Downings are one win away from becoming Ulster Champions after they defeated Sean McDermotts of Monaghan 1-09 to 0-08 in the Ulster Junior semi-final in Ederney.
Despite playing against whatever breeze was blowing, it was 0-03 to 0-02 in Downings favour at the first water break. Lorcan Connor got all three Downings scores, two from frees while Niall Kearns got the two McDermotts scores, both from frees.
The Monaghan men lost Danny McNally to a Black Card in the 15th minute and after an intervention by his umpires showed a red Card to Niall Kearns for an off the ball incident minutes later, a huge blow to his team.
Downings also went down to fourteen when Kevin Doherty foolishly made slight contact with Kearns after he was dismissed right in front of the referee.
Sean McDermotts added the next two points, both from play by Noel Rice and Patrick Kieran to lead by 0-04 to 0-03.
Connor kicked his and Downings fourth in reply but Adam O’Driscoll restored the Monaghan men’s lead with an excellent point off his left foot to leave it 0-05 to 0-04 at half-time and a bit of work for Downings to do in the second-half against the 14 men.
They got level in the 37th minute with Lorcan’s fifth point and a minute later he got his sixth and fifth from a free to put them ahead, 0-06 to 0-05.
Johnny McGroddy made it a two point game with his first point after fine play by Padraig McGinty and Kevin Doherty provided the chance.
But back came Sean McDermotts with two excellent scores from Paddy Kieran and sub James Treanor to level it up again at 0-07 points apiece at the second water break with numerical advantage not making the difference expected.
The Monaghan men had the momentum and were playing with great spirit and their captain Paraic McGuirk kicked a mighty point to put them ahead in the 52nd minute but Downings sub Gary ‘Ban’ McClafferty replied with two brilliant points from long range to put Downings ahead again.
They finally wrapped up a hard earned victory in the final minute of injury-time when sub Kyle McFadden finished off a super five man move by hammering the ball low to the net.
An Ulster Junior Final awaits Downings but this victory was hard-earned and they fought hard to earn the right to reach that final.
Downings will face Denn GAA of Cavan in the final after they won 2-07 to 1-09 against Desertmartin of Derry.
Downings: John McGroddy; Johnny McGroddy (0-01), Hugo Davis, Ross Cullen; Kevin Doherty, Ben McNutt, Pauric McGinty; Oisin Boyce, Shane Boyce; James Lee McBride, Danny McBride, Keelan McGroddy, Alan Pasoma, Lorcan Connor (0-06/5f’s), Tiernan McBride.
Subs: Gary McClafferty (0-02) for Danny McBride (h/t), Kyle McFadden (1-00) for Shane Boyce (48mins), Conor Boyce for Davis (50mins), Finnian McClafferty for James Lee McBride (59mins).
Sean McDermotts: Mark Keogh, Ashley Maguire, James Murphy, James Clerkin; Emmet McElvaney, Conor Kearns, Eamonn McQuillan, Paraic McGuirk (0-01), Niall Kearns (0-02f’s), Noel Rice (0-01), Oisin McKenna, Danny McNally, Adam O’Driscoll (0-01), Patrick Kieran (0-02 ), Aaron McNally.
