Report: Down cut loose to end Donegal’s reign as Ulster champions

Ulster SFC – Down 3-21 Donegal 1-21

By Michael McMullan

A RAMPANT Down caused the championship’s latest shock by unseating Ulster champions Donegal on Sunday on O’Donnell Park.

Conor Laverty’s side were full of ambition, energy and pace, leaving Donegal left to pick through the pieces of defeat ahead of the All-Ireland series.

Second-half goals from Daniel Guinness and Micéal Rooney left Donegal trying catch a game that was already slipping from their grasp.

Down’s victory sets up next Sunday’s semi-final showdown with Armagh.

A 55th minute two pointer from Jason McGee levelled the game, 1-15 each, before Down added scores from Murdock and Ceilum Doherty.

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In the end, it was two Rooney goals that shot Down to a fully deserved victory.

Down were ahead at half-time after an electric first-half with a Caolan Mooney buzzer beater from the most acute of angles.

It summed up 35 minutes when the ball pinged from end to end.

The sides were level twice before a Havern two-pointer pushed Down on their way to a 0-8 to 0-4 lead.

Down got excellent joy off Ronan Burns’ finding his men with the medium kick-outs and injecting pace, typified by Ryan McEvoy.

A high ball into the Down defence wasn’t dealt with before Caolan McGonagle slammed to the net.

Down still led 0-8 to 1-4 and nearly hit then only for Mulreany’s trailing leg denying Miceál Rooney. On the counterattack, a long ball to Michael Murphy led to another goal chance seconds later. Gallen was in but Burns tipped over.

Conor O’Donnell looked to have given the home team a half-time lead but when Mulreany lost his first kick-out, it led to a Crimmins equaliser before Mooney’s last action.

Down were beginning to show the belief they could pull off the victory but it needed a cracking Daniel Guinness goal to turn the tide again.

He shot to the bottom corner for a 1-12 to 1-9 lead and after a Murphy point, Havern kicked a two-pointer.

Donegal struggled to cope with Donegal’s running game after McGee’s equaliser, Rooney’s goals paved the way to victory.

It leaves Donegal to lick their wounds ahead to a tilt at the All-Ireland championship.

Scorers:

Down: P Havern 0-7 (4f, 1tp), D Guinness 1-3, M Rooney 2-0, Crimmins 0-4, O Murdock 0-3, R McEvoy 0-2 (1tp) C Mooney and C Doherty 0-1

Donegal: M Murphy 0-7 (1 tpf, 4f), C McGonagle 1-0, O Gallen 0-5, C O’Donnell 0-3, J McGee, P Mogan, S Malone 0-2 (tp) each

Down: R Burns; Peter Fegan, P Laverty, C Rogers; C Mooney, S Annett, D Guinness; O Murdock, R McEvoy; M Rooney, C Doherty, P McPolin; A Crimmins, P Havern, J McGeough
Subs: L Kerr for McGeough, F McElroy for Fegan, J Doran for Mooney, R Magill for McPolin, R McCormack for Rogers

Donegal: G Mulreany; C McColgan, B McCole, EB Gallagher; R McHugh, C McGonagle, F Roarty; J McGee, H McFadden; S O’Donnell, C Moore, P Mogan; C O’Donnell, M Murphy, O Gallen
Subs: D Ó Baoill for Moore, M Campbell for McHugh, M Curran for Gallagher, S Malone for Gallen

Referee: P Neilan (Roscommon)