TWO LATE GOALS were enough for Downings to retain their Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta Tír Chonaill Junior title in Glenties today.
Downings 2-11 Naomh Conaill 2-7
For a long time it looked as though Naomh Conaill were going to lift the crown at Davy Brennan Memorial Park but in a game when both goalkeepers scored own goals, it was Downings who took home the trophy.
Naomh Conaill were 2-6 to 0-10 up with just two minutes to go when Tony Byrne – the Naomh Conaill netminder – was unfortunate as a 45 from Gary Ban McClafferty stuck the woodwork before rebounding into the net.
Then, Lorcan Connor sealed the win with a second Downings goal before Martin Gallagher of Naomh Conaill was sent off late in the day.
It was Naomh Conaill who looked by far the most likely with a dominant first half showing. Johnny McLoone was the standout player, grabbing 1-2 before the break.
McLoone’s goal came on 13 minutes when he burst through the defence to shoot past John McGroddy.
At half-time the home team were 1-5 to 0-3 in front, although Lorcan Connor had entered the fray for Downings.
Connor and McClafferty, who scored seven points in all, were the driving force for Downings but six minutes into the second half they suffered a further set-back when goalkeeper McGroddy carried the ball over his own line.
That meant Naomh Conaill were 2-6 to 0-7 in front. However, Colin Gallagher and two McClafferty scores brought Downings back into arm’s reach and they struck late two claim the win.
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