Downings net six goals to ease their way to the Donegal Junior championship

Downings cruised to the Donegal Junior championship, slotting six goals past Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin to ease their way to a 21-point victory. 

It was Downings’ day from the get-go with Brian Curran and Dominic McGroddy’s side leading 2-7 to 0-4 at the break against a young Inishowen side who were no match for the ladies in green and gold on a windy day in O’Donnell Park.

And it only got better as they hit home four more goals in the final 30 minutes to cruise to a deserved win against a young Naomh Padraig side.

Downings started the stronger of the two sides hitting 1-2 to Naomh Padraig’s 0-1 in the opening five minutes, with Shannon McGroddy firing to the net after winning the ball in full-forward, finding space in front of her, and charging through the Naomh Padraig backline to raise a green flag. 

Aoibhinn O’Connell and Lauren McBride would kick two points over for Downings, while Rhiana McColgan pointed for the Naomh Padraig side in response. 

But Downings found their groove very early on, putting their stamp on the game. Julie Trearty fired over for her side before Denise Doherty got Downings' second goal minutes later after Amy McLaughlin won a ball under the O’Donnell Park stand, sprinted down the field, and squared the ball to Doherty who rounded the goalkeeper and blasted home. 

With the scoreline standing at 2-3 to 0-1 point, the game had yet to spark into light, with Downings much more composed and in control with both sides hitting a number of wides from scoreable positions. 

Both teams would trade points entering into the final five minutes of the match, with Sinead McBride and Doherty pointing for Downings, while McColgan and Eilish Havlin raised white flags for Naomh Padraig. 

Both sides had an opportunity of a goal at the end of the half, first Downings’ Mary T Boyce hit the post resulting in Lauren McBride settling for a point, which was followed by Naomh Padraig’s Ava Walsh powering through the Downings defense and playing it to an unmarked Rhiana McColgan but her effort was kicked wide. 

Julie Treaty and Grace McColgan would land a point apiece to bring the half to a close with Downings leading 2-7 to 0-4 at the break. 

It would only get better for Downings who opened the second half with their third goal when Lauren McBride drove through the Naomh Padraig defense, played it to McGroddy who slotted it for her second of the afternoon. 

A fourth goal would follow minutes later when Doherty would punish the Naomh Padraig defense, creating space for her in-running teammates, leaving her unmarked to finish into the net. 

Further points would follow for Downings, with Sinead McBride and McGroddy finding space for themselves to kick over, while Grace McColgan found the opening point of the half for the Naomh Padraig ladies on 43 minutes before Rhiana McColgan kicked her third of the day to make it a 16-point match. 

But Downings did not stop their march for goals, with Caoimhe McLaughlin first lobbing goalkeeper Catriona Grant for a fifth goal before an intercepted kickout from McBride allowed her to kick into an empty net for a sixth goal making it a 23-point game. 

Ava Walsh would hit three points on the bounce for Naomh Padraig but it was not enough as Downings romped to the Donegal Junior championship. 

Downings scorers: Shannon McGroddy 2-3; Denise Doherty 2-2; Lauren McBride 1-2; Caoimhe Mclaughlin 1-0; Sinead McBride and Julie Trearty 0-2 each; Aoibhinn O’Connell 0-1 each. 
Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin scorers: Ava Walsh and Rhiana McColgan 0-3 each; Grace McColgan 0-2, 1f; Eilish Havlin 0-1.  

Downings: Charlie Shelvin; Jessica Roberts, Chloe Hay, Maggie Doherty; Meabh O’Connell, Nadine Gallacher, Michelle Wilkin; Julie Trearty, Aoibhinn O’Connell; Amy McLaughlin, Maty T Boyce, Sinead McBride, Denise Doherty, Shannon McGroddy, Lauren McBride. Subs: Caoimhe McLaughlin for Boyce (36); Aine O’Connell for Meabh O’Connell (46); Aobha Pasoma for Gallacher (51); Caoimhe Coyle for Amy McLaughlin (54); Danni Shelvin for Doherty (55); Aoife McMullan for Lauren McBride, Keirra Cairns for Wilkin, and Katie McGroddy for Sinead McBride (all 56); Eve Kelly and Kaycie Gallagher for Maggie Doherty and Shannon McGroddy (both 58); Emer Trearty for Roberts and Mary Bridget McGeever for Shevlin (both 59). 

Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin: Catriona Grant; Aine Breslin, Emer McFadden, Leah Henry; Mariah McColgan, Aisling McLaughlin, Mia Kelly; Rhiana McColgan, Eilish Havlin; Chloe Costello, Grace McColgan, Caitlin Doherty; Niamh Harkin, Ava Walsh, Corragh Canning. Subs: Molly Boyd for Kelly (13); Niamh Wallace for Caitlin Doherty (ht); Sadhbh Mullan for Canning (39); Clara Doherty for Costello (39); Emily Davenport for Henry (45); Cassie McColgan for McFadden (54).

Referee: Greg McGroary (Four Masters)