Down 2-13 Donegal 1-11
Donegal were knocked out of the Ulster Championship in the quarter-final by Down at Páirc Esler.
Donegal began well with an early Jason McGee goal, but a low scoring half which saw Liam Kerr also raise the green flag and end the half 1-4 each.
Pat Havern’s penalty after Mark Curran fouled Ryan Johnston saw Conor Laverty’s men go into a five point lead, but Donegal got it back to two points with a couple of minutes to go.
But Down extended their lead and were worthy winners as Donegal’s Ulster Championship comes to a quick end.
A long ball forward was missed by Danny Magill and Jason McGee got away from two Down defenders to drive forward on the left and with ‘keeper Niall Kane coming out, McGee shifted the ball onto his left foot and easily found the net.
That was the only score we had until Pat Havern’s free in the 9th minute, but Daire O’Baoill brought the gap back out to three points a minute later with a good score from 30 metres.
Down got another as Ryan Johnston picked the ball up and turned onto his left foot to fire over.
Donegal lost Michael Langan to a hamstring injury inside fifteen minutes, another big blow for Donegal as the visitors had a number of wides before Caolan Ward put the lead back out to a goal.
But that wouldn’t last long as a long ball to Eugene Branagan out on the sideline was held up by him with Ward and Eoghan Ban Gallagher for company.
But Branagan did well and Liam Kerr picked the ball up and raced through on goal, blasting past Shaun Patton to level it at 1-2 apiece on 20 minutes.
Another Havern free put Down ahead for the first time but Ó Baoill levelled again after a brilliant run from right to back into the middle of the park, turning onto his right and finding the target.
Donegal had a massive chance for a goal when Caolan McGonagle found Conor O’Donnell running through after a quick turnover but the Carndonagh man’s shot was saved by the feet of Kane and McGonagle couldn’t get the rebound, going out for a 45.
Ryan Johnston fired over a superb free with the outside of the boot to regain the lead but Shaun Patton levelled with a 45 to put the sides in level at half-time at 1-4 each.
Daniel Guinness had a great chance to replicate Donegal’s early goal in the first half but he beat Patton and Eoghan Ban Gallagher caught the ball on the line.
Ciaran Thompson’s free gave Donegal the lead again after Donegal threatened but Guinness made up for his earlier miss with a great score.
Johnston converted a mark and Branagan scored from a tight angle as Down opened up a two point lead before they got a penalty.
Shane Annett found Ryan Johnston running forward past Mark Curran and the Dungloe man brought down Johnston, with Pat Havern firing a penalty low into Patton’s bottom left corner.
Conor O’Donnell fired over after good work from Ó Baoill and Thompson fired over another free to bring it back to a three point game as the goal looked to give Donegal a bit of a kick.
Ó Baoill then brought it back to two points after a good turn of pace to run past four red shirts, but from the next attack, Havern scored a free from close range.
Danny Magill ran forward with ease and found space to kick over but O’Donnell did well to get his second score of the game.
Jason McGee brought it back to two points again after being laid off by Oisin Gallen, and Gallen got his first score cutting in on his left foot.
Andrew Gilmore came on and fired over what looked like a soft free.
Donegal missed two frees in quick succession coming into the last couple of minutes and they would rue those misses with Thompson firing wide and Patton hitting the post, while Guinness fired over at the other end.
A goal chance for Down came again as Conor Poland was getting pulled but he did well to fist over and all but confirm the win.
Gilmore got his second point off the bench after Johnston’s shot was blocked down to Gilmore, making it a five point game and a 2-13 to 1-11 win for Down.
Down: Niall Kane, Pierce Laverty, Anthony Doherty, Shane Annett, Danny Magill (0-1), Niall McParland, Miceal Rooney; Daniel Guinness (0-2), Ryan McEvoy; Ceilum Doherty, Ryan Johnston (0-3,1f,1m), Liam Kerr (1-0), Donach McAleenan, Pat Havern (1-3f), Eugene Branagan (0-1).
Subs: Conor Francis for Annett (50 mins), Andrew Gilmore (0-2,1f) for Branagan (54 mins), Shealan Johnston for Ryan Johnston (61 mins), Conor Poland (0-1) for McParland (66 mins), Gerard Collins for McAleenan (71 mins)
Donegal: Shaun Patton (0-1 45), Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Caolan Ward (0-1), Caolan McColgan, Stephen McMenamin, Eoghan Ban Gallagher; Caolan McGonagle, Jason McGee (1-1); Daire Ó Baoill (0-3), Michael Langan, Ciaran Thompson (0-2f), Hugh McFadden, Jamie Brennan, Conor O’Donnell (0-2)
Subs: Luke McGlynn for Langan (15 mins), Oisin Gallen (0-1) for McFadden (46 mins), Kieran Tobin for Ward (60 mins), Rory O’Donnell for McMenamin (66 mins), Kane Barrett for McGlynn (71 mins).
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