Donegal 1-8 v 2-6 Down
The Donegal Minors were defeated by Down this afternoon in their Ulster Minor Championship Semi-Final clash.
Barry Ward’s Donegal side fell by just a point at the Fr Tierney Park in Ballyshannon, with windy conditions making it difficult on both sides.
Donegal got off to the brighter start, and with the breeze in their favour raced out to a 1-5 to 0-01 lead after 20 minutes – a penalty slotted home by Conor McCahill adding Donegal’s goal.
Down’s Barra McEvoy grabbed a crucial goal back just before the break, but at the half Donegal still held a commanding 1-7 to 1-1 lead.
However with the wind in their favour in the second half, Down quickly chipped away at the deficit with a number of quick scores, bringing the deficit to two points with 15 minutes to go.
Then Down were able to slot away a penalty of their own to take their first lead of the game, with Darragh Poland putting them ahead on the 47th minute and Donegal yet to point in the second half.
Down then went two ahead with a crucial score just four minutes from the end to extend their lead to two points.
The singular second half Donegal score came from Conor McCahill in the final moments of the game, but it was too little too late for them to find an equaliser in the strong breeze.