Cusack Park. Clonguish were crowned Longford senior football champions for the first time in 17 years when they defeated Killoe Young Emmets in today’s final at Pearse Park.

Scorers – The Downs: L Loughlin 0-7 (1tp, 1tpf, 1f); N Mitchell 1-6 (0-4f, 1 mark); J Moran 0-2; J Lynam, D Egerton and I Martin 0-1 each. St Loman’s: J Heslin 0-10 (3tpf, 2f); R O’Toole 0-5 (1tp); S Dempsey 0-2; S McCartan, S Flanagan and D McCartan 0-1 each.

The Downs – Trevor Martin; Éanna Burke, Josh Murtagh, Oisín Loughlin; Jonathan Lynam, Ciarán Nolan, Joseph Moran; Lorcan Mullen, Charlie Drumm; Kevin O’Sullivan, Ian Martin, Billy Moffatt; Luke Loughlin, Niall Mitchell, Dean Egerton. Subs: Tom Tuite for Egerton (48 mins), Michael Moloney for Moran (55).

St Loman’s, Mullingar - Jason Daly; Mikey Weir, Darragh O’Keeffe, Nathan Lally; David Whelan, Jack Geoghegan, Eoghan Hogan; Sean Flanagan, Sam McCartan; Cillian Plunkett, John Heslin, Neil Duffy; Ronan O’Toole, Danny McCartan, Shane Dempsey. Subs: Kelvin Reilly for Weir (48 mins), TJ Cox for Duffy (51), Kevin Regan for Plunkett (57).

Referee - Alan Coyne (Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall).