Donegal minors bow out of Ulster Minor League to Down at semi-final stage

Donegal bowed out of the Ulster Minor League when they went down by a point to Down in the semi-final in Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon.

A Down goal just a minute from half-time was the vital score of the game. It was  a big score against the wind for the visitors.

Donegal took some time to settle but it looked good when they led by eight points with half-time approaching. 

The Barry-Ward managed side relied almost entirely on Four Masters players the Carr brothers Turlough and Tomás and Conor McCahill for their scores with one point coming from Eoghan Gallagher of Naomh Brid.

Donegal had the benefit of the gale force wind in the opening half and found it tough for the opening quarter to take full advantage.

Tomás Carr got them on the board from a 50m free on two minutes and they did have a goal chance two minutes later but Kalvin McLoughlin’s pass across the goal was intercepted with two Donegal players waiting.

Conor McCahill doubled the Donegal lead on eight minutes but there was just a point in it on 14 minutes when Darragh Poland punished when Donegal turned the ball over in their own defence. It came about because a free from Barra McEvoy didn’t reach the target from 20m.

Donegal then found their feet with 1-2 in three minutes. Conor McCahill pointed a free and after a great break and pass from Turlough Carr, Eoghan Gallagher added the fourth point.

On 18 minutes Eoghan Gallagher found Colm Ó Dochartaigh going through the middle and he was pulled down for a penalty. Conor McCahill stepped up to find the net.

Two more frees from  Turlough Carr pushed Donegal  1-6 to 0-1 clear and the second free probably should have been a second penalty when Tomás Carr was upended close to goal.

But Donegal were rocked on 30 minutes when Barra McEvoy got through to squeeze home a goal just at the post for Down.

Turlough Carr completed the first half scoring with his third point from close to the sideline in the final play of the half.

Half-time: Donegal 1-7, Down 1-1

Donegal had two chances from frees early in the second half but were off target and Down began to find the range. Points from Darragh Poland, Conor Ward, Mark Guest and Charlie McGrath had the lead back to two points by the 44th minute.

They also missed three frees in-a-row in this period.

Then on 47 minutes they were awarded a soft penalty and Darragh Poland put Down ahead for the first time, 2-5 to 1-7.

Lewis McCaughan made a great save to deny Down a goal on 55 minutes when Conor Ward was through on goal.

Despite the fact that Down did not score again until four minutes from time, they were able to hang on. Donegal tried to make a goal but all they could manage for the half was a late Conor McCahill free. It didn’t help that they played the last 10 minutes of the game without Alex Cunnea due to a black card.

Donegal scorers: Conor McCahill 1-2,pen,1f;  Turlough Carr 0-3,3f; Tomás  Carr (f), Eoghan Gallagher 0-1 each.

Down scorers: Darragh Poland 1-2,1-0 pen; Barra McEvoy 1-0;  Lorcan Lynch, Conor Ward, Mark Guest, Charlie McGrath 0-1 each.

Donegal: Lewis McCaughan; Elliott Friel,  Jordi Gribbin, Cathal McGee; Turlough Carr, Pauric Devine, Cathal Gallagher; Kalvin McLoughlin, Sean O’Carroll; Eoghan Gallagher, Tomás Carr, Eoghan Bán McNelis; Colm Ó Dochartaigh, Paddy Ward, Conor McCahill.

Subs: Alex Cunnea for McNelis (36); Seaghan McCormick for Devine (45); Dallan O Baoill for O’Carroll (45); Donnachadh O Baoighill for Ward (55); Cillian Doyle for E Gallagher (59)

Down: Callum Travers; Shane McParland, Oisin  Murphy, Lorcan Lynch; Cormac Small, Paul McGovern, Liam Blaney; James O’Hanlon, Lorcan Murray; Conor Ward, Darragh Poland, Mark Guest; Adam McCann-Gibbs, Barra McEvoy, Charlie McGrath.

Subs: Aaron McClelland for P McGovern (19); 

Referee: Thomas Devlin (Derry)

Footnote: A new rule introduced at midnight on Friday night which allows a referee to ask a player seeking medical attention to go to sideline and stay there until a break in play caused much confusion (and is likely to also going forward). Down corner-back Shane McParland came back on without permission and received a yellow card while a Donegal player was forced to stay on the line at a crucial stage in the second half, even though there had been a break in play.