Termon produce impressive Donegal IFC win over Downings

Termon went two from two in the Donegal IFC with an impressive victory over Downings at the Burn Road.

Termon 2-8 Downings 1-3

Caolan McDaid’s team followed up their victory at Naomh Bríd with a success against the 2021 Junior A champions in a manner more comfortable than many might’ve predicted.

Downings have made perhaps the largest strides of any club in the county over the last few years, but they had an evening to forget and never really got going.

A large reason for that was a disciplined performance from Termon, holding a strong shape at the back and they proved to be much more effective up front. Daire McDaid scored both their goals in the first half, following which they led 2-6 to 1-2.

Termon were 1-2 to 0-0 in front by the 10-minute mark, with the impressive Cian McMenamin opening the scoring with the first of his two points before a clockwork eighth minute goal in which his raking ball in was laid off by McElwaine to McDaid, who drive home. Anthony Black followed that up with a point.

Downings got going thanks to a long-range Ronan Doherty free on 15 minutes, although further Termon points from McMenamin and then Ricky Gallagher meant it was 1-4 to 0-1 on 20 minutes.

However, Downings grabbed a 24th minute goal when Ethan Cullen batted in a free from Johnny McGroddy, although Termon produced a goal within seconds. Ryan McFadden was fouled on the run and McDaid drove the penalty past Aaron McClafferty.

Points from Bobby McGettigan and then Steve McElwaine ensured Termon’s interval lead was a healthy one of seven points.

After the break, conditions worsened and Paddy McElwee and a free from Dáire McDaid were the only scores in a tough third quarter. That left Termon 2-7 to 1-2 ahead. Lorcan Connor scored his first of the evening on 46 minutes and there was no score until the first minute or injury time when McDaid stuck over a simple free to rubber-stamp a good evening at the office for Termon.

Termon scorers: Daire McDaid 2-2, 1-0 pen, 2f; Cian McMenamin 0-2; Anthony Black, Ricky Gallagher, Bobby McGettigan, Steve McElwaine 0-1.
Downings scorers: Ethan Cullen 1-0; Paddy McElwee 0-1; Ronan Doherty and Lorcan Connor 0-1,1f.

Termon: Darragh Russell; Caolan Gallagher, Cormac Gallagher, Jamie Grant; Ricky Gallagher, Connor Cassidy, Evan Coleman; Jack Alcorn, Ryan McFadden, Aaron Reid. Bobby McGettigan, Cian McMenamin; Anthony Grant, Daire McDaid, Steve McElwaine. Subs: Nathan McElwaine and Patrick Fegan for Reid and Coleman (53), Kevin McGettigan for B McGettigan (60+1).
Downings: Aaron McClafferty; Max Davis, Ben McNutt, Kevin Doherty; Sean McBride, Ronan Doherty, Keelan McGroddy; Padraig McGinty, Oisin Boyce; Conor Boyce, Johnny McGroddy, Ethan Cullen; Paddy McElwee, Lorcan Connor, Ronan Pasoma. Subs: Ross Cullen and Hugo Davis for McGinty and M Davis (half-time).
Referee: Kevin McGinley (Naomh Columba).