St Michael’s come from behind to beat Downings 

St Michael’s put in a big second-half performance to eventually see off a dogged Downings challenge on Saturday evening in Pairc Na Dunaibh. 

Downings 0-11 St Michael’s 1-11

One down at the break the men from the Bridge, after containing a strong first-half effort from the locals, really put the shoulder to the wheel after the changeover. 

With Daniel McLaughlin and Colin McFadden to the fore, Martin McElhinney scored the goal as the visitors outscored the locals 1-5 to 0-4 in the second period. 

McElhinney’s three-pointer was a super individual effort as he powered his way through from the half forward line to drill past a helpless Aaron McClafferty in the Downing goals.

That was on 45 minutes and just after Oisin Boyce kicked Downing’s first point of the second half. 

Boyce’s point tied up the game after McFadden and player/manager McLaughlin had kicked St Michael’s two opening points of the second period as they came from 0-6 to 0-7 down at half-time.  

Playing a fast attacking brand of football and with Keelan McGroddy, Oisin Boyce, Kevin Doherty and Lorcan Connor all making their mark, Downings were good value for their one point half-time lead. 

McLaughlin, McFadden and Hugh O’ Donnell scored the Michael’s first half points as the sides were level four times in the opening 30 plus minutes.

But the goal opened up a three-point lead between the teams for the first time. And while Paddy McElwee, with a peach of a point pulled one back for the locals Colin McFadden, who had a huge game in the second period, responded with with two powerful runs and points to take the lead out to four points, 1-10 to 0-9, with just over five minutes of normal time remaining. 

Downings piled on the pressure in the closing moments but a combination of a well marshalled and packed defence and poor decision making and shot selection restricted their return to two late points.

St Michael’s held on and Conan Brennan on the break brought the curtain down with a late white flag for the victors. 

Downings scorers: Lorcan 0-4,1f; Keelan McGroddy 0-2; Jamie Lee McBride; Danny McBride; Kevin Doherty; Paddy McElwee; Oisin Boyce 0-1 each.

St Michael’ scorers: Colin McFadden 0-5; Daniel McLaughlin 0-4, 2f; Martin McElhinney 1-0; Hugh O’Donnell; Conan Brennan  0-1.  

Downings: Aaron McClafferty; Max Davis, Ben McNutt, Ross Cullen; Keelan McGroddy, Ronan Gallagher, Jamie Lee McBride; Shane Boyce, Oisin Boyce; Paul McGroddy, Danny McBride, Ronan Pasoma; Kevin Doherty, Lorcan Connor, Paddy McElwee.

Subs: Dean McBride for J L McBride (ht).  

St Michael’s: Mark Anthony McGinley; Jamie Hunter, Liam Paul Ferry, Christopher McElhinney; Hugh O’Donnell, Stephen Doak, Kyle McGarvey; Conan Brennan, Colin McFadden; Daniel McLaughlin, Martin McElhinney, Eoghan Kelly; Antoin McFadden, Packie O’Neill, Max Roarty.

Subs: Paul Johnston for M Roarty (58).

Referee: Robbie O’Donnell (Naomh Muire, Lower Rosses)