Down knock Ulster holders Donegal out with stunning win

Image source, Inpho

• Published2 hours ago

Down produced a major Ulster Championship upset to knock holders Donegal out with a 3-21 to 1-21 victory in a captivating quarter-final played out in a feverish atmosphere at O'Donnell Park.

Fired up from the start, Down led 0-11 to 1-7 at the break despite Caolan McGonagle's goal for the hosts.

Daniel Guinness' goal helped Down stretch their lead out to five points early in the second half, and while Donegal chipped away at the deficit to sit level with 20 minutes left, Conor Laverty's side roared to the finish with Miceal Rooney netting twice late on to leave the home side stunned.

Down will face Armagh in next week's Ulster semi-finals, while Donegal are left to rue on their wrecked bid for a hat-trick of provincial titles before the start of the All-Ireland series.

In handing Donegal just their second Ulster Championship defeat under Jim McGuinness - after the 2013 final against Monaghan - Down have shaken up the race for the Anglo Celt Cup and given their hopes for a first provincial triumph since 1994 a major shot in the arm.

• Ulster SFC: Down stun Donegal to reach semi-final- as it happened

Donegal came into a new championship campaign with their chests puffed out after hammering Kerry 3-20 to 2-10 in last month's Division One final.

However, they went into Sunday's game - a first championship fixture at Letterkenny's O'Donnell Park since 1951 - without hugely influential forward Michael Langan, who injured his ankle in training last week.

And while McGuinness could still call upon a talent-packed starting line-up, the home side struggled to contain Division Three champions Down during a gripping first half in which they racked up seven wides.

Two of those came before Michael Murphy opened the scoring with a two-point free after being clattered by his marker Ryan McEvoy.

Down, however, were undeterred, and after Odhran Murdock notched their opening score, Daniel Guinness and Pat Havern edged the Mournemen in front, the latter's free coming after Murphy had a goal-bound shot blocked at the other end.

Havern's radar was dialled in again with a two-point free to push Down 0-5 to 0-3 ahead after a fisted score from Oisin Gallen.

And after a Murphy free was followed by a Daniel Guinness effort, Down forward Adam Crimmins fired over when he was presented with the chance to raise the game's first green flag.

That put Down three points up, and while they moved 0-8 to 0-4 in front with a score from Havern, McGonagle struck a much-needed goal for Donegal after Conor O'Donnell's shot dropped short.

The Donegal goal sparked a chaotic two-minute period as Miceal Rooney missed a huge goal chance for Down before Oisin Gallen's goal-bound shot was tipped over by Down keeper Ronan Burns for a point.

Image source, Inpho

Needing a defiant response, Donegal hit the first two points of the second half, but after Pat Havern's free, Daniel Guinness buried an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner of Gavin Mulreany's net to put Down 1-12 to 1-9 up.

While Michael Murphy hit back with a free, a Havern two-pointer and a score from the outstanding Odhran Murdock established a five-point margin for Down.

Refusing to give in, Donegal dragged themselves back level through Conor O'Donnell, Oisin Gallen, Murphy and Jason McGee's two-pointer, but Down edged back ahead in controversial circumstances when a Murdock shot that seemingly drifted wide was given as a point.

Down managed to keep their noses in front before delivering a killer blow to Donegal's chances when Miceal Rooney rounded Mulreany and kept his composure - and balance - to stab the ball into the net.

Rooney was on hand to find the net for the second time when he punched home after fine work from Liam Kerr to spark delirious scenes among the red and black pockets in the Letterkenny sun.

Teams and scorers

Donegal: Gavin Mulreany; Caolan McColgan, Brendan McCole, Eoghan Ban Gallagher; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle (1-0), Finnbarr Roarty; Jason McGee (0-2 1x2p), Hugh McFadden; Shane O'Donnell (joint-capt), Ciaran Moore, Peadar Mogan (0-2, 1x2p); Conor O'Donnell (0-3), Michael Murphy (0-7, 1x2p, 4f), Oisin Gallen (0-5).

Subs: Daire O Baoill for Moore (40), Max Campbell for McHugh (48), Mark Curran for Gallagher (58), Shea Malone (0-2, 1x2p) for Gallen.

Down: Ronan Burns; Peter Fegan, Pierce Laverty, Callum Rogers, Caolan Mooney (0-1), Shane Annett, Daniel Guinness (1-3); Odhran Murdock (capt, 0-3), Ryan McEvoy (0-2, 1x2p); Miceal Rooney (2-0), Ceilum Doherty (0-1), John McGeough; Adam Crimmins (0-4), Pat Havern (0-9, 1x2p, 4f), Pearse McPolin.

Subs: Liam Kerr for McGeough (44), Finn McElroy for Fegan (50), Jamie Doran for Mooney (57), Ryan Magill for McPolin (61), Ruairi McCormack for Rogers (65).

Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)

Related topics

• Gaelic Games
• Northern Ireland Sport