Down left to rue wasted goal chances in semi exit

Down left to rue wasted goal chances in semi exit

30 April 2025

A SPIRITED fight was not enough for Down as they missed out on a place in the Ulster Senior Football Championship final to a powerful Donegal side at St Tiernach’s Park, Clones.

Down went toe-to-toe with the reigning Ulster champions in the early exchanges, but they were left to regret John McGeough’s wasted goal chance when Donegal showed them how it is done.

Patrick McBrearty met Michael Langan’s perfectly weighted pass to find the net and from there, the first half was comfortable for the Division 1 team.

The Mourne Men looked down on their luck after conceding the opening major and Donegal showed no mercy, building an eight-point margin at the half-way point.

Down threatened to stage what felt like any unlikely comeback, just as they had done against Fermanagh in the quarter-final, and they should have moved to within touching distance when Shay Millar was denied by goalkeeper Shaun Patton.

Pat Havern managed to cut the deficit to two in the dying embers, producing the score of the match with a phenomenal two-pointer, but Patton’s 45 put paid to Down’s efforts and took Donegal to within one step from defending their crown.

Many had Down written off before the two sides even took to the pitch, but it was worth remembering that they pushed All-Ireland champions Armagh all the way in last year’s provincial semi.

They showed why they should not be overlooked straight from throw-in, hitting the first score of the match with a Eugene Branagan point, and although their opponents quickly responded, Havern (free) and Miceal Rooney gave the men in red and black a two-point lead.

Donegal hit three unanswered points to get their noses in front, before Danny Magill levelled with his first score of the day.

Down really should have mood into the ascendancy when the most delightful of passes from Branagan split the defence and presented McGeough with a goal-scoring opportunity.

McGeough could have rifled into the net, but he decided to look for Paddy McCarthy and overcooked his pass, causing the golden opportunity to end in disappointment.

That gave the Hills the impetus they needed to make the game their own and after veteran Michael Murphy restored their lead, Oisin Gallen’s pass allowed Langan to fist to the back post, where McBrearty was waiting to palm home at the back post.

The two teams soon exchanged points once again, before Donegal moved through the gears ti establish a nine-point buffer.

Havern had the last say in the first half and despite clipping over a fine score from just inside the arc, his side trailed 1-12 to 0-7 at half-time.

While Donegal got the first half scoring underway through Conor O’Donnell, after just 18 seconds, Down found a purple patch to hit three points without reply, thanks to a two-point free from Havern and Branagan’s second score of the game.

However, they were stopped in their tracks when Dáire Ó Baoill, Ciaran Moore and McBrearty all converted in response.

Magill, Branagan and Daniel Guinness pulled Down to within six, but it felt as though it was only a matter of time until Donegal took it up a notch.

That is precisely what happened as Langan converted a superb two-point free to regain breathing room for the Forgotten County.

Havern added to his tally with a crucial score to keep his side in the contest, but they knew they were going to require goals if they were to maintain any hope.

Substitute Millar looked to have made the desired impact when he intercepted a poor kick-out from Patton and raced through on goal.

The ‘keeper closed the angle and instead of squaring to a teammate for a certain, vital goal, Millar opted to shoot, hitting the ground to signal his frustrations when Patton saved from point-blank range.

That mouthwatering chance going abegging felt like the end of the road for Down and although Havern hit a stunning two-pointer, Patton’s successful 45 attempt settled their fate.

Down: R Burns, P McCarthy, P Fegan, Ceilum Doherty, R Magill, P Laverty, M Rooney, D Guinness, R McEvoy, D Magill, O Murdock, E Branagan, J Guinness, P Havern, J McGeough.

Subs: C Mooney, S Millar, F McElroy, C McCrickard, A Crimmins.

Donegal: S Patton, F Roarty, B McCole, P Morgan, R McHugh, S McMenamin, C Moore, C Thompson, M Langan, D Ó Baoill, O Gallen, S O’Donnell, P McBrearty, M Murphy, C O’Donnell.

Subs: J Brennan, J McGee, O McFadden-Ferry, N O’Donnell, A Doherty.