Moran point gets The Downs off to winning start over rivals St Loman's

The Downs 1-11, St Loman's Mullingar 1-10

A last-gasp score in stoppage time from Joe Moran gave The Downs victory over St Loman's, Mullingar in the opening round of the ACFL Division 1 game last Friday night under the lights in Home Instead Lakepoint Park.

With the game in the melting pot, the black and amber wing-back struck a lovely winning point after St Loman's had been reduced to fourteen men just minutes before - substitute TJ Cox picking up a straight red card. In a game, now under the influence of the so-called ‘new rules’, where both teams were opening up their season, there was a sense of rustiness and nerves early on before the second thirty brought more intensity.

A moment of silence preceded events for Christy Crowley (The Downs) before St Loman's had the opening shots with a hefty wind at their backs. Neither side really tried to utilise the two-point arc but The Downs did make good use of the solo-and-go rule at times and got the opener on seven minutes when Andrew Kilmartin pushed on from the free awarded to him before teeing up Lorcan Mullen to point. A great team move between Cian Daly, Eoghan Hogan, and Conor Regan ended with Shane Dempsey levelling moments later.

The first thirty was dominated by long swathes of possessions as Paddy Dowdall’s side used the arc as a literal white-line to curve their defensive wall around, making it tricky for The Downs to break through. Turnovers were frequent but just after the end of the first-quarter Kevin Smullen put the visitors ahead from a rebounded point after Mullen’s shot was palmed onto the bar by Kilmartin. Philip Martin missed a huge chance for goal before a mistake from goalkeeper Trevor Martin in the middle saw Conor Regan level after a creative pass from Dempsey. Cillian Plunkett and Dempsey (free) for Loman’s and Philip Martin for The Downs ended the first-half scoring leave the blue side ahead 0-4 to 0-3 entering the dressing rooms.

St Loman's introduced TJ Cox at the break but it was Kilmartin who levelled the tie with an early point. The game was always close as Peter Foy, Cox, and Dempsey (free) all fired over in between Ben Harte’s free and a beautiful score from Ciarán Nolan. Going into the final twenty minutes St Loman’s led by the minimum, 0-7 to 0-6. Things turned in the 40th-minute when Smullen, a former Clan na Gael Australia player back with his native club, blasted to the net via the post to raise cheers from an enthusiastic set of fans in the stand.

When Dylan Carroll turned over possession moments later, Harte raised the white flag and suddenly Dermot Power’s troops were ahead, 1-7 to 0-7. The game swung again when a fine David Whelan point was followed by a Conor Regan goal - the dual star on-hand to take advantage of a spill by Trevor Martin in the goals. Fionn O’Hara then went through a period of taking multiple kickouts and dominating the middle before being subbed going into the last ten.

A brilliant left-footed point from Ben Harte drew the sides on parity again at 1-8 apiece and he was given a simple task of scoring again as referee Alan Coyne penalised Loman's on the kickout for infringing their own 20-metre line. To make matters worse, Coyne was alerted to an off-the-ball incident at the other of the field and issued a straight red to substitute TJ Cox, who had no complaints. Despite this, Dempsey stood firm to level from a free. In stoppage time, there was still time for three points. Harte (free) put The Downs ahead before Mark Tunney set up Whelan for a curling effort. When it seemed the game was destined for a third straight year of draws in the fixture, Joe Moran popped up and the influential attack-minded defender made no mistake to split the posts and give Na Dúnta the opening night win.

Scorers – The Downs: B Harte 0-5 (3f), K Smullen 1-1, J Moran, L Mullen, C Nolan, A Kilmartin, P Martin 0-1 each.

St Loman’s: S Dempsey 0-4 (3f), C Regan 1-1, D Whelan 0-2, C Plunkett, P Foy, TJ Cox 0-1 each.

The Downs: Trevor Martin; Éanna Burke, Peter Murray, Liam Faulkner; Conor Coughlan, Oisín Murray, Joseph Moran; Lorcan Mullen, Dan O’Callaghan; Ciarán Nolan, Dylan Carroll, Kevin Smullen; Andrew Kilmartin, Philip Martin, Ben Harte. Subs used: Oisín Loughlin for P Martin (46), Trevor Fitzpatrick for Coughlan (49), Keith Carroll for O’Callaghan (60+1), Seán Colgan for D Carroll (60+4).

St Loman’s: Jason Daly; Oisín Hogan, Nathan Lally, Andrew Daly; Riley Sheahan, David Whelan, Eoghan Hogan; Fionn O’Hara, Cillian Plunkett; Peter Foy, Conor Regan, Shane Mulderry; Cian Daly, Shane Dempsey, Mark Tunney. Subs used: TJ Cox for Daly (h-t), Ethan Brown for O’Hara (50), Tristan Johnson for E Hogan (inj., 60+1).

Referee: Alan Coyne (CFCW).

Examiner's Eye on the game

Player of the Match

Despite being subbed after 50 minutes and ending up on the losing side, newly-introduced Westmeath county player, Fionn O’Hara, has shown that he will certainly be a fine addition to the Blues.

Score of the Match

Kevin Smullen’s goal was sublime. A piledriver in off the post.

Match officials

There were two umpires, one at either end, but no linesman. The referee punished dissent and enforced the new kick-out rule and other changes. St Loman’s had claims for a free in a scoring position in the second half for what looked a hefty tackle but play continued.

Key Moment

The winning point from Moran was all that separated the teams.

Entertainment value - 7 out of 10. The game is faster and better.