Last Sunday The Downs senior men’s team booked their place in this year’s Shay Murtagh Final on Sunday 26th October after a disciplined performance in TEG Cusack Park last Sunday. Mullingar Shamrocks brought the fight to The Downs particularly in the first half and went in at the half time whistle a point ahead. A goal late in the first half from wing back Brendan O’Reilly had The Downs on the back foot on a score-line of 1-06 to 0-08. The Downs regained their composure at half time coming out in the third quarter of the game to stamp their authority on the game. Another rocket by Luke Loughlin set them on their way with a further twelve points to add to their tally. Mullingar Shamrocks only managed to clock up a further three points which unfortunately for them was never going to be enough to worry the Na Dúnta men. They now look forward to a county final against their near neighbours Coralstown Kinnegad in two weeks’ time. Congratulations to Dermot Power and his backroom team on a fantastic achievement. Get the flags out and support the black and amber!

Our under 16’s took on Shandonagh in the Division 1 county final on Saturday 11th Oct in Kinnegad. Conditions were perfect for football & there was a big attendance from both clubs. The Downs got off to a good start with a point from Finn Brennan.

However, Shandonagh got the next 4 scores & took a half time lead of 0.04 to 0.01.

The first half was very cagey & defensive from both sides & The Downs lads found it very hard to penetrate the Shandonagh defence. The second half started in a similar fashion but the game sprung into life following a well worked move by the Downs which ended up with Aidan Tuite finishing to the back of the net. Shandonagh quickly responded with a goal & a point to restore their 3 point lead. Josh Murtagh responded with a point for The Downs but Shandonagh added a couple of points & a goal to put them 8 points ahead with 50 minutes on the clock. The Downs lads never dropped the heads & responded with a goal from Josh Murtagh & a well worked point from Eoghan Daly. Shandonagh added a point but quickly afterwards Ciaran Casserly broke through the Shandonagh defence & rifled a shot into the bottom corner. This was followed by a point from Josh Murtagh. With just 2 minutes of normal time remaining just a point separated the sides. Shandonagh won a quick kick out & pushed up the pitch with an excellent point to put them 2 points up heading into injury time. But The Downs lads didn’t throw in the towel & kept battling away. Conor Cleary ended up on the end of a kick out & drove at the Shandonagh defence firing a shot at the goals which resulted in a rebound which landed to Aidan Tuite who finished brilliantly to the net. Shandonagh had a kick out which was the last play of the game & ended with a 1 point victory for The Downs. Huge celebrations followed on the pitch afterwards as our U16 lads delivered a championship win despite being without 4 key players. Massive congratulations to all involved.

The Downs contested the U14 Football Division 1 County Final in Shandonagh last Sunday against Athlone GAA. Two teams who this season had faced off 4 times, with two wins apiece clashed for the fifth and final time this season. From the tip off League Champions Athlone broke away into the scoring zone with danger man Captain Aodhan Fallon and Frank Pettit combining, but somehow resolute defending, led by Downs skipper James Nea prevented a successful attempt on goal. However, a few passages of play later wing forward Conal Murphy had put the Black and Ambers one up with the first point of the day. Michael Cunningham of the Blue and whites opened Athlone’s account in the 7th minute leaving it 0-01 to 0-01 Parity didn’t last long as the Downs soon pointed again, Oisin Coyne announcing himself to the game. Soon after in the twelfth minute Coyne put another free over the bar from distance and two arms were raised. 0-04 became 0-05 when the reliable Ben Loughlin put another one over. In this flurry of Downs attempts Athlone Keeper Michael Union shut the door magnificently with a reflex double save, the Downs’ Antonio Bertoli also came close with a searing low drive across the face of goal.

These defensive heroics led by Mannion and full back Fearghal Kelly spurred Athlone to rattle off 2 quick points in the 17th and 18th minutes, with Frank Pettit and Jack Costello heavily involved in reducing the gap. Then with the Downs in the ascendancy, Oisin Coyne came close again. An overworked Cian Mannion and Luke Clarke were stopping a lot of the Downs attacking momentum with their feisty tackling, but eventually a short range free conceded led to Ben Loughlin pointing again. Up the other end after fine work from Conor Reid and Aidan Quinlan, T J Loughlin got the reward for his powerful carries and scored a point to make it 0:03 to 0:07. Back up the field came Athlone going wide twice after the attentions of Orme, Rijksen and Clarke in the Downs defence gave Fallon and Johnson no time to set themselves. Two minutes from the end of the half the deficit got stretched a little wider, when the wily Murphy popped up with a goal, capitalising on the havoc Bertoli and Loughlin were causing with their direct running. Half Time Athlone 0-03 The Downs 1:07 Again Athlone bit back after good work from wing back Conor Kennedy setting up the first score of the half, 0-04 to 1-07. Sundaresan and Walters two excellent players were putting immense effort in, having an epic struggle with each other, that seemed to nullify them both and leave the major scoring plays to their team mates. The game deciding moment came in the 42nd minute. Athlone’s full back line of Youssef Elhadidy, Fearghal Kelly and Yassin Elharouny, who had hitherto done a fair job of blocking Antonio Bertoli and Callum Cleary’s goal chances were finally breached, when a lightning catch, turn and solo from the latter brought him bearing down unopposed on goal, Cleary unleashing a rocket that not even a Stopper of Union’s calibre could keep out. Athlone then registered point from a free to go up to 0:05 but Murphy, so often the provider for others pointed again on 50 minutes to stretch it back to a 9 point gap. Ben Loughlin then added another free to further extend the lead to 0-05 to 2-09.  Union then saved an almost certain goal from Bertoli with a toe at full stretch.  Up the field again went the Blue and Whites with another goal attempt flashing narrowly wide, when it seemed the net would billow. Not to be denied Athlone had the green flag raised in the 53rd minute, 1:05 to 2-09 after good work by Fallon and another quick Athlone point had Black and Amber nerves going , a final magnificent effort by Fallon which hit the angle of post and Crossbar but stayed out, seemed to finally cause the Athlone heads to drop. After a belligerent carry by Conor Reid, Wing back Aiden Quinlan who had followed the move up the field, bagged another Downs point after good work from the Loughlin cousins. Yet again Athlone pointed in reply. Time was running out at this stage and the last significant play was mounted along the Downs right. Clarke and Coyne exchanged passes leaving Clarke bursting through the cover, his goalbound strike could only be palmed out by keeper Union to the prowling Murphy, who calmy took his personal tally to 1-03 with the last point of the game. Full Time came soon after final Score Athlone 1:07 The Downs 2-11. Congratulations to Ed Quinlan, Kieran Carroll, Cahal Kelly, Lane Orme, Jasper Rijksen and Tommy Coyne on what was a magnificent win for Na Dúnta.

Our U12’s were kindly invited to the annual Sean Dempsey tournament last Sunday morning this year held in Mullingar Shamrocks. Many thanks to the Shamrocks club for their very kind hospitality and the Dempsey family for the invite. 

Our U16 girls contested the U16 Division 3 championship final last Tuesday night under lights in The Downs. Our girls got off to a flying start and were ahead by 4 points at half – time. Mullingar Shamrocks made a number of changes and slowly regained their composure, fighting back to draw the game level. Unfortunately for The Downs they couldn’t manage to keep a strong Shamrocks attack at bay for the sixty minutes. The Downs girls fought mercilessly until the final whistle however it was Shamrocks that got the last two scores to claim the Division 3 title. A fine performance from this bunch of girls that punched above their weight to be just pipped at the post at the final hurdle. 

Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others continues every Wed eve at 8pm. Newcomers always welcome. Na Dúnta Gaelic 4 mothers & other's takes place every Wednesday (back middle pitch). No experience required, all fitness levels welcomed. This is a lovely outlet for women to get some exercise, learn a new skill and meet new people. Contact Carley 087 7701318 or Elaine 0868785006

The club shop will be opened this Friday October 10th and every second Friday from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm.

Bingo continues every Friday night at 8.30 p.m. All new members welcome.

We will continue to live stream our Lotto draw via our Facebook page for the foreseeable future. Tune in at 9-30 on each Monday night to catch the draw.

1.Add a discounted bundle to your Downs GAA club membership by clicking here.
2.Play online at our website www.thedownsgaa.com
3. Play online at Clubzapp http://bit.ly/3ItlksQ
4. Contact your regular draw collector for your area or any Committee member who will enter
your numbers on to our Perma Book which is retained at the club.
5. Send a cheque for €100 to club secretary Tommy Kelly, Coralstown, Mullingar (one year’s
subscription).
6. Or scan here:

Thanks to our supporters for their loyal commitment to our Fundraising Draw and to those new players who have signed up online and in hard copy.

Keep up to date with club activities
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