Second half showing helps Down record Ulster victory

Second half showing helps Down record Ulster victory

26 April 2023

DOWN senior footballers upset the odds to run out five-point winners over a fancied Donegal outfit, who lost their first Ulster championship game of the season for the first time since 2010, at a packed Páirc Esler on Sunday.

Kilcoo club-man Ryan Johnston was the star of the show as his man of the match performance helped his side to victory, although there were stand-out efforts all over the pitch.

The Mourne men got off to the worst possible start as Jason McGee netted within two minutes following a mix up in the Down defence.

It took the hosts until the ninth minute to register their first score – a free from Pat Havern – although Down would raise the green flag after Eugene Branagan couldn’t be stopped in his attacking build-up, allowing Liam Kerr to race clear and finish with aplomb.

Also among the first half scores for Down was the lively Johnston and Ceilum Doherty.

Donegal’s main issue within the opening period is they failed to kick on from their blistering start. The Tir Chonaill men’s attacking became either laboured or at times, frantic, resulting in eight first half wide efforts.

The visitors were without the services of injured Patrick McBrearty, although you could take nothing away from Down who were an organised, efficient unit from defence to attack.

There was, however, a moment of concern as Donegal’s Conor O’Donnell looked certain to hit the back of the net but Down ‘keeper Niall Kane impressively prevented this before team-mate Niall McParland blocked the rebound.

The first half ended 1-4 apiece but Down would take control after the interval.

A Donegal point was quickly cancelled out by Carryduff club-man Daniel Guinness, before further points were tagged on by Johnston and Branagan.

And then, the turning point.

Star man Johnston was trailed down inside the area by Mark Curran before Down’s Havern held his nerve and dispatched his spot kick confidently into the net.

There was a slight nervousness to the ending of the match as Donegal managed to claw back vital scores to bring it 

to a one-point affair, although Down remained calm and quickly regained a grip on proceedings.

With Down ahead by three, Conor Poland palmed over the bar from close range before St John’s club-man Andrew Gilmore split the posts off his left boot to give his team a five-point winning cushion.  

Following the conclusion, Down’s Ryan Johnston was quick to praise both his team-mates and manager, Conor Laverty.

“A lot of them lads have been training away since November time,” he said.

“Conor and the boys, the work they’ve put in, I’m just glad to get over the line.

“When we were under the cosh in the second half, to have the crowd get behind you was great, just a great atmosphere,” he continued.

“Conor, not only with the seniors but with the U-20s as well, has created a great buzz.

“We just take every game as it comes, we had a decent league campaign but we were probably a wee bit disappointed that we never actually got promotion this year.”

He added: “But, each match we are trying to build on things and get the performance right.”

Down will travel to Clones this Sunday to face Armagh in the semi-final.

Down: N Kane; P Laverty (capt), A Doherty, S Annett; D Magill (0-1), N McParland, M Rooney; D Guinness (0-2), R McEvoy; C Doherty, R Johnston (0-3), L Kerr (1-0); D McAleenan, P Havern (1-3), E Branagan (0-1).

Subs used: C Poland (0-1) for McParland 65, A Gilmore (0-2) for Branagan 53, S Johnston for R Johnston 60, G Collins for McAleenan 70, C Francis for Annett 49

Donegal: S Patton (0-1); M Curran, B McCole, C Ward (0-1); C McColgan, S McMenamin, E Ban Gallagher (capt); C McGonagle, J McGee (1-1); D O Baoill (0-3), M Langan, C Thompson (0-2); H McFadden, J Brennan, C O’Donnell (0-2)

Subs used: O Gallen for McFadden 46, R O’Donnell for McMenamin 65, L McGlynn for Langan 15 mins, K Tobin for Ward 49, K Barrett for McGlynn 70.

Referee: B Cawley (Kildare).