St Loman’s and The Downs will have to do it all again after this afternoon’s Westmeath senior football championship final ended all square (1-13 to 1-13) at TEG Cusack Park.
The Downs looked set to dethrone the holders in Mullingar after Luke Loughlin’s free nudged them in front in the second minute of injury-time, but Eoghan Hogan’s point a minute later saved a replay for St Loman’s next weekend.
Minus the services of Shane Dempsey, St Loman’s netted an early goal through Fola Ayorinde six minutes into the decider, which would be erased out straight away by Luke Loughlin's strike, and only Sam McCartan’s free late in the half separated the sides at the break with Loman’s taking in a 1-6 to 1-5 lead.
The reigning champions pushed their advantage out to three after the turnaround but the Downs battled back to level and they’d be all square twice more before the superb Loughlin saw his free cancelled out by Hogan in the dying stages.
TweetAfter a thrilling Shay Murtagh Senior Football Championship Final at TEG Cusack Park, St Loman's, Mullingar and The Downs finishes in a draw.
— Westmeath GAA (@westmeath_gaa) October 13, 2024
Both sides will now meet again in a replay.#westmeathgaa#whclubchamp2024 pic.twitter.com/c6HistuDXK