Downings into Junior All-Ireland Gaeltacht Football Final.

Host club Downings proved too strong for their Dublin opponents Na Gaeil Oga in the semi-final of the All Ireland Junior Gaeltacht Championship. Leading by 3-03 to 1-05 at half-time they never looked in any danger as they added another 1-10 to their total in the second-half against a team that found it difficult  to contain them.                                                                                                                        NA DUNAIBH. ( DOWNINGS ).    4-13    V     2-10    NA GAEIL OGA ( Dublin ).                                         The home team got off to the perfect start with two goals in the first eight minutes from Shane Boyce and Shay Coyle and in between a point from Keelin Mc Groddy to give them a seven point lead.                                                                  Na Gaeil Oga replied with a couple of points but Alan Persona got a second Downings point and when Seamus Mc Bride got a third for the visitors , Mc Groddy  finished off a super move with a classy finish to the bottom corner and Oisín Boyce made it a nine point game with a fine point to leave it 3-03 to 0-03 after 22 minutes.                                                                                                                Na Gaeil Oga ended the half well with a well taken goal by Andy Devery and points but Martin Mc Ivor and Donegal native Ronan Mc Niallais and a four point game at the break.                                                                                                                  Charlie Collins reports from Downings .                                                             MacNiallais opened the second-half scoring with a free and left a goal between them. Downings responded in the best possible way with two points from sub Gary Mc Clafferty and in between those a fine effort from Eric Roberts .              But back came Na Gaeil again and Seamus Mc Bride converted a penalty to yet again leave a goal in it with ten minutes left.                                                              But it was Downings who pushed on and they dominated the closing minutes , scoring 1-07 along the way. Roberts , Oisín Boyce and sub Aaron Mc Clafferty kicked points in quick succession and then the teams exchanged four points , Mac Niallais pointed two frees for the visitors and Kevin Doherty and Aaron Mc Clafferty replied for Downings.                                                                                         It was Kevin Doherty who put the icing on the cake when he brillantly finished off a flowing Downings move with a cracking fourth goal. Roberts added two more points to the total to send Downings through to an All Ireland Gaeltacht final , this time on home territory.                                                                                   And in that final they will meet  Gaeil Fhanada ( Fanad Gaels ) on Monday in a repeat of last month’s Donegal Gaeltacht final which Gaeil Fhanada won ,                                         NA DUNAIBH  ;  Brendan Mc Gee , Max Davis , Ryan Mc Ginley , Shane Mc Teague , Eamonn Kelly , Ben Mc Nutt , Kevin Doherty ( 1-01 ), Shay Coyle ( 1-0 ), James Lee Mc Bride , Keelin Mc Groddy ( 1-02 ), Danny Mc Bride , Shane Boyce ( 1-0 ), Alan Persona ( 0-01 ), Oisín Boyce ( 0-02 ), Eric Roberts ( 0-03 ).                               SUBS USED ; Aaron Mc Clafferty ( 0-2 ) , Gary Mc Clafferty ( 0-02 ) , Conor Shields and Hugo Davis .                                                                                                               REFEREE ;  James Conners.