Host club Downings proved too strong for their Dublin opponents Na Gaeil Oga in the semi-final of the All Ireland Junior Gaeltacht Championship.
Downings 4-13 Na Gaeil Oga 2-10
Leading 3-3 to 1-5 at half-time they never looked in any danger as they added another 1-10 to their total in the second-half against a team that found it difficult to contain them.
The home team got off to the perfect start with two goals in the first eight minutes from Shane Boyce and Shay Coyle and in between a point from Keelin McGroddy to give them a seven point lead.
Na Gaeil Oga replied with a couple of points but Alan Persona got a second Downings point and when Seamus McBride got a third for the visitors, Mc Groddy finished off a super move with a classy finish to the bottom corner and Oisín Boyce made it a nine point game with a fine point to leave it 3-03 to 0-03 after 22 minutes.
Na Gaeil Oga ended the half well with a well taken goal by Andy Devery and points but Martin McIvor and Donegal native Ronan Mac Niallais and a four point game at the break.
MacNiallais opened the second-half scoring with a free and left a goal between them.
Downings responded in the best possible way with two points from sub Gary Mc Clafferty and in between those a fine effort from Eric Roberts.
But back came Na Gaeil again and Seamus McBride converted a penalty to yet again leave a goal in it with ten minutes left.
But it was Downings who pushed on and they dominated the closing minutes , scoring 1-07 along the way.
Roberts, Oisín Boyce and sub Aaron McClafferty kicked points in quick succession and then the teams exchanged four points, Mac Niallais pointed two frees for the visitors and Kevin Doherty and Aaron McClafferty replied for Downings.
Kevin Doherty who put the icing on the cake when he brillantly finished off a flowing Downings move with a cracking fourth goal. Roberts added two more points to the total to send Downings through to an All Ireland Gaeltacht final, this time on home territory.
And in that final they will meet Gaeil Fhanada on Monday in a repeat of last month’s Donegal Gaeltacht final which Gaeil Fhanada won.
Downings: Brendan McGee, Max Davis, Ryan McGinley, Shane McTeague , Eamonn Kelly, Ben McNutt, Kevin Doherty (1-1), Shay Coyle (1-0), James Lee McBride, Keelin McGroddy (1-2), Danny McBride, Shane Boyce ( 1-0 ), Alan Persona (0-1), Oisín Boyce (0-2), Eric Roberts (0-3). Subs used: Aaron McClafferty (0-2), Gary McClafferty (0-2), Conor Shields and Hugo Davis .
