Downings just about do enough to hold off  St Michael's 

Downings withstood an almighty St Michael’s comeback to pull off a late win at the end of this highly competitive encounter at Pairc Na Dunaibh, on Saturday night.  

After dominating the first half and leading by nine points at half-time it took a late Shane Boyce goal to turn the tide for the locals against a resurgent  St Michael's.

The men from the Bridge had stormed back into the game in the second period to draw level with ten minutes of normal time remaining.

Level at 1-8 each, the game was in the melting pot and the momentum was with St Michaels.

And the sides were still on a par with the clock ticking onto the hour mark when a Ben McNutt delivery into the St Michael’s goalmouth broke to Boyce who slammed to the back of Mark Anthony McGinley’s net.

Downings were now back in front, 2-8 to 1-8, with 59 minutes on the clock and the locals’ first score of the second period. 

Edward O’Reilly, who had troubled the Downings defence throughout, did pull a point back for St Michael’s.

But Kyle McGarvey and Ronan Gallagher closed out the game deep in injury time for a third win of the league for Downings and a first win over St Michael’s in 30 years.  

In the proverbial game of two halves Downings, with Paidin Shiels, Tiernan McBride, Shane Coll, Oisin Boyce, Johnny and Keelan McGroddy and Paddy McElwee leading the charge, they deservedly led 1-8 to 0-2 at half-time. 

St Michael’s - with Martin McElhinney, Michael McGinley,  Edward and Carlos O’Reilly and Christopher McElhinney making their mark - dominated the second period right up to the closing minutes. 

And they no doubt departed Downings wondering how they let the game slip away and did not at least take a share of the points back to the Bridge.

Downings scorers: Paddy McElwee 1-3; Johnny McGroddy 0-4, 3f; Shane Boyce 1-0, Shane Coll, Max Davis, Ronan Gallagher 0-1 each.

St Michael’s scorers: Christopher McElhinney 1-1; Michael McGinley 0-4, 4f; Edward O’Reilly 0-3; Carlos O’Reilly, Max Roarty 0-1 each. 

Downings; Aaron McClafferty; Paidín Shiels, Ben McNutt, Fallon Buckley McBride; Padraig McGinty,Tiernan McBride, Shane Coll; Oisin Boyce, Ethan Cullen;  Kyle McFadden, Conor Boyce, Ronan Pasoma; Keelan McGroddy, Johnny McGroddy, Paddy McElwee.

Subs: Kevin Doherty for O’Boyce (41, inj); Shane Boyce for K McFadden (45), Ronan Gallagher for S Coll (53), Dean McBride for T McBride (54), Gary McClafferty for P McElwee (60, inj). 

St Michael’s: Mark Anthony McGinley; Paddy McGinley, Liam Paul Ferry, Jamie Hunter; Max Roarty, Ciaran Kelly, Chris McElhinney; Kyle McGarvey, Colin McFadden; Paul Johnson, Michael McGinley, Edward O’Reilly; Andrew Kelly, Martin McElhinney, Andrew Kelly.

Subs: Stephen Doak for P Johnson (36), Paul Johnson for M Roarty (51).

Referee: Pat Barrett (Milford).