AIB Leinster Club SFC: Impressive Tullamore survive late rally from The Downs

AIB Leinster Club SFC quarter-final

Tullamore 3-13 (3-0-13) The Downs 4-8 (4-2-4)

By Gerry Buckley at TEG Cusack Park

Despite conceding four goals - all of them preventable - and surviving a late rally inspired by The Downs' Luke Loughlin, Tullamore were very worthy winners of an entertaining Leinster senior football quarter-final in Mullingar.

Tullamore had the aid of a slight wind in the first half and they raced into a two-point lead by the sixth minute courtesy of Diarmuid Egan and Harry Plunkett. The home team settled and an unanswered 1-2 by the 12th minute put them a goal to the good. Marquee forward Loughlin's first involvement was a great run goalward which set up Lorcan Mullen for a scrappy finish. Dean Egerton and Loughlin (with his fist) added points, but they failed to trouble the scoreboard operator for the rest of the first half.

For their part, Paul McConway's charges took control in most sectors of the pitch and they kicked six unanswered points between the 14th and 30th minutes via Harry Plunkett (a free), Cormac Egan, Michael Brazil (in acres of space), Niall Furlong, Luke Plunkett and centre half back John Furlong. It got better for the Offaly champions in injury-time when a great run by Cormac Egan teed up Harry Plunkett for a well-taken goal. The half-time whistle blew moments later with Tullamore ahead by 1-8 to 1-2.

Loughlin (who was trying for a goal with Corey White off his line) and Luke Plunkett traded early points on the change of ends. When Niall Furlong slapped home a goal after great work by his brother John in the 41st minute, Tullamore led by 2-11 to 1-4 and they looked set for a facile win. However, Ian Martin replied instantly with a goal at the end of a Loughlin delivery. There was another goal exchange soon afterwards with the respective number 8s finding the net, Ciallian Bourke (a great strike) and Jonathan Lynam (from point-blank range with Loughlin again the instigator).

Tullamore now led by nine points (3-13 to 3-4), but Dermot Power's troops refused to throw in the towel and a slapped goal from full back Charlie Drumm (when set up by the hard-working Kevin O'Sullivan) preceded the only two-pointers of the contest, Loughlin scoring both in injury-time. However, time had run out for the Westmeath champions and it isTullamore who deservedly march on to the provincial semi-final.

Scorers for Tullamore: H Plunkett 1-5 (0-2f), N Furlong 1-1, C Bourke 1-0, D Egan, L Plunkett 0-2 each, C Egan, J Furlong, M Brazil 0-1 each.

Scorers for The Downs: L Loughlin 0-7 (2 2pt, 1f), C Drumm, J Lynam, I Martin, L Mullen 1-0 each, D Egerton 0-1.

Tullamore: Corey White; Ben Heffernan, Declan Hogan, Daire McDaid; Cormac Egan, John Furlong, Oisín Keenan-Martin; Cillian Bourke, Aaron Leavy; Diarmuid Egan, Michael Brazil, Niall Furlong; Mike Fox, Harry Plunkett, Luke Plunkett. Subs: Luke Bourke for Leavy (blood, 28 to 30+2), Luke Bourke for Keenan-Martin (52), Liam Dillane for Brazil (inj., 54), Dan Fox for M Fox (58), Jay Sheerin for Leavy (inj., 60+1).

The Downs: Trevor Martin; Eanna Burke, Charlie Drumm, Peter Murray; Oisín Murphy, Ciaran Nolan, Andrew Kilmartin; Jonathan Lynam, Billy Moffatt; Kevin O'Sullivan, Ian Martin, Lorcan Mullen; Luke Loughlin, Dean Egerton, Tom Tuite. Subs: Dan O'Callaghan for Lynam (blood, 6 to 7), Dan O'Callaghan for Mullen (43), Philip Martin for Kilmartin (47), Oisín Loughlin for Murphy (49), Liam Faulkner for Murray (55), Jack Carroll for Tuite (58).

Ref: Andrew Smith (Meath).