What a difference a year makes. This time last year The Downs were caught up in a relegation battle. Now they have a county semi-final clash with Mullingar Shamrocks to look forward to. Tubberclair were competing in intermediate twelve months ago but were seeking a place in the last four of the senior this time round.
Tubberclair will be disappointed to have exited the championship but on the day The Downs were always in control. Experience counts for a lot once you reach the knockout stages and the winners held the edge on that front.
Tommy Cleary and Barry Conroy did much of the damage for The Downs kicking seven points out of their total. Ian Coffey found the net for the men from Glasson just before the break but it wasn’t enough to ignite his comrades.
Fergal Wilson again saw action but only when introduced to the fray after forty minutes. His battle with injury certainly didn’t help Tubberclair’s chances this year. Having come up from intermediate last year, making the quarter-final wasn’t a bad year’s work.
The Downs will be no pushover in a semi-final. While Shamrocks will be favourites the Black and Ambers have kicked 38 points between their last two matches and with that sort of firepower they have to be taken seriously.
