Impressive Tullamore hold off late The Downs rally for deserved win

UNUSUALLY, the bookmakers got it very wrong as a ravenously hungry Tullamore advanced in the Leinster Club Senior Football Championship with win that was way more convincing and impressive than the final scoreline suggests against Westmeath champions The Downs in Mullingar on Sunday afternoon.

Leinster Club Senior Football Championship quarter-final

Tullamore 3-13

The Downs 4-8

Eleven points up, 3-12 to 2-4, with just nine minutes left on the clock, Tullamore had been brilliant up to that point, controlling every facet of the game and they looked set to ease through.

It almost unravelled badly for them late on as The Downs scored 2-4 to reduce the gap to just two points and Tullamore were remarkably close to being caught. The concession of four goals was the one black spot on the afternoon for Tullamore and the fact that they were all fairly soft, preventable, is in no way a mitigating factor.

Their defence was excellent for the most part but were quite calamitous at crucial moments and they almost paid a very dear price for this. Their goals from Jonathan Lynam and full back Charlie Drumm in the 56^th and 57^th minutes, sandwiched a Harry Plunkett point, and did not look to matter that much as Tullamore still held a six point lead, 3-13 to 4-4.

However, The Downs suddenly scented blood and two injury time two pointers from their star player Luke Loughlin brought the gap down to two points with three minutes of injury time played. It was a remarkable resurrection and suddenly Tullamore were living on their wits as The Downs attacked with menace.

They almost got in for another goal and Ben Heffernan showed his value to the team with one great clearance in his square and eventually, Tullamore lifted the siege. An injury to Aaron Leavy just before the sixty minutes were up meant that over six minutes of injury time was played and Tullamore did well to retain their composure and spend the last couple of minutes in The Downs territory.

A defeat for Tullamore would have been an absolute travesty but they flirted with it and a two pointer in the last few minutes would have forced extra time. Yet, the final score should not disguise how much better Tullamore were on the day – it was a game where the pre-game impression that some observers were both under estimating Tullamore and over estimating The Downs was proven to be very correct.

Up until that late rally and apart from a brief five minute spell in the first half, Tullamore were really good, the better team by a country mile, playing with a fierce work rate and making The Downs looking very average at times. Luke Loughlin threatened to be a match winner in that five minute spell and late on but apart from that, Tullamore as a unit and Declan Hogan as his marker succeeded spectacularly in limiting his influence. And once that was done, the home side were always fighting an uphill battle.

Having won their first Leinster club game since 1977 last year, Tullamore brought their football to another level here for a lot of it. Had they not conceded that late 2-4, we would have been describing this as Tullamore's best performance in the modern era and it was that for 55 minutes. Those four goals and their late scare, however, means that we have to taper that type of talk and that is not a bad thing for them as they are now at home to Dublin champions Ballyboden St Enda'sy.

Tullamore were the better side by a long way in the first half with an injury time Harry Plunkett goal reflecting their superiority as it gave them a 1-8 to 1-2 half time lead.

Tullamore played with a slight wind in the first half but that didn't explain how much better they were than the Westmeath champions in the first half.

Diarmuid Egan was outstanding early on and points from him and Harry Plunkett gave them a two point lead after five minutes. They should have put more on the board in this period and looked in bother when The Downs broke for 1-2 between the 7^th and 11^th minutes.

Tullamore's worse fears manifested in this period as their danger man Luke Loughlin spearheaded this revival and gave Declan Hogan fierce problems for a few minutes. Loughlin set up Lorcan Mullen for a soft goal, Dean Egerton for a point and then fisted his own point to make it 1-2 to 0-2.

Tullamore did really well to recover, holding The Downs scoreless for the rest of the half. Three points had them level by the 18^th minute and with Cillian Bourke and Aaron Leavy dominant at midfield, they controlled the game.

Cormac Egan and John Furlong were super on their half back line and Tullamore edged three clear with points from Niall Furlong, Luke Plunkett and John Furlong. They were better than a three point lead and a great goal just before the two minutes of injury time were up gave them the lead they merited – Cormac Egan made a great break forward, off loading to Hary Plunkett who finished very well.

Tullamore's performance for 20 minutes plus of the second half was a joy to watch. As expected, The Downs came out with all guns blazing but Tullamore kept the scoreboard ticking over. They were 1-11 to 1-4 up when Niall Furlong punched a 40^th minute goal after a great move with Diarmuid Egan, tapping and going from a free, passing to John Furlong who laid it on a plate for his older brother.

Tullamore allowed The Downs back into it with a soft Ian Martin goal but still led by 2-11 to 2-4 and soon opened real daylight once again. The superb Diarmuid Egan got a lovely point and a spectacular Cillian Bourke goal in the 51^st minute when he blasted a fierce low shot to the net gave them that 3-12 to 2-4 lead and it really should have been all over – The Downs had looked a beaten docket at this stage with very little fight at them but two goals brought them back into it and they almost pulled off a remarkable recovery.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

John Furlong (Tullamore): John Furlong's performance was breathtaking and he is an obvious selection for man of the match. He ran the game for long periods, defending brilliantly but also getting forward at every opportunity. He got a point, set up scores and linked so well with the Egan brothers, Diarmuid and Cormac.

Furlong was only one of several players to perform at a high level for Tullamore and Diarmuid and Cormac Egan were his main contenders. Cormac was superb in defence, attacking with menace in the first back and playing a more holding role in the second half. The decision to start Diarmuid was a wise one and he showed his value to this squad. He was sensational for much of the first half and continued to go well until tiring late on – his ability to do the right thing on the ball commanded complete respect.

Apart from them, there was a lot to enthuse about with Tullamore with Aaron Leavy and Cillian Bourke excellent in midfield, Harry and Luke Plunkett very effective in attack and if their defence can tighten up, they could be playing football in December.

THE SCORERS

Tullamore: Harry Plunkett 1-5 (2f), Niall Furlong 1-1, Cillian Bourke 1-0, Diarmuid Egan and Luke Plunkett 0-2 each, Cormac Egan, John Furlong and Michael Brazil 0-1 each.

The Downs: Luke Loughlin 0-7 (2 x 2p, 1f), Charlie Drumm, Jonathan Lynam, Ian Martin and Lorcan Mullen 1-0 each, Dean Egerton 0-1.

THE TEAMS

TULLAMORE: Corey White; Ben Heffernan, Declan Hogan, Daire McDaid; Cormac Egan, John Furlong, Oisin Keenan-Martin; Cillian Bourke, Aaron Leavy; Diarmuid Egan, Michael Brazil, Niall Furlong; Mike Fox, Luke Plunkett, Harry Plunkett. Subs – Luke Bourke for Keenan-Martin (51m), Liam Dillane for Brazil (53m), Dan Fox for Fox (57m), Jay Sheeran for Leavy, inj. (61m),

THE DOWNS: Trevor Martin; Eanna Burke, Charlie Drumm, Peter Murray; Oisin Murphy, Ciaran Nolan, Andy Kilmartin; Jonathan Lynam, Billy Moffatt; Kevin O'Sullivan, Ian Martin, Lorcan Mullen; Luke Loughlin, Dean Egerton, Tom Tuite. Subs – Dan O'Callaghan for Mullen (42m), Philip Martin for Kilmartin (46m), Oisin Loughlin for Murphy (49m), Liam Faulkner for Murray (54m), jack Carroll for Tuite (58m),

Referee – Andrew Smith, Meath.

REFEREE WATCH

It was a very tight, physical game with everything hard earned. Andrew Smith contributed to the enjoyment by allowing play to run but remaining in control.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Cillian Bourke's 51^st minute goal ended up being way more important than we thought in real time. It was a super goal but without it, Tullamore may well have endured a devastating, horrible defeat.

VENUE WATCH

With Louth building a new stadium, Newbridge having been refurbished and Navan getting its facelift, Cusack Park in Mullingar is now probably the most dated county ground in Leinster and could really do with work. Westmeath are limited in what they can do with a shopping centre just metres from the town goal and apartments in close to the other one but they still need to bring it into the mo7dern era.

Having said that, it remains an intimate, compact ground and Westmeath are always excellent hosts. As usual, they managed this fixture well, giving a warm welcome to the visitors and there were no issues.

WHAT'S NEXT

Tullamorego into the Leinster semi-final against Ballyboden St Enda's in O'Connor Park on November 29.

STATISTICS

Wides: Tullamore – 5 (2 in first half); The Downs - 5 (2 in first half).
Yellow cards: 0

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0