The Downs slump to shock defeat as saints march on

Mullingar Shamrocks' decisive six-point victory over The Downs in the fourth round of the Westmeath Senior Football Championship, at TEG Cusack Park on Saturday, was the standout result. Enda Monaghan’s side, bolstered by the likes of Brian Guerin, Matt O’Shea, and Conor O’Brien, delivered a performance that few expected at the start of the season. Guerin and O'Shea are newcomers, while O'Brien, a rugby star, has been with the side on a more consistent basis and along with the impressive Denis Corroon, they are helping to generate a rejuvenated effort.

The Downs, rattled by the defeat, now face a crucial derby against Killucan in a fortnight and manager Johnny Murray must lift his troops for what is a crucial game.

Meanwhile, reigning champions St Loman’s, Mullingar, secured a semi-final spot with a two-point win over Coralstown/Kinnegad in an unspectacular match. Manager Paddy Dowdall admitted it wasn't the performance they were hoping for and they still have no real clue as to who their semi-final opponents will be.

"There are a lot of permutations: it’s looking like Mullingar Shamrocks will be in the quarter-final on our side, and more than likely The Downs will also qualify. We don’t mind who we get."

Dowdall stressed the importance of focusing on their final round game against Tyrrellspass. "We're not buying into a semi-final, but we’re going to focus on Tyrrellspass as our next game. There’s a lot of work to be done, and in fairness, this bunch of guys are well up for that. Every week, they're striving for better. Hopefully, we'll hit a bit of form at the right time."

Reflecting on the match, Dowdall acknowledged, "It wasn’t a pretty game, not the performance we wanted either, but we came out with the win. Every game against Kinnegad has been tight, and it was no different today."

He highlighted a crucial goal late in the first half as the turning point, adding, "Thank God, Ronan stuck that when he got his chance."

The match was influenced by strong winds, which Dowdall noted impacted the scoring zones. "We had spoken about getting as close as possible to the goals before taking a shot. Those close-in scores in the second half were crucial," he said.

Despite some injury concerns, Dowdall praised his squad's depth, particularly the impact of players coming off the bench. "John (Heslin) had a bit of a tight hamstring injury; he’s not too bad. We got Fola in there. This year, we’ve been battling injuries more than previously, but the guys who stepped in made an impact."

Looking ahead, Dowdall was clear about the need for continued improvement.

"We’re always striving for better. We wouldn’t have been happy with the end of the Caulry game, the Tyrrellspass game, or the second half against Athlone. But I thought our defensive shape and work rate were really good in that second half, and that’s what we’re looking for."

The senior championship is now set for a thrilling final round in two weeks' time. Caulry, second from bottom in Section A, must defeat Coralstown/Kinnegad in the final round to reach the quarter-finals, while bottom-placed Tang need to beat Athlone to advance. Caulry manager Pat Flanagan had his sights set on serious progress this year, but the Mount Temple men are under pressure in a seriously competitive group.

Meanwhile, Shandonagh face a must-win game against Moate All Whites in Section 'B' to avoid relegation.