Three goals send The Downs into Leinster semi-final
A clinical second-half surge carried the Westmeath champions past Kilanerin in a gripping provincial quarter-final. The Wexford visitors led at the break in a bitterly cold Mullingar, but their hosts found the net twice after the restart.
The Downs struck three times for goal to beat Kilanerin 3-13 to 0-15 in their AIB Leinster Club SFC quarter-final at a bitterly cold TEG Cusack Park in Mullingar.
The seven-point margin flattered the home side, who fell behind to an early Cian Hughes point before Michael Moloney levelled. Luke Loughlin then set up Niall Mitchell for a close-range goal and a point, putting The Downs 1-2 to 0-1 ahead.
Kilanerin dominated midfield and responded with nine points to one before the break. Dean O’Toole contributed six, including a two-point free awarded after dissent, while Padraic, Eoin and Cian Hughes also scored. Ian Martin narrowly missed a goal chance as the Wexford champions led 0-10 to 1-3 at half-time.
Martin cut the gap with a two-pointer after the restart, but Kilanerin moved 0-13 to 1-6 clear by the 38th minute. Joe Moran then found the net despite stumbling, drawing The Downs level at 2-7 to 0-13.
With Loughlin and Kevin O’Sullivan increasingly influential, the hosts moved ahead before O’Sullivan finished a move involving Mitchell for their third goal. Niall Hughes later went narrowly wide with a goal chance for Kilanerin.