Westmeath SFC Final replay: The Downs 2-11 Athlone 1-9 The Downs survived a spirited Athlone fightback to lift the Westmeath football title at Cusack Park, Mullingar, yesterday. Goals from Keith Shanley and James Conroy proved a massive boost for them before half-time as they led by 2-5 to 0-5 after conceding the opening two points of the contest.

Athlone grabbed a brilliantly-taken goal from Neil Dolan in the second half and had to endure the loss of influential midfielder Rory O'Connell who landed a fine point to level matters before his dismissal. But points from Conor Carley and Paul Shanley lifted The Downs and when Tommy Cleary put them 2-11 to 1-8 up, the writing was on the wall.

THE DOWNS: C McCormack, D O'Reilly, S O'Leary, S Cleary, C Carley (0-1), D Devine, S Loughlin, B Conroy (0-2), B Murtagh, S Deering, J Smyth, P Shanley (0-1), T Cleary (0-7, 0-4 frees), J Conroy (1-0), K Shanley (1-0). Sub: J Corroon for K Shanley.

ATHLONE: R Daly, P Dunning, P Allen, F Murray, D Kelly, O Keating, D O'Neill, R O'Connell (0-1), A Collins, A Moran (0-1), N Dolan (1-2, 0-2 frees), S Mitchell (0-2, 0-1 free), J Fallon (0-3 all frees), A St John, P Bannon. Subs: P Fogarty for A Moran, D McManus for A Collins (inj), J Kilroy for O Keating.

Referee: S Sheridan (Tyrrellspass).