Tubberclair's championship hopes dashed by The Downs

The Downs had a surprisingly comfortable win over one of the surprise packets of this year's Westmeath senior football championship, Tubberclair, in their quarter-final clash in Cusack Park last Sunday evening, thereby setting up a mouth-watering clash against age-old rivals, Mullingar Shamrocks, ironically now under the tutelage of long-time Downs player and manager, Ray Smyth. After an impressive campaign, Tubberclair - whose ambition at the start of the summer is likely to have been to retain senior status - were expected to push the black and ambers all the way but, in truth, they never looked remotely like advancing to a rare appearance in the penultimate round. Indeed, an indication of the off-colour nature of the performance of Tom Lennon's charges is the fact that they only managed their first point from play in the 23rd minute of the second half. For his part, Johnny Murray will be pleased that his troops dominated the game right from the throw-in. Two quickfire points could easily have been goals and the early loss of both Conor Carley and Niall Nolan through injury (the former thankfully recovering from what looked a worrying accidental blow) failed to stop the winners from turning in an eye-catching display. Both Noel Molloy's point (after a mere 15 seconds) and Stephen Devine's (after a minute-and-a-half) could easily have seen the umpires raising the green rather than the white flag. A lengthy delay ensued after a freak clash near The Downs' goalmouth, necessitating seven minutes injury-time at the end of the first half. A clearly-dazed Conor Carley was the main worry, but was eventually able to make his way to the dug-out with some assistance. Ian Coffey was wide via the upright from the ensuing scoreable free, before the winners stretched their advantage courtesy of a neat point from Shane Power (who had a fine game overall). Former All-Star goalkeeper, Gary Connaughton got away with an untypical fumble in The Downs' next attack, the whistle having been blown for a square ball. The black and ambers were five points up by the 22nd minute, Noel Molloy availing of a fine run by Greg Crowley to score his second point and Barry Conroy opening his account with a good point under pressure. The green and golds soon registered their first scores courtesy of converted frees from Ian Coffey (left foot) and Jeffrey Farrell (right foot). Tommy Cleary became the fifth Downs forward to score in the 29th minute, after a great surge goalward. In added-time, the latter player swung over a trademark left-footed free and substitute Sean Loughlin rounded off a sweeping move with a coolly-taken point. However, Tubberclair fans in the good-sized crowd were given a lifeline in the seventh minute of injury-time when Daniel Sammon teed up Ian Coffey to rifle home a great goal from close range, leaving the scoreboard at the interval reading: The Downs 0-8 Tubberclair 1-2. The winners missed a couple of decent chances early in the second half before Barry Conroy steadied the ship with a pointed free from 25 metres. A great run by Noel Molloy ultimately came to nothing, but The Downs' dominance was reflected in five more unanswered points between the 11th and 18th minute of the second moiety. Tommy Cleary (a free), Brendan Murtagh (a wonderful score under pressure from the dual star, who had an outstanding second half at midfield), Shane Power (a terrific brace, one with either foot) and Barry Conroy (rounding off a great move) were the men on target. The gap was now a yawning nine points, but Tubberclair proceeded to hit a purple patch, rifling over four points without reply in as many minutes via Jeffrey Farrell (a free), substitute Fergal Wilson (with his trusty left boot), another sub David Cassells (who impressed in the second half) and Davy Ganley (a fine score from 35 metres). Ian Coffey's shot for a goal was blocked by a combination of Declan Lynam and Jack Hogan and an immediate Downs counterattack yielded their 15th and last point from the boot of Barry Conroy. Deep into injury time, James Martin pointed for the losers, after he had taken a '45' quickly and exchanged passes with Fergal Wilson, before Michael Hopkins rounded off match scoring for Tubberclair. The Downs, as is the norm with similar-sounding county Down, are invariably dangerous opponents when it comes to the business stage of the Flanagan Cup. Their local derby with Mullingar Shamrocks in the semi-final is sure to be a pulsating encounter. THE DOWNS: Ciaran McCormack; Niall Nolan, Mark Dalton, Declan Lynam; Conor Carley, Ben Hogan, Steven Cleary; Greg Crowley, Brendan Murtagh (0-1); John Smyth, Tommy Cleary (0-3, 2 frees), Barry Conroy (0-4, 1 free); Stephen Devine (0-1), Noel Molloy (0-2), Shane Power (0-3). Subs: Sean Loughlin (0-1) (for Nolan, inj, 9 mins), Jack Hogan (for Carley, inj, 9 mins), Luke Folan (for Molloy, 49 mins), Keith Shanley (for T.Cleary, 55 mins), Jimmy Conroy (for Conroy, 60 mins). TUBBERCLAIR: Gary Connaughton; Jack Byrne, Robbie Buckley, Rory Walshe; Bernard Cassells, James Martin (0-1), David O'Brien; Jeffrey Farrell (0-2, 2 frees), Francis Spollen; Davy Ganley (0-1), Michael Hopkins (0-1), Conor Elliott; David Fagan, Ian Coffey (1-1, 0-1 free), Daniel Sammon. Subs: David Cassells (0-1) (for O'Brien, 30 + 6 mins), Conor Fitzgibbon (for Sammon, 39 mins), Fergal Wilson (0-1) (for Fagan, 39 mins), Barry Cassells (for Byrne, 49 mins), Liam Doogan (for Coffey, 60 mins). REFEREE: Sean Sheridan (Tyrrellspass).