Down goal before half-time was a killer blow - Barry Ward

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

The cold gale was blowing straight down the field from the Rock Hospital end and it was obvious long before the start that it would be a game of two halves.

Donegal won the toss and were leading by 1-6 to 0-1 with the first half entering added time. Down would break up the field and full-forward Barra McEvoy got a shot away along the ground which crept into the Donegal net between ‘keeper and post.

It would prove to be the crucial score.

“It was a killer blow. I think everybody at the game would have noted that. We were in control of the game, we were dictating and playing well. It was a string of bad handpasses really and let them in for the goal and it gave them a huge boost going into the second half then,” said Donegal manager Barry Ward after the game.

“We were really in charge up to that point.”

Cathal Gallagher in action for Donegal minors against Down Picture: Evan Logan

While Donegal had the advantage of the cold wind, it took them some time to come to terms with it in the opening half.

“There was a huge gale there. In the first 10 minutes we left at least three points behind us. We just didn’t get out of the blocks as quick as we thought but the lads really settled well. And for the last 20 minutes of the first half we really controlled the game and ran at them and we were very happy with the performance. Just that goal at the very end blotted it really and gave Down the platform they needed for the second half as well.”

Donegal’s goal came from the penalty spot on 18 minutes when Colm Ó Dochartaigh was upended and Conor McCahill converted. Many in the ground felt they should have had a second penalty just two minutes from the break when Tomás Carr was taken out yards from goal but the referee consulted with his umpire before just awarding a free.

“I don’t know now. It looked to be blatantly inside, but look, we’ll look after ourselves and what we can control. We can’t control those things.”

The Donegal manager, despite the defeat, was happy with many things about the game, not least getting  a look at more players in his panel.

“We had three goals starting today who hadn’t played any football before. Look, the league is there to look at your panel. When the championship comes it’s thick and fast over three or four weekends. It’s trying to get that balance, you are trying to get a settled team, but you have to see what you have.

“Again we got to see five or six guys more today and that’s all positive for us.”

The focus now will be on the Ulster minor championship with the draw taking place on Tuesday night. The nine counties will be divided into groups A and B with five teams in Group A and four in Group B. Games will be week after week with Group B having a week off.

“The launch is on Tuesday night and we will go up to Armagh for that. Plenty to work on. We were well in the game today that we lost by a point. There’s a good foundation there to go now for the championship.”

Donegal relied very heavily on Conor McCahill and the Carr brothers for scores on Saturday but Ward feels others will have to step up.

“It’s a team team and you cannot expect everyone to be on their game every time. That’s the way it is, teams target players so the rest of the guys have to step up and create the space and be accurate. It’s not just about individuals.

“We will look at today and look at the video and go through it and we’ll be better the next day,” said Ward

The Ulster minor championship starts in two weeks’ time - Saturday April 7th. “There was a gap of a week in between but the Fermanagh-Cavan game being delayed wiped out that week.”