Extra-time Coulter goal sends Down into Ulster semis
Donegal 2-10 Down 1-15 (aet)
Benny Coulter turned in one of his best ever displays in a Down shirt as the Mourne men triumphed after extra time in a Ballybofey thriller.
Coulter banged in the winning goal in the second period of extra-time to inspire his side to an Ulster SFC semi-final clash with provincial champions Tyrone.
They were unlucky not to win it in normal time, after traling for much of the 70 minutes, with Rory Kavanagh scoring a stoppage time equaliser for Donegal to set up an extra 20 minutes of action.
Donegal debutant Molloy stunned Down with a 13th minute goal, sending a scorching shot past Brendan McVeigh after Michael Murphy had fielded and laid off in a flash.
Benny Coulter got Down’s opening score, and added further points through John Clarke and a Mark Poland free.
But Donegal struck for a second goal in the 19th minute. Murphy and Molloy were involved again, and when the latter’s shot for a point came off a post, and Conal Dunne collected to shoot to the net from close range.
Down rallied again, and after Marty Clarke had notched a neat score, Daniel Hughes squeezed over a brilliant score from a tight angle.
Donegal overplayed the short game repeatedly, and struggled to get the ball to danger man Murphy, and Down’s more direct style saw them get further scores from Poland and Hughes.
However, Molloy brought his tally to 1-3 with two frees, and the home side led by 2-3 to 0-7 at the break.
Substitute Adrian Hanlon had just eased John Joe Doherty’s side into a three-point lead when Down boss James McCartan gambled on sending Dan Gordon to full forward, with Coulter dropping deep, and the switch worked a treat.
Coulter played a one-two with Brendan McArdle to shoot a superb equalising score, and landed another beauty from distance after David Walsh had edged Donegal back in front.
But it was goalkeeper Paul Durcan who emerged as Donegal’s hero, pulling off a stunning save as Gordon got a fist to Clarke’s sideline ball.
Clarke hit what appeared to be the winner from the resultant ’45, but Rory Kavanagh sent the tie to added time with an stoppage time leveller, tying it up at 2-7 to 0-13.
Down moved two points clear with another Coulter special and a fourth for Hughes to go into the second period of extra-time ahead by 0-15 to 2-7.
And when Coulter got on the end of a move involving Hughes and Clarke to drill home a goal four minutes from the end, it was all over for John Joe Doherty’s men.
Donegal: P Durcan, F McGlynn, N McGee, K Lacey, M Maguire, K Cassidy, B Dunnion, B Monaghan, N Gallagher, R Kavanagh (0-1), C Toye, D Walsh (0-1), D Molloy (1-3 (2f), M Murphy (0-1, f), C Dunne (1-0)
Subs: A Hanlon (0-1) for Toye (43), A Thompson for Monaghan (52), M McHugh (0-1) for Gallagher (62), C McFadden (0-1, f) for Molloy (66), Gallagher for Thompson (71), P McGrath for McGlynn (79), E Wade (0-1) for Maguire (81)
Down: B McVeigh, B McArdle, D Rooney, D Rafferty, K McKernan, J Colgan, C Garvey, D Gordon, K King, D Hughes (0-4), M Poland (0-3, 2f), P McComiskey, B Coulter (1-4), J Clarke (0-1), M Clarke (0-3, 1 ’45).
Subs: C Maginn for J Clarke (47), P Fitzpatrick for McComiskey (54), D O’Hagan for McKernan (62), C Laverty for Poland (78), R Murtagh for Garvey (85)
Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan)
