Westmeath SFC Final: The Downs 0-9 Athlone 1-6 A sensational finish to a moderate game sums up yesterday's Westmeath senior football final in which The Downs snatched a draw in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Two minutes earlier Athlone wing back David O'Neill ghosted in to force home the only goal of the game and the title looked bound for the banks of the Shannon.

However, The Downs, who had battled doggedly throughout, found the resolve to bounce back, and when James Conroy was fouled 20 metres out, close to the right-hand touchline, Tomás Cleary, the former St Vincent's star, kicked the equaliser.

Conditions in Cusack Park, Mullingar militated against a classic finale and the sides swopped scores throughout the first half before Cleary's 33rd-minute score put The Downs a point ahead at the interval.

With Athlone struggling at midfield where All Star Rory O'Connell was left to plough a lone furrow, The Downs grew in confidence and points from Cleary and the outstanding James Conroy kept them in front as the final whistle approached.

With full-time beckoning the men in black and amber still held a two-point lead, but a Joe Fallon 45 caused panic in The Downs' goalmouth and O'Neill got the crucial touch to put Athlone ahead.

But in a last-gasp attack, Cleary showed nerves of steel to steer home the equaliser.

THE DOWNS: C McCormack; D O'Reilly, S O'Leary, S Cleary; C Carley, D Devine, S Loughlin; B Conroy, B Murtagh (0-1); S Derring, J Smith, J Corroon; T Cleary (0-5), J Conroy (0-3), K Shanley. Subs: F Fagan for Corroon; D Ayres for Deering.

ATHLONE: R Daly; P Dunning, P Allen, F Murray; D Kelly (0-1), O Keating, D O'Neill (1-0); R O'Connell, S Hahessy; T Stuart-Trainor (0-1), S Mitchell, P Bannon; J Fallon (0-2), D Prendergast, N Dolan (0-2). Subs:- D McManus for Prendergast; A Collins for Hahessy; J Kilroy for Dunning, J Molloy for Bannon.

Referee: S Sheridan (Tyrellspass).