Donegal hold on for narrow win
Donegal 1-12 Down 1-11
Donegal survived in a tense finish at Ballybofey today to set up an Ulster SFC semi-final date with Derry.
Down's Daniel Hughes failed to hit the target with a late free that would have sent the tie to a replay, and now it's Louth in the qualifiers for Paddy O'Rourke's side.
Rory Kavanagh's second half goal was the score that sealed it for Brian McIver's side, after Down had led at the break, thanks to a Hughes strike.
Donegal nerves were settled early on when Michael Gallagher drilled over two frees from the less favoured right side of the park.
But in the ninth minute, Benny Coulter for once slipped marker Paddy Campbell to set up a goal for Daniel Hughes.
Tir Chonaill responded with points from Conan Dunne and Rory Kavanagh, but with Dan Gordon winning vital possession at midfield, the force was with Paddy O'Rourke's side at this stage.
But when Liam Doyle landed a delightful free from far out on the right wing, followed by a Ronan Murtagh point on the end of a sweeping move, they led by 1-4 to 0-5.
Hughes was proving to be the major threat up front, and when, not for the first time, he wriggled free from hard-pressed marker Neil McGee to squeeze over an acute angle point, Down were three clear.
Doyle, however, restored the visitors' three points advantage in stoppage time, 1-6 to 0-6 at the break, but Kavanagh's 39th minute goal brought the sides level.
Donegal, for all their dominance in the third quarter, had no lead to show for their efforts, after Michael Walsh had levelled for the fourth time.
But Adrian Sweeney came into the game to thump over a massive free kick, giving his side a two points advantage which remained until Liam Doyle converted a free at the other end in the final minute of normal time, but the home side held on for the narrowest of victories.
Donegal: P Durcan, N McGee, P Campbell, K Lacey, E McGee (0-1), B Monaghan, B Dunnion (0-1), N Gallagher, C Bonner C Toye (0-1), M Hegarty (0-2), R Kavanagh (1-2), C Kelly, C Dunne (0-2), M Doherty (0-2, 2 frees).
Subs: B Boyle for Kelly, A Sweeney (0-1, 1 free) for Doherty, D Diver for N McGee, F McGlynn for E McGee.
Down: B McVeigh, M Cole, B Grant, A Molloy, P Murphy (0-1), J Clarke, A Scullion, A Rodgers, D Gordon (0-1), E McCartan, L Doyle (0-3, 2 frees), R Murtagh (0-1), D Hughes (1-3, 1 free), B Coulter (0-1), M Walsh (0-1).
Subs: M Doran for Murphy, C Laverty for McCartan, D Rafferty for Clarke, R Sexton for Murtagh, J Colgan for Doyle.
Referee: G O Conamha (Galway).
