Demoralised Down in horror show at Clones

13 June 2018

THE small trickle of despondent Down supporters who headed for the exit gates during the half-time breaks quickly turned into a mass exodus midway through the second half.

There is no question Down suffered a chastening defeat at St Tiernach’s Park when they were roasted by a re-energised Donegal outfit that dominated from the outset and never relinquished their grip on the game — but hope spring eternal and it’s now the All-Ireland Qualifiers and a trip to Cavan on June 23.

The writing was on the wall for Down when a highly motivated Donegal stormed into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead after 13 minutes. Even the dismissal of Neil McGee in the 15th minute failed to disrupt Declan Bonner’s side.

The fact that it took Down a full 25 minutes to register their first score — a point from Caolan Mooney — said it all. Donegal had built up a commanding 1-12 to 0-7 lead at the break and the game was as good as over.

There was no way back for a disappointing Down and Donegal rubbed salt into their wounds when they played the last 15 minutes on half power.

A free-scoring Donegal bombed into a clear lead with points from Paul Brennan, the outstanding Michael Murphy, Paddy McBrearty and Caolan Ward.

It was at this stage that Donegal went down to 14 men when McGee was given a straight red for a challenge on Connaire Harrison, a battle royal that started the second the ball was thrown in.

Further points from Murphy and McBrearty edged Donegal further ahead as Down struggled to get a foothold in the game.

Down’s defensive frailties were there for all to see and the classy Murphy, who was head and shoulders above everyone else on the park, exposed them yet again in the 20th minute to make it 0-7 to 0-0. Things were to get much worse for Down’s creaking defence.

With 22 minutes gone a Ciaran Thompson effort came back off a post and the willing Leo McLoone blasted to the net.

The enigmatic Ryan McHugh handed Donegal a 1-8 to 0-0 lead before Mooney picked up Down’s first score in the 25th minute.

Down staged a bit of a revival and two points from the willing Harrison and one from Donal O’Hare gave the Mourne men a bit of a respite.

O’Hare and McHugh exchanged scores as did Harrison and Brennan before Maginn gave Down something to shout about with his side’s seventh point.

Donegal hadn’t finished and Thompson sent Donegal into the break with a 1-12 to 0-7 lead.

The second half started with Donegal ramming home their superiority and a Murphy effort was followed by two McBrearty scores.

Donegal continued to inflict pain on Down and with 45 minutes gone a mean Murphy, Thompson and McHugh dovetailed perfectly for Jamie Brennan to score into an empty net.

O’Hare and Harrison, Down’s two best performers on the day, kept the scoreboard ticking over, Donegal were scything their way through the Down defence with consummate ease and they missed a third goal chance with McBrearty out of luck and Stephen McMenamin palmed over the bar with an open net in front of him.

Down did manage a goal of their own deep in injury time through Niall Donnelly, but it was scant consolation for a well beaten Mourne side.

Down: M Reid, C Flanagan, B McArdle, A Doherty, D O’Hagan, N McParland, C Mooney (0-1), P Turley, N Donnelly (1-1), K McKernan, C Maginn (0-2), S Millar, D O’Hare (0-4, 3f), C Harrison (0-4) R Millar. Subs: R Johnston for R Millar (black card), R Wells for McParland, S Dornan for S Millar (black card), C Poland for Doherty, D McKibben for Turley (54), J Flynn for McKibben (black card)

Donegal: S Patton, P McGrath, N McGee, E Gallagher, C Ward (0-1), P Brennan (0-2), R McHugh (0-2), H McFadden, L McLoone (1-0), C Thompson (0-1), M Langan, F McGlynn, P McBrearty (0-6, 3f), M Murphy (0-5, 3f), J Brennan (1-3). Subs: D O Baoill for Langan, O MacNiallais for McLoone, C Mulligan for Thompson, S McMenamin (0-1) for Gallagher, M McHugh (0-1) for McGlynn (57), E Doherty for P Brennan

Donegal 2-22

Down 1-12

ULSTER SFC SEMI-FINAL

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