The Downs see off Mary's to advance to Leinster football semi final

The Downs 1-17 St Mary's, Ardee 0-12

The Downs had a surprisingly comfortable win against St Mary’s, Ardee in pleasant conditions in Mullingar, the Westmeath men, who had not won their county title in 17 years, emerging victorious by an unflattering eight-point margin against the Louth champions.

The home team got off to a great start with a quality point from their marquee forward Luke Loughlin after 90 seconds. It got even better for Lar Wall’s troops some two minutes later when Kevin O’Sullivan, showing no ill-effects from a trip to Mexico in recent days with Westmeath’s Tailteann Cup-winning squad, scored a great goal at the end of a fine move.

Daire McConnon got the wind-assisted visitors off the mark in the sixth minute with a neat point, but The Downs were playing the better and more direct football, with Loughlin especially potent in attack.

The latter’s third point from play in the 18th minute was followed by a fisted score from Andrew Kilmartin, compensating for a glaring goal miss a few minutes earlier when teed up by O’Sullivan. A quickfire brace from defenders Conor Keenan and Kian Moran kept the Louth champions in touch (1-05 to 0-03) with 25 minutes elapsed.

On the hour mark, Ciaran Keenan set up McConnon who looked sure to find the net, but he hesitated and the ball was cleared. Kilmartin pointed in style at the other end, and injury-time points from Darren Clarke and Ciaran Keenan (from a very tight angle) left the scoreboard at the break reading: The Downs 1-08 St Mary’s 0-05.

Better known as a Westmeath hurler, Niall Mitchell pointed just 15 seconds into the second half. When the impressive O’Sullivan pointed with a goal on the cards in the 36th minute, The Downs led by 1-11 to 0-07.

In truth, they never