Downings finish strong to sneak past Gaeil Fhanada in close IFC encounter

Downings got their championship campaign back on track with a hard-fought win over neighbours Gaeil Fhanada, in Pairc Na Dunaibh, on Sunday. 

Downings 1-13 Gaeil Fhanada 0-13 

In a close and evenly contested encounter Lorcan Connor, with six points and Johnny McGroddy with five points, did the bulk of the scoring for the locals. 

Liam McGreneghan and Seamie Friel were the shining lights in the Gaeil Fhanda attack and between them posted ten of their team's points. 

Ronan Gallagher, from the penalty spot, scored the Downings goal four minutes into the game after Gaeil Fhanada had registered the game’s opening two points.

Gallagher’s strike helped his side to a 1-4 to 0-6 half-time lead and there was little between the teams for the remainder of the tie. 

Gaeil Fhanada produced a late burst and the momentum seemed to be with them when they tied the game with three minutes of normal time remaining.

But the locals responded when looking down the barrel of defeat for the second week in a row and hit the last three points of the game with Connor landing two and McGroddy one to edge it. 

Downings scorers:  Lorcan Connor 0-62f, Ronan Gallagher 1-1, 1-0 pen, Johnny McGroddy 0-5,2f, Keelan McGroddy 0-1. 

Gaeil Fhanada: Liam McGreneghan 0-6, Seamie Friel 0-4, Eoghan Logue, James Kerr, Fergal Friel 0-1 each. 

Downings: Aaron McClafferty; Hugo  Davis, Ben McNutt, Dean McBride; Keelan McGroddy, Ronan Gallagher,  Padraig McGinty;  Oisin Boyce, Ronan Pasoma;  Ethan Cullen, Lorcan Connor, Conor Boyce; Kevin Doherty, Johnny McGroddy, Paddy McElwee. 

Subs; Shane Boyce and Max Davis for R Pasoma, Kevin Doherty (51), Ben McBride for  E Cullen (57).  

Gaeil Fhanada: Mark McConigley; Shaun Carr, Jimmy Coyle, Oisin McFadden; Callum McAteer, Odhran Shields, Brandon McClafferty; Oisin Shields, Paddy Carr;  Liam McGreneghan, Seamie Friel, Eoghan Logue;  James Kerr, Fergal Friel, Darren McElwaine.

Subs: Mark McAteer for F Friel, Eoghan Carr for B McClafferty, Paddy Heraughty for Oisin  Shields, Sean Carr for J Kerr.