Mitchell goal key as The Downs retain Westmeath SFC crown

Westmeath star Ronan O’Toole kicked a last-gasp two-pointer but time had run out on the Mullingar blues, leaving their neighbours to celebrate a 12th county title.

The Downs’ Luke Loughlin celebrates at the final whistle. Pic: James Crombie/Inpho

Westmeath SFC final: The Downs 1-18 (1-2-14) St Loman’s, Mullingar 0-20 (0-4-12) 

A goal in first-half added time by Westmeath hurling star Niall Mitchell proved to be the key score as The Downs retained the Flanagan Cup with a very hard-earned win against St Loman’s, Mullingar.

St Loman’s Ronan O’Toole, home from Australia for the game, kicked a wide after 20 seconds, but his captain Sean Flanagan opened the scoring in the second minute. Joe Moran pounced for a fisted point to equalise before John Heslin pointed twice at the other end (the second from a free).

The reigning champions took control at this juncture with their star forward Luke Loughlin very much to the fore, kicking five unanswered points – a two-pointer, a fisted point, and a huge two-point free. 

Jason Daly did very well to keep out an Ian Martin shot before a Niall Mitchell brace – the first of them from a free – put Dermot Power’s men 0-8 to 0-3 ahead.

A point exchange ensued between Shane Dempsey and Moran (again with his fist). Heslin kicked a great two-point free with his left foot with Loughlin replying with a one-point free. 

Points from O’Toole and Sam McCartan, either side of another two-point free from Heslin – on this occasion taken with his right foot – levelled the contest as a minimum of two minutes’ added time was signalled. 

However, in the second of these, fine approach work by Kevin O’Sullivan teed up Mitchell for a slapped goal from close range, leaving The Downs ahead by 1-10 to 0-10 at the interval.

The sides equally shared eight points in the third quarter. O’Toole (two), Dempsey, and Danny McCartan were on target for Paddy Dowdall’s troops, with the holders’ scores coming from Dean Egerton, Jonathan Lynam, Mitchell (a free), and Loughlin, to leave The Downs ahead still by a goal (1-14 to 0-14).

The challengers were on level terms by the 53rd minute with three points from frees by Heslin – the second of them a two-pointer after a ‘breach’. 

However, they were wasteful on occasions and could never get their noses in front. Mitchell and Heslin traded one-point frees before a whopping six minutes of injury-time was announced.

Routine frees either side of the posts from Mitchell and Loughlin nudged The Downs two up, and Ian Martin opened his account in timely fashion with a neat point from play. 

O’Toole kicked a last-gasp two-pointer but time had run out on the Mullingar blues, leaving their neighbours to celebrate a 12th county title.

Scorers for The Downs: N Mitchell 1-6 (0-5f), L Loughlin 0-7 (1 2pt, 1 2ptf, 1f), J Moran 0-2, J Lynam, I Martin, D Egerton 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Loman’s, Mullingar: J Heslin 0-10 (3 2ptf, 2f), R O’Toole 0-5 (1 2pt), S Dempsey 0-2, S Flanagan, S McCartan, D McCartan 0-1 each.

The Downs: T Martin; E Burke, J Murtagh, O Loughlin; J Lynam, C Nolan, J Moran; L Mullen, C Drumm; K O’Sullivan, I Martin, B Moffatt; L Loughlin, N Mitchell, D Egerton. 

Subs: T Tuite for Egerton (48), M Moloney for Moran (55).

St Loman’s, Mullingar: J Daly; M Weir, D O’Keeffe, N Lally; D Whelan, J Geoghegan, E Hogan; S Flanagan, S McCartan; C Plunkett, J Heslin, N Duffy; R O’Toole, D McCartan, S Dempsey. 

Subs: K Regan for Plunkett (blood, 29 – 32), K Reilly for Weir (48), TJ Cox for Duffy (51), K Regan for Plunkett (57).

Referee: A Coyne (Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall).