The Downs find extra gear as Athlone rue missed chance

The Downs 2-14 Athlone 0-13 (AET)

Sometimes a final scoreline can provide a very misleading picture and this was one of those occasions.

A glance at the final tally might suggest a comfortable win for The Downs over Athlone in last Saturday evening's Westmeath SFC quarter-final at TEG Cusack Park. In actual fact, however, Athlone led by a single point very close to the end (0-11 to 1-7) and The Downs needed a stoppage time point from Niall Mitchell to force extra-time.

That said, the black and amber men were deserving winners overall. They created far more goal chances and took two of them, albeit their vital second goal came from a mix-up in the Athlone defence.

In what was an absorbing contest that held the attention throughout, it took Mitchell's goal in added time at the end of the first period of extra-time to decisively swing the contest in The Downs' favour.

Inspired by the outstanding Shane Allen and with Kieran Colclough hitting some superb frees, Athlone had threatened to claim a notable victory. Even after Mitchell's late equaliser, Athlone were left to rue twice losing possession over the sideline as they looked to fashion a chance of a last-gasp winner.

Athlone started as listed, with John Duddy deputising for regular goalkeeper Darren Costello, while The Downs made four changes to their listed line-up. It was still an unchanged Downs team from the side which beat Killucan in their last group game.

Aided by the strong wind, The Downs opened the scoring inside 50 seconds with a fine point by Luke Loughlin. Kieran Colclough equalised from a free just inside the 45-metre line and the Athlone man then sent over a free from slightly further out. Two terrific kicks into the teeth of the wind.

Good defensive work by Ray Connellan and Shane Allen preceded the game's first goal chance, but John Duddy saved well from Downs midfielder Conor Coughlan (12th minute). After Loughlin levelled matters from a free, Kevin O'Sullivan edged The Downs in front.

Allen showed leadership to take on The Downs defence before sending over a fine individual point – his side's first from open play (18th minute). Athlone went back in front when good work from Shane Reid led to a point from Stephen O'Connor. A fine piece of defending from Charlie Drumm thwarted Cillian Lynn after an incisive ball inside from Connellan.

On 21 minutes, The Downs struck for a goal which showed the value of a target man. Loughlin sent the ball into Mitchell and his swift lay-off set up Andrew Kilmartin, who found the net despite the efforts of covering defenders.

Points followed from Philip Martin and prominent midfielder Coughlan, leaving Johnny Murray's charges four to the good (1-5 to 0-4). Although Athlone had wind advantage to come, they needed a boost before half-time and they got it when Shane Reid won a free, which was pointed by Lynn.

When Mitchell opened the scoring early in the second half, one wondered if The Downs would pull away. Instead, however, they were held scoreless for a lengthy period as five unanswered points saw Eoin Jordan's side edge ahead by the 50th minute. The scorers were Lynn (a free), Colclough (a superbly struck '45' and a free), O'Connor (a beautifully curled effort) and the irrepressible Allen.

Allen's equaliser was an inspirational score after a lengthy spell of possession and the game now looked there for the taking. Athlone then had a major let-off when, after a slick handpassing move, the industrious Mark Egan tracked back to save what seemed a certain goal for Downs substitute Matthew Cunningham.

At the other end, Eamon Martin earned a free and Colclough did the needful again to put Athlone in front. In response, The Downs exerted a spell of pressure which eventually led to a fisted point by Ian Martin.

O'Connor was a valuable outlet in attack all through and he earned a free from which Allen put the men in blue and white ahead once more. Ian Martin forced the free from which Mitchell kicked a 61st-minute equaliser, and Athlone gave possession away on a couple of occasions as they sought a potential winner.

And so, with light rapidly fading on an overcast evening in Mullingar, extra-time was needed on a final score of 0-11 to 1-8. As the players headed for the dressing rooms, an incident involving Loughlin and John Stapleton saw the Athlone sub fall to the ground, but order was soon restored and no cards were issued when the action resumed.

Approaching extra-time, the feeling was that Athlone were likely to pay the price for failing to press home their advantage when wind assisted and so it proved in the end.

Now with the wind back in their favour, two points from Loughlin (a free and a fisted effort) put The Downs in the ascendancy. It could have been even more as Duddy kept Athlone in the game with a splendid save from Cunningham.

Moments later, there was a key moment at the other end. A long pass from Athlone sub Ryan O'Connor found Cillian Lynn in what was Athlone's most clear-cut goal chance. But Lynn's shot was saved by Trevor Martin and, for once, Colclough's radar was off from the resulting '45'.

Athlone sub Benny Martin did sent over a point from a mark to leave the minimum between the sides. Had it remained that way when the teams changed ends for the second period of extra-time, genuine optimism would have been alive in the Athlone camp.

However, the killer blow arrived when Mitchell found the net in added time. It initially seemed that Athlone had escaped when O'Sullivan (who had returned to the fray for the start of extra-time) crashed a shot off the crossbar. Duddy had saved his side on numerous occasions but he couldn't get the ball away safely, allowing Cunningham to tee up Mitchell for an easy finish.

In the second period, points from Mitchell and Loughlin put The Downs six clear. Athlone lofted some deliveries towards Connellan at the edge of the square in the hope of conjuring up a goal. But the only addition to their tally came when Colclough blasted over a point. Coughlan and Loughlin raised late white flags to embellish The Downs' victory.

Man of the match: Shane Allen (Athlone). Allen may have finished on the losing side but he was outstanding all through. Showing a voracious workrate, he executing several turnovers and interceptions, also scoring three points. For The Downs, Charlie Drumm, Andrew Kilmartin and Conor Coughlan were influential figures. Niall Mitchell showed his value as a target man and finished the contest strongly. Luke Loughlin kicked a number of wides but still finished with four points from play.

What it means: The Downs advance to a semi-final meeting with neighbours Coralstown/Kinnegad, while Athlone's championship hopes are over

Scorers - The Downs: N Mitchell 1-3 (0-1 free); L Loughlin 0-6 (2f); A Kilmartin 1-0; C Coughlan 0-2; K O'Sullivan, P Martin and I Martin 0-1 each. Athlone: K Colclough 0-5 (3f, 1 '45); S Allen 0-3 (1f); S O'Connor and C Lynn (2f) 0-2 each; B Martin 0-1 (mark).

The Downs: Trevor Martin; Eanna Burke, Charlie Drumm, Oisín Murphy; Joe Moran, Andrew Shaw, Philip Martin; Kevin O'Sullivan, Conor Coughlan; Jonathan Lynam, Andrew Kilmartin, Ciaran Nolan; Luke Loughlin, Ian Martin, Niall Mitchell. Subs used: Peter Murray for Moran (42 mins); Matthew Cunningham for P Martin (44); Kevin Smullen for Coughlan (50); Oisín Loughlin for O'Sullivan (57); Kevin O'Sullivan replaced A Shaw for start of extra-time; Conor Coughlan for Burke (temporary); Philip Martin for Kilmartin; Shane Murtagh for I Martin (all extra-time).

Athlone: John Duddy; Josh Kenny, James Finlass, Michael Byrne; Shane Allen, Diarmuid Martin, Stephen Flaherty; Kieran Colclough, Shane Reid; Mark Egan, Ray Connellan, Eamon Martin; Cillian Lynn, Daniel Reid, Stephen O'Connor. Subs used: John Stapleton for D Reid (34 mins); Ryan O'Connor for S Reid (50); Benny Martin for E Martin (60); Eamon Martin for Egan (injured); Donagh Prendergast for S O'Connor (inj.,); Matt Scally for Lynn (all extra-time).

Referee: Barry Pierce (St Mary's, Rochfortbridge).