Downings do the necessary against Red Hughs to progress to IFC last eight

Downings won at home for the second time in four days and that’s exactly what they required to seal their progression to the quarter-finals of the Donegal IFC.

Downings 1-14
Red Hughs 0-10

Following an opening day defeat in Buncrana, the Division 2 champions knew they had little margin for error when the in-form Naomh Columba rolled in on Sunday. But despite losing Patrick McElwee to an early red card, Kevin ‘Cookie’ Gallagher’s side were comprehensive winners on a 1-15 to 0-9 scoreline.

Red Hughs were in a similar predicament to Downings with two from two ahead of the rearranged fixture having gone down at the Scarvey on Sunday last, this following a win at home to Naomh Bríd.

John McGroddy and Lorcan Connor kicked 10 points between them and Conor Boyce’s goal set Downings on their way against a Red Hughs side who had seven points from Jack Gillespie.

A third minute goal from Conor Boyce pierced right through Red Hughs to put the hosts four to the good. Johnny McGroddy intercepted a ball at midfield and Downings broke with the willing Keelan McGroddy playing a give-and-go with Lorcan Connor before laying off to Boyce, who opened his body up coming in from the left to slot past Luke Kelly.

Either side of that, Johnny and Keelan McGroddy posted scores so five minutes in, Downings were 1-2 to 0-0 in front. Francie Martin’s team took a bit to settle but when they did get going with three points in succession - two from Calvin Bradley and Gillespie’s first of the game.

But it was Downings who saw out the half from there, kicking four in succession to lead 1-6 to 0-4 by the time Gillespie had notched his second. Johnny McGroddy hit three of those - one a wonderful curling effort - and Lorcan Connor also got in on the act.

Both teams entered the rearranged fixture with two points apiece, knowing a win would save them from the complexities of needing to pick up a result on Saturday night when the curtain comes down on the group stages.

Downings hit four wides to start the second half at a time when Gillespie continued to show his accuracy. Two more from the wing-back took Red Hughs' deficit back to three and the home support were relieved to see Ross Cullen make a fantastic block at the feet of Ryan Kelly as he drove for goal.

A point from Keelan McGroddy started a Downings sequence of six-in-a-row, with Cormac McGettigan and Martin McBride all getting in on the act, with Connor driving the bus.

Downings were 1-13 to 0-8 by the time they lost Kevin Doherty to a black card on 50 minutes. For Red Hughs, Jack Bradley got on the end of a Kelly pass and under pressure, his pop at goal went just over the crossbar. Bradley then had half a chance when the ball bounced up and, on the run, opted to swing a leg at it and wide it went at the Rosapenna side.

The victory means Downings - ahead of their trip to Naomh Bríd on Saturday - are now in the last eight, while Red Hughs know a derby win over St Mary’ s from Convoy will see them through as well.

Downings scorers: Lorcan Connor 0-5, 1m, 1f; Johnny McGroddy 0-5, 4f; Conor Boyce 1-0; Keelan McGroddy 0-2; Martin McBride 0-1; Cormac McGettigan 0-1;

Red Hughs scorers: Jack Gillespie 0-7, 6f; Calvin Bradley 0-2; Jack Bradley 0-1.

Downings: Aaron McClafferty; Ross Cullen, Ben McNutt, Max Davis; Keelan McGroddy, Kevin Doherty, James Lee McBride; Oisin Boyce, Shane Boyce; Martin McBride, Johnny McGroddy, Cormac McGettigan; Conor Boyce, Lorcan Connor, Kyle McFadden. Subs: Danny McBride for McFadden (52), Gary Ban McClafferty for M McBride (57), Eric Roberts Paul McGroddy for J McGroddy and McNutt (60+1)

Red Hughs: Luke Kelly; Shane Gallagher, Thomas McMenamin, Jason Gallagheran; Jack Gillespie, James Doehrty, Aaron McGlinchey; Darragh McMenamin, Peadar McGlinchey; Ryan Kelly, Damien Browne, Tiernan Kelly; Jack Bradley, Calvin Bradley, Pauric McMenamin. Subs: Odhran Doherty and Tim Callaghan for Kelly and D McMenamin (half-time); Denim Rowan for P McGlinchey (33), James Gallagher for R Kelly (41)

Referee: Martin Coll (Gaoth Dobhair)