MICHAEL Murphy had a hand in all three goals as Glenswilly made it two-from-two in the Regional League.
Downings 1-14 Glenswilly 3-11
By Chris McNulty in Downings
Murphy scored a pair of frees, but the Donegal captain had his prints on the trio of Glenswilly goals as they came away from Downings with the points.
Gary McFadden (pictured) netted twice and Oisin Crawford bagged the other as Pauric Bonner’s side proved too strong for a game Downings.
Lorcan Connor struck 1-8 for the home side, but the game had gone from them by the time they made a fist of it with five late points.
The margin was out to nine a couple of times with Glenswilly on top once they got into a stride.
Their opening goal arrived in the 15th minute. Murphy was the instigator and his pass inside was helped on by Crawford, with McFadden palming in at the rear.
Early points from Keelan McGroddy and Johnny McGroddy had Downings in front, but Kealan Dunleavy, Murphy and Caoimhinn Marley turned the pendulum.
Downings had a big chance of a goal after 13 minutes, but Kevin Doherty drilled wide of Cian Randles’ right-hand post.
Two minutes later, McFadden’s goal set Glenswill on their way.
In a lethal five-minute spell towards the end of the half, Glenswilly hit 1-4.
The goal arrived when Murphy took receipt of a sideline kick from Jack Gallagher. Murphy fed Crawford, who kept his cool to beat John McGroddy with a clinical finish.
McFadden landed two frees to give Glenswilly a 2-8 to 0-6 lead at the changeover.
Five minutes into the second half, Downings capitalised on hesitancy in the Glenswilly rearguard when James Lee McBride teed up Connor and he applied the finish.
However, just 90 seconds later, Glenswilly had the ball in the net for a third time. It was a move they’ve seen so often before. Murphy caught high and off-loaded for McFadden, who slammed home to put nine between them again.
Connor hit four late points and Johnny McGroddy kicked another but by that stage of the evening Glenswilly appeared to have their minds on next weekend’s Championship opener against St Michael’s in their thoughts.
Downings: John McGroddy; Max Davis, Oisin Boyce, Ben McNutt; Kevin Doherty, Gary ‘Ban’ McClafferty (0-1), Pauric McGinty; Ronan Gallagher, Keelan McGroddy (0-1); Johnny McGroddy (0-3), Lorcan Connor (1-8, 5f), James Lee McBride; Ben McBride, Shane Boyce, Allen Pasoma (0-1). Subs: Hugo Davis for Doherty (51), Conor Shiels for M.Davis (51), Shane McTeague for Pasoma (52), Conor Boyce for B.McBride (58).
Glenswilly: Cian Randles; Ruairi Crawford, Eamonn Ward, Sean Gallagher; Jack Gallagher, Cormac Callaghan, Keelan Carberry (0-1); Caoimhinn Marley (0-2), Shaun Wogan; Oisin Crawford (1-3), Gary McFadden (2-2, 2f), Kealan Dunleavy (0-1); Caolan Kelly, Michael Murphy (0-2, 2f), Conor McGinty. Subs: Steve O’Donnell for O.Crawford (41), Kealan McFadden for McGinty (48), Lee Crerand for Marley (54), Kyle Canning for Dunleavy (54), Patrick Gallagher for K.McFadden (63)
Referee: Seamus McGonagle (Aodh Ruadh)
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