DOWNINGS OVERCAME neighbours Milford in the Donegal Under-14 Division 2 Championship final this evening at The Bridge.
Downings 3-13 Milford 2-5
Downings had 11 points to spare by the conclusion, but they had the spade work done in the first half, after which Dale McBride and Kyle McFadden’s goals had them 2-4 to 1-2 ahead.
Midfielder Ethan Cullen netted the third Downings goal just 14 seconds into the second half and they were dominant in the second period, the game long over as a contest by the time Matthew McLaughlin scored a late Milford goal.
[adrotate group=”68″]It was Milford who had the better start, too, with Dillon Dorrian’s two points being followed by a James O’Donnell goal in the 13th minute, putting the Moyle View men 1-2 to 0-1 ahead.
However, Downings had a purple patch late in the first half and, after a solo run by Dom Potter, McBride fired to the net..
McFadden pointed and then smashed to the bottom corner of the Milford net after being set up by Johnny McGroddy.
[adrotate group=”38″]There were just five points between them at the break, but Downings laid down a marker from the throw-in and Cullen’s goal was like a dagger right through the Milford heart.
Milford goalkeeper John Matthews came off his line to deny McGroddy a fourth Downings goal soon after.
McGroddy (2), Potter and McFadden hit four in a row.
[adrotate group=”37″]McGroddy, McFadden, Paddy McElwee and Liam McBride, up from corner-back, all hit points late on as Downings stretched the lead and McLaughlin’s late goal, when he side-footed to the net, was scant consolation for Milford as Downings left singing into the Dunfanaghy night.
Downings: Fiachra McClafferty; Michael Pasoma, Dean McBride, Liam McBride (0-1); Shane Coll, Dale McBride (1-1), Shane Carr; Ethan Cullen (1-1), Tiernan McBride; Dom Potter (0-1), Johnny McGroddy (0-4), Mark McBride; Paddy McElwee (0-1), Kyle McFadden (1-3), Cathair Sweeney (0-1). Subs: Aaron Barry for M.McBride, Andrew Cairns for Sweeney.
Milford: John Matthews; Owen McElhinney, Eamon O’Donnell, Odhrán McGee; Matthew McLaughlin (1-1), James O’Donnell (1-0), Darragh McFadden; Rory Pyper, Eoin O’Donnell; Jay Curran, Shane Black (0-2, 2f), Jake Doherty; Dillon Dorrian (0-2), Shea McBride, Barry Donnelly. Subs: Eoghan Hiemstra for McBride, Paul Ryan for McGee, Aodhan Ferry for Doherty, Callum Orsi for McElhinney, Gavin Sweeney for Doherty, Liam Donnelly for Curran.
Referee: Don Langan (St Michael’s).
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