Familiar foes reach Westmeath SFC final as minor decider ends on sour note

The Downs' Eanna Burke and Joe Moran celebrate a turnover against St Loman's. ©INPHO/James Crombie.

St Loman’s set up a Westmeath SFC final showdown with The Downs after staging a superb second half comeback to sink Coralstown/Kinnegad at TEG Cusack Park yesterday.

Runners-up last year, Coralstown/Kinnegad held a 1-9 to 1-3 lead at the break after Ciaran Daly and Sean Flanagan traded early goals. But with the wind behind them and John Heslin kicking two-point frees for fun, the Mullingar men stormed back for a 2-20 to 1-13 victory which made a mockery of their earlier championship form.

In the first semi-final on Saturday, The Downs cruised to a 5-17 to 2-13 win over Moate All-Whites, who were appearing at this stage of the Flanagan Cup for the first time since 1997. Goals from Charlie Drumm and Luke Loughlin had the holders perched on a 2-10 to 1-3 half-time lead before further majors in the second half from Niall Mitchell (two) and Ian Martin added gloss to the scoreline.

The Downs also edged out Shandonagh by 1-14 to 1-13 in the preceding MFC final, but their victory was marred by unsavoury scenes after the final whistle, with referee and new Westmeath U20 selector Eoin Jordan the target of abuse as he left the field. Westmeath CCC are expected to investigate.