Gaoth Dobhair hang on to plunge Downings deeper into relegation bother

Gaoth Dobhair held on to take the league points in this Division One ACFL clash with Downings, in Páirc Na nDúnaibh, on Saturday evening.

Ethan Harkin scored an early goal to get Gaoth Dobhair off to a bright start to open a four-point lead.

Downings, courtesy of points from Johnny McGroddy, Allen Pasoma and Shane Coll, trimmed that lead back to three points at the halfway mark. The half-time score was Gaoth Dobhair 1-5, Downings 0-5.

Ronan Gallagher, with a point from the penalty spot, reduced the Gaoth Dobhair lead by two points ten minutes into the new half.

But Gaoth Dobhair were three up again, 1-9 to 0-9, with ten minutes remaining.And it was all aboard shortly after when Oisin Boyce rattled the back of the Gaoth Dobhair net to tie up the game with nine minutes of normal time still on the clock.

And Gaoth Dobhair closed out the game with three late points to Downings' two.

The defeat means Downings have been drawn into a three-way battle to avoid the dreaded third-from-bottom of the table relegation playoff.

Downings, with one game remaining, sit in ninth place in the league table, level on eight points with St Michael’s and one ahead of Kilcar, who are on seven points.

St Michael’s have a game in hand on both Downings and Kilcar. Downings’ last game is away to Kilcar, with a draw enough to avoid the dreaded playoff.

Downings scorers: Johnny McGroddy 0-5, Oisin Boyce 1-0, Paddy McElwee 0-2, Shane Coll, Allen Pasoma, Ronan Gallagher, Ronan Pasoma 0-1 each.

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Ethan Harkin 1-7, Aodhan Breathnach 0-2, Eoin De Burca, Fionan Coyle, Stephen "Donna" McFadden 0-1 each.

Downings: Jordan Nugent; Shea Coyle, Ben McNutt, Oisin Boyce; Conor Boyce, Ronan Gallagher, Ronan Pasoma; Ethan Cullen, Allen Pasoma; Shane Coll, Kyle McFadden, Dylan McGlone; Paddy McElwee, Alex Gerwatowski, Johnny McGroddy.

Subs: Gary Bán McClafferty, Paul McGroddy.

Gaoth Dobhair: Padraig McBride; Eamonn McBride, Gary McFadden, Aodan Breathnach; Ethan Harkin, Nessan McBride, Dallan Boyle; Adam McGeever; Shaun Doherty; Fionnan Coyle; Stephen "Donna" McFadden, Seaghan Ferry; Eoin De Burca, Odhran MacNiallais, Eamonn McGee.

Subs: Cathal Rua Gallagher for D. Boyle; Jordi Gribben for E. De Burca; Johnny O’Donnell for E. McBride.

Referee: Enda McFeely (St Mary’s, onvoy)