GAA: Down book Ulster semi-final clash with Armagh

Down will meet fierce rivals Armagh in next weekend's Ulster Senior Football Championship Semi-final after a five-point win over Donegal in Pairc Esler.

It was no more than the home side deserved as their renaissance under Conor Laverty continues apace. They showed grit and character to haul themselves back from going a goal behind early on and comfortably saw off a relatively meagre Donegal comeback attempt in the latter stages.

Donegal struck for goal inside the first three minutes when Jason McGee managed to escape the clutches of Niall McParland to go through one on one with Niall Kane/ The midfielder was coolness personified as he waited for the Down keeper to make his move before slotting home low with his left foot.

Down opened their account on eight minutes courtesy of a Pat Havern free, but that was quickly cancelled out by a Daire O Baoill point from play. A quickly taken free by Ceilum Doherty found his Kilcoo club-mate Ryan Johnston to make the scores 0-2 to 1-1 with 10 minutes on the clock.

Caolan Ward edged Donegal three on 19 minutes, but Down levelled almost instantaneously when Liam Kerr cut in from the right flank and drove past Donegal keeper Shaun Patton to make it 1-2 apiece.

Havern notched his second free to put Down in front for the first time, but O Baoill then got his second to tie matters once again 10 minutes before the end of the first half.

Donegal could have gone three in front again when Conor O’Donnell went through on goal. Down goalkeeper Niall Kane saved with his legs before Niall McParland blocked McGee’s follow-up.

Two minutes before the interval, Ryan Johnston nudged Down 1-4 to 1-3 in front, only for Patton to come forward and slot over a ’45 less than 60 seconds later.

That’s the way it stayed until three minutes into the second period when Ciaran Thompson fired over a free to move Donegal 1-5 to 1-4 in front. But it took less than 90 seconds for Down to get back on terms as Daniel Guinness pointed. Ryan Johnston and Eugene Branagan then registered quickfire score to put Down 1-7 to 1-5 ahead less than 10 minutes after the restart.

Things then got even better for Down when Johnston was hauled to the ground by Brendan McCole and the hosts were awarded a penalty that was slotted home by Havern.

That put Down 2-7 to 1-5 ahead, before Cormac O’Donnell pulled one back for Donegal with a point from play and then Thompson collected his second free of the afternoon to reduce the deficit to a goal – 2-7 to 1-7.

As the away side began to take a stranglehold on proceedings, O Baoill closed the gap even further on 54 minutes, but Down keep the scoreboard ticking over with a Havern free and one from play by Danny Magill. O’Donnell did pull one back for Donegal on the hour mark before McGee added to his early goal with a point.

And when sub Oisin Gallen brought it back a to a one-point game – 2-9 to 1-11 – Down’s hearts were in their mouths somewhat. However, Andrew Gilmore settled Mourne nerves with a close-range free and then Guinness knocked over the bar to restore the home side’s three-point lead.

When substitute Conor Poland fisted over in stoppage time to make it 2-12 to 1-11, the result was all but secured.

But when Gilmore notched a high hanging point after that, it merely put the icing on the cake for Laverty’s side.

MATCH STATS

Down: Kane; Laverty, A Doherty, Annett; D Magill (0-1), McParland, Rooney; Guinness (0-2), McEvoy; C Doherty, R Johnston (0-3, 1f, 1 Mark), Kerr (1-0); McAleenan, Havern (1-3, 1 pen, 3f), Branagan

Subs: Francis for Annett (48mins), Gilmore (0-2, 1f) for Branagan (54mins), S Johnston for R Johnston (61mins), Poland (0-1) for McParland (65mins), Collins for McAleenan (70mins)

Donegal: Patton (0-1, ’45); Curran, McCole, Ward (0-1); McColgan, McMenamin, Gallagher; McGonagle, McGee (1-1), O Baoill (0-2), Langan, Thompson (0-2, both frees); McFadden, Brennan, O’Donnell (0-1)

Subs: McGlynn for Langan (16mins), Gallen (0-1) for McFadden (47mins), Tobin for Ward (50mins), R O’Donnell for McMenamin (61mins), Barrett for McGlynn (70mins)

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare(

Attendance: 9, 139