Down withstand a mighty Westmeath comeback to make it three from three

Down footballers certainly know how to keep nerves on edge for their supporters and they did so again on Saturday evening in Pairc Esler.

Conor Laverty’s side were in cruise control, on course for a comfortable Division 3 victory over Westmeath but a massive comeback was on the cards and while the Lake County came close to completing it, the Mournemen held on for a 2-15 to 1-15 win.

Down led by eight at the break, despite playing against the wind, and had increase that advantage to 13, leading 2-14 to 0-7 early in the second half. But disaster struck when a purple patch for the visitors turned into a complete turnaround, as they hit 1-7 without reply before the hosts calmed down and regained control in the dying minutes to win by three as the hooter blew.

Having made it past Limerick by the skin of their teeth last match, Down looked to be brimming with confidence from throw-in back on home soil.

The weather was horrendous with persistent fine rain slanting toward the Down goal in the first half, but still they were by far the better side.

Sam McCartan opened the scoring for Westmeath from a free but it was the only time that Mark McHugh's side would lead – although they had levelled midway through the half.

Adam Crimmins replied with a brace of points from play, either side of one from John McGeough and while Ronan Wallace made it 0-3 to 0-2, a couple of beauties from Odhran Murdock stretched Down’s lead to three.

Luke Loughlin stepped up for Westmeath, converting a two-point free from beyond the arc and another from just inside a minute later.

Down upped the ante again however, with points from Murdock a brace from Ceilum Doherty and one from Daniel Guinness to make it 0-9 to 0-5. And after the next two-point free effort from Loughlin dropped short, and likewise another from play moments later, a great run by Adam Crimmins resulted in Guinness finishing over the bar. Things got even better for Down two minutes before the break when Donal Scullion got his pass away to Pearse McPolin in front of goal and Ryan Magill hit the net.

That gave Down an eight-point advantage at the break and they looked to be in good shape, as they continued where they left off in the second half.

Doherty extended the lead with the first point of the half and while Brian Cooney replied, Crimmins, Guinness and McPolin made it 1-14 to 0-6 and Down were cruising.

Nothing was going right for Westmeath at that stage, as they had a goal chance superbly double saved by Down netminder Ronan Burns with a '45 dropping short and another effort sailing wide moments later, but things changed dramatically after that with their subs turning the game on its head.

Robbie Forde began the comeback with a point and while Down remained well in control at that stage with Pat Havern lining up for his first point of the evening from distance, it resulted in his shot dropping short in front of goal and McGeough was on hand to fist into the net.

The visitors responded emphatically with points from Ray Connellan and sub Senan Baker either side of a two-point free converted by Loughlin.

That made it 2-14 to 0-13 with 10 minutes left on the clock and Westmeath could have narrowed it further but Loughlin's next two point effort from a free awarded through a rule breech flew wide.

Still, the barrage continued as Forde scored the next, and Down were in freefall as Brian Cooney netted and Forde narrowed the margin to two.

Down managed to regain possession and control in the dying minutes however, and while Tom Close and Havern hit the post, Doherty found the target with what turned out to be the last point of the game, with the hooter announcing the 2-15 to 1-15 Down victory. amidst a wave of relief in Pairc Esler.

MATCH STATS

Down: R Burns; P Fegan, P Laverty, C Rogers; P McPolin (0-1), R Magill (1-0), D Guinness (0-3); O Murdock (0-3), R McEvoy; A Crimmins (0-3), C Doherty (0-4), S Annett; D Scullion, P Havern, J McGeough (1-1)

Subs: B O'Hagan for Scullion (56), T Close for Magill (52), P Brooks for Rogers (53), R Carr for Havern (55), J Doran for McGeough (67)

Westmeath: J Daly; D Scahill, C Drumm, B Sayeh; R Wallace (0-01), T Baker, J Lynam; S Allen, R Connellan (0-2); K O’Sullivan, S McCartan (0-1, 1f), M Whittaker; D McCartan, L Loughlin (0-6, 2tpf, 1f), TJ Cox

Subs: S Baker (0-1) for D McCartan (13), B Cooney (1-1) for T Baker (ht), R Forde (0-3) for TJ Cox (ht), B Gurerin for Lynam (53) J Duncan for S McCartan (56)

Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)