Donegal 1-12 1-11 Down

Conal Dunne tries to dispossess Down's Adrian Scullion

Donegal edged out Down 1-12 to 1-11 as the Ulster SFC finally served up a quality match at Ballybofey.

The home side led 0-3 to 0-1 after nine minutes but Daniel Hughes then goaled for Down and it helped the Mourne men lead 1-6 to 0-6 at the break.

However, Donegal came out fired up after the break with Rory Kavanagh's stunning goal getting them on terms.

Despite missing two other goal chances, Donegal went two ahead and while Down had late chances, Donegal held on.

Down boss Paddy O'Rourke felt his side were denied a blatant free late on and he also acknowledged his regret at his late decision to replace left-footed free-taker Liam Doyle.

With Doyle off, right-footed kicker Daniel Hughes was given the difficult task of taking a hugely difficult free from near the right touchline. Not surprisingly, he sliced his kick well wide.

Donegal made a lively start and a run by wing-back Eamon McGee set up a first minute free which Michael Doherty superbly slotted from 45 metres.

Dan Gordon replied within a minute for the Mourne men after bulldozing his way through the Donegal defence.

With the open nature of the game in marked contrast to last week's attritition at Omagh, Christy Toye then had penalty claims turned down after he had been upended following a storming run but McGee mopped up possession to nudge Donegal ahead again.

Doherty's second successful free extended Donegal's lead to 0-3 to 0-1 as the home team continued to impress in the sunny conditions.

Match reaction Donegal v Down

However, Down then rocked the home side with a breakaway goal with Daniel Hughes slotting home after being set up by Benny Coulter.

Conal Dunne's effort from play levelled matters again and while a Daniel Hughes free restored Down's lead, Rory Kavanagh's 19th minute score after a soaring midfield catch by Neil Gallagher meant parity once more.

Donegal's Michael Doherty tries to get away from Martin Cole

However as the first half wore on, Down began to look the more assured outfit with their incisive breaks into Donegal territory in contrast to the home team's over-elaborative approach.

Doyle's free restored Down's lead and excellent scores from Ronan Murtagh and Hughes extended the visitors' advantage to three points.

Points at either end from Kavanagh and Doyle left the Mourne men 1-6 to 0-6 ahead at the interval.

Down dangerman Coulter, who was dominated for the most part by man-of-the-match contender Paddy Campbell, had a sniff of a goal chance straight after half-time but took his point.

Banny Dunnion replied for Donegal with an immediate point from play and amazingly within a minute, Donegal were on terms.

Kavanagh was able to stride unopposed through to the 21 metre line before firing in an unstoppable shot past Brendan McVeigh.

Down went back in front with Paul Murphy pointing but Donegal were now in control and full-forward Conal Dunne swung over a glorious levelling point in the 42nd minute.

Points at either end from the superb playmaking Michael Hegarty and Michael Walsh kept the sides level before Ciaran Bonner missed a glorious pointblank goal chance in the 52nd minute for Donegal with his shot coming back off the woodwork.

Christy Toye gave Donegal the lead again in the 53rd minute but the home side wasted another great goal chance when McGee's mishit shot was saved by McVeigh.

Clockwatch: Donegal 1-12 1-11 Down

When, Daniel Hughes levelled for Down against the run of play it seemed that Donegal might be made to pay for their misses.

However, Donegal continued to dominate and points from Hegarty and sub Adrian Sweeney put them two ahead with eight minutes left.

Liam Doyle's free left a point between the teams with a minute of normal time left and three extra minutes set to be played.

Down claimed they should have hit two late frees but then they did earn a last-ditch chance.

However with Doyle having been replaced by James Colgan, Hughes wasn't equipped for the difficult task.

Donegal: P Durcan, N McGee, P Campbell, K Lacey, E McGee (0-1), M Hegarty (0-2), B Dunnion (0-1), N Gallagher, B Monaghan, C Toye (0-1), C Bonner, R Kavanagh (1-2), C Kelly, C Dunne (0-2), M Doherty (0-2). Substitutes: B Boyle for C Kelly 44 mins, A Sweeney (0-1) for Doherty 58 mins, D Diver for E McGee (65 mins).

Down: B McVeigh, M Cole, B Grant, A Molloy, P Murphy (0-1), J Clarke, A Scullion, A Rogers, D Gordon (0-1), E McCartan, L Doyle (0-3), R Murtagh (0-2), D Hughes (1-2), B Coulter (0-1), M Walsh (0-1). Substitutes: M Doran for P Murphy 44, John Laverty for E McCartan 45, J Colgan for Liam Doyle 67, D Rafferty, R Sexton.

Referee: Gearoid O Conamha (Galway).

---

Weekend GAA fixtures

Saturday

Christy Ring Cup
Division 2B round 1
Kerry 2-12 1-16 Kildare
Wicklow 2-8 1-11 Carlow

Sunday

EBS Ulster MHC final
Antrim 8-18 2-5 Derry
Bank of Ireland Ulster SFC
Donegal 1-12 1-11 Down
Leinster SFC
Longford 0-13 1-12 Dublin
Laois 1-17 1-9 Carlow
Guinness Munster SHC semi-final
Waterford 1-12 3-14 Tipperary