Downings given home advantage for All-Ireland Junior semi-final against Kilcock

Downings' ladies will have home advantage this Saturday when they welcome Kilcock to Donegal for their All-Ireland Junior semi-final this weekend (throw-in at 1pm). 

Downings made history over a week ago when they won the LGFA Ulster Junior Championship in a very close Ulster final against Warrenpoint of Co Down in Kildress. 

It took extra time to decide the issue with just one point scored in the two periods added on, and Shannon McGroddy, not for the first time, was the Downings hero, hitting what proved to be the winner early in the first period in what finished on a 1-7 to 1-6 scoreline. 

Overall, it was a gritty performance from the Downings team on the day and apart from McGroddy, the Treartys, Chloe Hay, Caoimhe McLaughlin, and Lauren McBride were all to the fore. Denise Doherty also proved her worth once more when she came up with the vital goal early in the second half. 

In doing so, Downings became the first Donegal winners of the Ulster Junior Championship after Dungloe and Naomh Muire went close in the past. 

For Kilcock, their star player Grace White kicked six points at Coralstown/Kinnegad GAA two weeks ago as her side produced a strong second-half performance to secure the AIB Leinster LGFA Junior Championship title at the expense of Baile Dubh Tire on a 0-15 to 1-9 scoreline. 

Despite being inseparable at the midway stage in the action, the Kildare champions outscored their Wexford opponents 0-11 to 1-5 on the restart to claim the silverware on offer.