Holders Donegal set up an Ulster Football Final against All-Ireland champions Armagh – a repeat of last year’s provincial decider – with a comfortable 1-19 to 0-16 victory over Down at Clones.
Down led 0-3 to 0-1 early on and the sides were still level at 0-4 to 0-4 when the Mournemen butchered a goal chance in the 17th minute as John McGeough’s pass was too high for Patrick McCarthy to palm into the net.
The Ulster champions didn’t make the same mistake three minutes later as Michael Langan calmly set up Patrick McBrearty to find an unguarded net after a huge Shaun Patton kickout had flown all the way to Oisin Gallen.
The goal put Donegal 1-5 to 0-4 up and Jim McGuinness’ side went on to outscore Down 0-7 to 0-3 during the remainder of the first period as they led 1-12 to 0-7 at the interval.
Down forward McGeough was also involved in a first-half controversy after appearing to stamp on Donegal centre half-back Stephen McMenamin early on although the incident was missed by the match officials despite Ciaran Thompson’s vigorous protests.
Leads bigger than eight points have been reeled in since the introduction of the new rules but few were betting on a Down comeback in the second half.
After trailing by nine after 44 minutes, Down trimmed Donegal’s advantage to five with six minutes remaining as Pat Havern nailed a two-pointer.
However, the Mournemen’s last real chance to get back in the contest had been squandered four minutes earlier when substitute Shay Millar failed to find the net from pointblank range after he had intercepted a Patton kickout, with the Donegal keeper redeeming himself to block the shot.
More to follow.
Down: R Burns; P McCarthy, P Fegan, C Doherty; R Magill, P Laverty, M Rooney; D Guinness, R McEvoy; D Magill, O Murdock (capt), E Branagan; J Guinness, P Havern, J McGeough.
Subs: J O’Hare, R McCormack, A McClements, D Scullion, S Millar, A Crimmins, F McElroy, C Mooney, G McKibben, P Brooks, C McCrickard.
Donegal: S Patton; F Roarty, B McCole, P Mogan; R McHugh, S McMenamin, C Moore; O Gallen, C Thompson; D O Baoill, C Thompson, S O’Donnell; P McBrearty (capt), M Murphy, C O’Donnell.
Subs: G Mulreaney, C McColgan, O McFadden Ferry, O Doherty, A Doherty, E McHugh, J MacCeallabhui, J Brennan, N O’Donnell, H McFadden, J McGee.
Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan)
