Image source, InphoImage caption, Down will face Armagh in the Ulster semi-finals
- Published1 hour 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 the 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.
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 1hugely influential forward Michael Langan, who injured his ankle in training last week.
And while Jim McGuinness could still call upon a talent-packed starting line-up, the home side struggled to contain 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 Pearse McPolin, 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.
More to follow.
