Our seniors suffered their first league defeat of the year at the hands of St. Mary’s in Rochfortbridge on Tuesday last.

Despite dominating for long periods of the game, we failed to make it count on the scoreboard, with our downfall being the concession of two goals in the first half.

The result is a disappointing one, but hopefully the players will have learned something from the game, as we go into the first round Championship game against Castledaly.

Team: Senan Maguire, Mark Leavy, Sean Loughlin, Stephen Cleary, Darren Devine, Seamus O’Leary. Martin Murtagh, Joe Corroon, Fergal Fagan, Shane Deering, Thomas Cleary, James Conroy, Keith Shanley, Kieran Carroll, Michael Murtagh.

Our second team suffered a seven-point defeat against Shandonagh at the weekend. Trailing by one point at half-time, The Downs were confident of taking the game to Shandonagh, but failed to score, despite dominating the first fifteen minutes of the half. Shandonagh broke down the field to score their goal, on which they built a comfortable lead, which The Downs could not overcome.

Team: Ciaran McCormack, Pat Doherty, Paul Rowan, Stephen Cleary, Thomas Smith, Seamus O’Leary, Anthony Corroon, Mark Leavy, Fergal Fagan, Martin Egerton, Conor Carley, Matt Maguire, Ronan Colgan, Kieran Carroll, James Conroy. Subs: Pat Leavy, Mark Monaghan, Stephen O’Hara, Colm Corroon.

Our Under 16’s had to give second best to Moate in this league game played in The Downs. Moate, fielding a physically stronger team, proved more inventive in front of goal.

The Under 14’s played Tubberclair in the league and showed great skill and determination in their game. This, however, did not prove enough against a strong Tubberclair side.

Team: Philip Smith, Mark Dalton, Greg Crowley, Davin Thornton, Kevin Flynn, Michael Ward, Darren Skelly, William Newman, Stephen Devine, Darren Price, David Flynn, Niall Nolan, Joseph Raleigh, Edwin Dunne, Colm Rowan. Subs: Darren Nolan, Stephen Liddy.

The Under 12’s played St. Mary’s in the league in Rochfortbridge during the week. Following an exciting game, St. Mary’s came out on top at the finish.

Our next Under 12 game is against Mullingar Shamrocks in Springfield on Thursday May 11^th at 7.30.

Players will be notified of other forthcoming fixtures.

The St. Finians group team (The Downs & Kinnegad) play Clann Braonoin in the Under 16 Championship in Ballinagore on Wednesday May 10^th at 7.30.

Training for Under 8’s, 10’s and 12’s continues on Friday nights at 7.00. Training for Under 14’s and 16’s continues on Tuesday nights.

We would like to see a greater number of players, especially the Under 16’s showing up at training.

Numbers drawn were 2, 4, 22 and 23, with no Jackpot winner. Next weeks Jackpot stands at £700. Winners of £50 prizes were Paddy Carty and Liam Egerton.

We congratulate Pat Doherty on his appointment as the new County P.R.O. and wish him the best of luck in the demanding position.

Congratulations also to Gerry Buckley who recently published "The Millennium Handbook of Westmeath G.A.A."

When the club embarked on their plans to build the new centre one of the initatives undertaken to raise finance was the Buy-A-Brick campaign. The Buy-A-brick campaign allowed the local community support the building of the centre by sponsoring a brick for £100. In return for this investment in the building, their contribution would be acknowledged in the centre.

The Buy-A-Brick campaign will be ending on June 30^th . Any members of the community who wish to support the new building through this venture can contact treasurer Matt Carley or any committee member.

The club’s web-site address is:

15 May 2000

1 May 2000