Johnny McGroddy’s late free snatches dramatic win for Downings in Buncrana thriller

A dramatic late free from Johnny McGroddy - and a kind bounce of the ball - handed Downings a thrilling 1-15 to 1-14 win over Buncrana in Division 1 of the Brian McCormick Sports All-County League on Sunday, as the visitors claimed back-to-back victories for the first time this season.

In a gripping contest that swung back and forth, it was McGroddy’s high-stakes free in the final moments that sealed the points.

The forward’s two-point effort from distance looked speculative at best as it hung in the wind, but the bounce of the ball favoured the visitors. With Buncrana failing to touch it, the ball hopped over the bar and referee Anthony Finn awarded the two points.

“That free was pulled forward for a breach,” McGroddy explained. “Luckily enough, it bounced over the bar.
“I’ll take it, but it wasn’t a nice way to lose for Buncrana.”

The decisive free came after Buncrana were punished for not handing the ball to the opposition after conceding a free and the kick was advanced by 50 metres, putting it within two-point scoring range under the new rules.

“We got punished for a breach too, after having a man sent off, we were a bit slow to get it sorted and got caught out,” McGroddy said. “They’re big around the middle and got a good press on us.
“It was tough and hard to get out. In fairness, even with a man down, I thought our boys did well with their movement off the kickouts to win a few of them.”

Downings had started brightly, racing into a 0-9 to 0-2 lead with two two-pointers from Patrick McElwee and another from Shane Coll. They might have had even more to show for their efforts but were wasteful in front of the posts. Buncrana seized the opportunity, with Darach O’Connor and Ryan Bradley combining for a goal and two points in the closing stages of the first half. The sides went into the cool shade of the dressing rooms with Downings just two ahead, 0-9 to 1-4.

“We were seven up, and probably could’ve been further ahead, and they come back with a goal,” McGroddy admitted. “Maybe we should have recycled some of those shots we took, and we only went in the two ahead at half time.”

A quickfire goal from Conor Boyce after the restart re-established Downings’ lead, but Buncrana - led by O’Connor, John Campbell and with Peter McLaughlin putting his stamp on midfield - fought back superbly. When Allen Pasoma was sent off with ten minutes to play, the hosts took full advantage. Campbell’s free after a Downings ‘three-up’ infraction looked like it might seal the win.

But there was one final twist and Downings kept their heads and rode their luck.

“Back-to-back in Division 1 is hard to do and that’s a massive result for us,” McGroddy said. “You want to be looking up the table and not down.
“We’ve a home game now next weekend, so we’re going to try to keep going. I think we have a few weeks off after it. But we’re going to try to keep pushing on.”

For Buncrana, it was a bitter pill to swallow.

Gary Duffy’s side looked to have done enough to win it, particularly after going a point ahead in injury time, but the application of football’s new rules proved costly: to let the ball bounce over the bar for a draw would have been bad enough, but to lose having let it bounce over for two was horrid.

Downings, though, march on. Their Division 1 campaign gathering momentum, with belief, resilience and a little help from the bounce of the ball.