Happy days are back for Donegal - Match Report

Donegal 3-12 Down 1-6

Summer days in Donegal are no longer strictly for the tourists.

Having failed to win a single championship game since 1998, the county's footballers are once again basking in sporting sunshine.

Down were put to the sword at Ballybofey as Mickey Moran's resurgent side chalked up a second successive victory to stroll stylishly into the Ulster semi-final.

A sparkling display was embellished with three cracking goals, with twin strikers Adrian Sweeney and Brendan Devenney chalking up a combined total of 2-9.

For Down boss Pete McGrath, it's time again for soul-searching after 13 years in charge, as frustrated and disillusioned fans demand a reverse in a once-great county's alarming decline.

Down created two goal chances in the opening 15 minutes. The first, created by Mickey Linden for Aidan O'Prey, was denied by Tony Blake's bravery, but the second was a sweet celebration of James McCartan's return to the Mourne colours after a two-year absence.

McCartan's clinical strike was the culmination of a flowing move, started deep in defence by Micheal Walsh, and carried on by Linden, Sean Ward and O'Prey before the former Allstar rocketed the ball to the net from close range.

It was just like old times, but not for long.

Donegal regrouped and had some wonderful points from Adrian Sweeney and Brendan Devenney.

And they had just pulled themselves ahead when Sweeney took a Jimmy McGuinness pass to dart round the goalkeeper and finish to the net a minute before the break, Tir Chonaill ahead by 1-7 to 1-3.

John Gildea gathered at midfield and powered through for a brilliant individual point, setting Donegal off on a scoring spree which saw them hit 1-4 without reply.

Brian Roper grabbed their second goal, taking a Raymond Sweeney pass to rifle home from an acute angle eight minutes into the half.

Down went almost half an hour without a score, before 39-year-old Mickey Linden converted a free 17 minutes from the end.

The rest was a canter for Donegal, but there was still time for more of the exhibition stuff, Roper lofting a magical point, before Devenney cut in from the left wing to drill home a stunning goal.

Donegal: T Blake, S Carr, M Crossan, N McGinley, R Sweeney, B Monaghan, K Cassidy, J Gildea (0-1), J McGuinness (0-1), C Toye, M Hegarty, B Roper (1-1), A Sweeney (1-5), B Devenney (1-4), P McGonigle. Subs: D Diver for Monaghan, K Rafferty for McGonigle, C McFadden for A Sweeney, R Kavanagh for Roper

Down: P Travers, J Clarke, C Byrne, B Grant, S Poland, S Ward, N Sexton, B Burns, A Molloy, D Gordon, M Walsh, B Coulter (0-1), M Linden (0-2), A O'Prey, J McCartan (1-0). Subs: R Murtagh (0-1) for Poland, R Sexton (0-1) for Walsh, P McConville for Burns, S King (0-1) for Gordon

Referee: G Kineavey (Roscommon)