DOWNINGS MANAGER Andy Connor wants his team to go where none from the club has gone previously in tomorrow’s Ulster Junior semi-final against Blackhill.
Downings go head-to-head with the Monaghan side at Owenbeg tomorrow (2.30pm) with a place in the final the carrot that dangles before them.
This year, already, Downings have won the Donegal Gaeltacht and All-Ireland Gaeltacht title as well as the Donegal Junior Championship.
A 35-year gap was bridged in June when Downings overcame Rinn Mhaoile to win the All-Ireland Gaeltacht crown in Cork.
[adrotate group=”53″]It silenced some of the jibes, but tomorrow Connor would love to see his side throw back a shot in the pubs of Rossguill.
“If we could get into the pub now on Sunday evening and be able to say: ‘You never got to an Ulster final’ it would be even better,” he told Donegal Sport Hub.
Gary McClafferty is in line for a recall to the starting XV tomorrow. McClafferty came off the bench to inspire Downings to a win over Naomh Padraig, Muff in the Donegal JFC final.
[adrotate group=”46″]McClafferty hit the winning point in the 0-11 to 1-7 win before they got the better of Magilligan, 1-9 to 0-10, in the Ulster quarter-final.
Connor said: “If we could do this, it would eclipse everything else. All-Irelands are great, but people always downgrade the Gaeltacht competition. If we could do something in Ulster, where everyone competes, it would top it all.
“Winning the All-Ireland Gaeltacht was brilliant. We’ve had a big Gaeltacht tradition in the club. To get over the line in that and get the monkey off the back was great.
[adrotate group=”76″]“We want to be the first team from Downings to reach the Ulster final. We played in Ulster four years ago, but lost in the first round. We have a big chance now. Hopefully they can grasp it and take us to the next level.”
Listen to the full interview below …
https://soundcloud.com/donegalsporthub-club-notes/andy-conner-ahead-of-downings-ulster-semi-final
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