Drumhowan (Monaghan)0-10
Downings (Donegal) 1-6
A resurgent Drumhowan had to dig deep into their reserves of courage and stamina as well as self belief before overcoming Donegal champions Downings in this entertaining match that built to an exciting finish in Clones on Sunday last.
Things looked bleak for the eventual winners in the early stages as Downings got off to a great start and were ahead by six points at the end of the opening quarter as Gary McClafferty and Patrick McGrodd caused all sorts of problems for the Monaghan champions. Gary McClafferty converted a 13th minute penalty after Patrick McGrodd had been hauled down on his way through to put Downings five in front after they had opened with points by McGrodd, Andrew Connor and a Gary McClafferty free before . Drumhowan opened their account with a point by Niall Mooney in the 9th minute. Wingback Colin Gallagher then put the Donegal champions six in front in the 14th minute but Drumhowan were now beginning to dig in and they pulled back three unanswered points by keeper Enda Duffy from a ’45 and two from frees by Colm Lambe to leave three between the sides as the first half entered stoppage time. Three minutes into stoppage time Gary McClafferty pointed a free to leave the half-time score Downings 1-5, Drumhowan 0-4.
Both sides spurned chances in the early minutes of the second-half before Colm Lambe converted a free for a foul on Kieran Mooney to reduce the deficit to three. Another Colm Lambe free in the 13th minute reduced the margin to two with Downings then reduced to 14 players when Finghin McClafferty was sent off on a straight red card for an off the ball strike. Downings looked to have steadied things though when Gary McClafferty converted a free to put them three points in front but that turned out to be their last score of the game as Drumhowan dug deep for points by Kevin Mooney in the 17th minute, a Colm Lambe free in the 19th minute and one by substitute Aidan Duffy with his first touch to level the match for the first time. It was no all hands to the pump on both sides, but it was Drumhowan had the final say with a point by Colm Lambe with two minutes of normal time remaining to put them in front for the first time they held out for the narrowest of victories.
Teams and Scorers: Drumhowan: Enda Duffy 0-1 (’45), Martin McElroy, John Paul O’Neill, Niall Mooney 0-1, Darren Duffy, Dermot Mooney, Paddy Mulligan, Kieran McElroy, Anthony Mulligan, David Millar, Kevin Mooney 0-1, Michael Atkinson, Ciaran Deery, Kieran Mooney, Colm Lambe 0-6 (5f). Subs: Aidan Duffy 0-1 for M Atkinson, Mark McCabe for D Duffy, Rodney Mooney for Kevin Mooney.
Downings: Brendan McGee, Seamus Gallagher, Gerard Coyle, David Hay, Colin Gallagher 0-1, Michael Bradley, Shay Coyle, Sean McBride, Oisin Boyce, Aaron McClafferty, Danny McBride, Finghin McClafferty, Andrew Connor 0-1, Gary McClafferty 1-3 (1-p, 0-3f), Patrick McGrodd 0-1. Subs: James McBride for S Coyle, Eric Roberts for A Connor, Shaun McGinley for C Gallagher, Seaghan MacLaifeartaigh for D McBride, Brian Curran for P McGrodd. Referee: Martin McErlean (Derry).
