The Downs advance to meeting with Wexford champs

The Downs 2-17, Clonguish 1-18

“Can do better” was The Downs bainisteoir Dermot Power’s message on Sunday afternoon, as the often sloppy and lacklustre Westmeath kingpins limped past a game Clonguish side in their Leinster Club SFC opener at TEG Cusack Park.

The black and ambers were odds-on favourites to progress, but minutes after the throw-in, it became abundantly clear that they faced a battle royale. Clonguish took an early three-point lead as The Downs struggled to settle, conceding avoidable frees, running into defensive traps and giving the ball away cheaply. However, goals from Luke Loughlin and Michael Moloney provided a steady half-time footing, and the back-to-back Flanagan Cup winners were expected to kick on.

But The Downs’ first-half shortcomings returned, and a fit Clonguish, led by the deadly accurate Michael Flynn, harried them constantly. With five minutes remaining, the Longford men held the momentum and a one-point lead. However, late scores from Luke Loughlin, Moloney and sub Kevin O’Sullivan dragged The Downs over the line.

O’Sullivan – still struggling with a knock picked up during an epic summer with Westmeath – and the injured Joe Moran were left out of the starting XV, and The Downs sorely missed their intensity and experience. Power’s backroom team will hope they return to fitness before Wexford’s Kilanerin-Ballyfad visit Mullingar for the Leinster quarter-final on November 15.

Scorers - The Downs: L Loughlin 1-4 (0-2 2ptf), M Moloney 1-3, T Tuite 0-4, N Mitchell (2pt) and I Martin 0-2 each, J Lynam and K O’Sullivan 0-1 each. Clonguish: M Flynn 0-10 (5f, 2 2ptf), J Hagan 1-1, M Carey 0-3, K Baskett 0-2, J Dorr and C Flynn 0-1 each.

The Downs: Trevor Martin; Éanna Burke, Josh Murtagh, Peter Murray; Jonathan Lynam, Ciaran Nolan, Michael Moloney; Lorcan Mullen, Charlie Drumm; Oisín Loughlin, Ian Martin, Billy Moffatt; Luke Loughlin, Niall Mitchell, Tom Tuite. Subs used: Kevin O’Sullivan for O Loughlin (47), Andrew Brennan for Murray (55).

Clonguish: Declan McKenna; Jonathan Burke, Mark Cooney, Christopher Gordon; Jack Duggan, Conor Smith, Andrew Flynn; Peter Hanley, Matthew Carey; Jamie Dorr, Michael Flynn, Ronan Sweeney; Kevin Baskett, Cormac Flynn, James Hagan. Subs used: Ross Shields for Baskett (47), Daniel Carey for Burke (inj., 57).

Referee: Colm McCullough (Louth).

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