Johnny McGroddy to the rescue as Downings draw with St Eunan’s

Johnny McGroddy converted a late free to earn Downings a dramatic draw with St Eunan’s on Saturday night at a windy Páirc Na Dunaibh.

It was no more than the locals deserved after battling back, being four points down at one stage in the first half to go in just one behind at half-time. 

St Eunan’s were short a host of regulars along with their county quartet of Shaun Patton, Shane and Niall O’Donnell, and Caolan Ward. While Downings were down a number of key players and only had county panelist Ronan Gallagher for the first half. 

The versatile Gallagher was withdrawn at half time as he is only allowed one-half of football due to being a member of the county setup.

St Eunan’s were rampant early on and their slick passing game and ability to break at pace had the locals at sixes-and-sevens with Conor O’ Donnell and James Kelly kicking two early points for the Barry Meehan-managed side.

And with Pauric Boyle and Eoghan McGeehin clipping over points, they were 0-4 to 0-2 up by the end of the first quarter.

Ronan Gallagher with two quick points from frees got the locals up and running.

But with Conor O’Donnell Jnr in fine scoring form, the men from O’Donnell Park had opened up a four-point lead by the 24th minute. 

Johnny McGroddy did pull a point back on 25 minutes before Keelan McGroddy got on the end of a brilliant move to tie up the game with the contest's only goal.  

For the goal, Ronan Gallagher found Johnny McGroddy out on the left wing who in turn swiftly laid it off to his cousin Keelan who made no mistake from the edge of the small rectangle to slot home.

All of a sudden, from being out of the tie Maxi Curran’s men were back in the contest and on level terms 1-3 to 0-6. 

Conor O’Donnell capped off a good first half with his fourth point to send St Eunan’s in 0-7 to 1-3 in front at half-time. 

The sides were level twice in the second half as Johnny McGroddy, Dylan Doogan, David Boyle, and Keelan McGroddy traded points. 

Level at 1-6 to 0-9 at the three-quarter stage, Eoghan McGeehin edged St Eunan’s back in front from a close free after substitute Oisin Scanlon did well to claim a high ball.

That was on 51 minutes, but that was St Eunan’s last score and with both defences defiant, McGroddy tied up the game one minute into injury time to earn his team a deserved share of the league points. 

Downings scorers: Keelan McGroddy 1-1; Johnny McGroddy 0-4, 2f; Ronan Gallagher 0-2. St Eunans scorers: Conor O’Donnell 0-4, 2f; Eoghan McGeehin 0-2,1f; James Kelly, Pauric Boyle, Dylan Doogan, and David Boyle 0-1 each. 

Downings: Aaron McBride; Fallon Buckley McBride, Ben McNutt, Max Davis; Paidin Shields, Padraig McGinty, Ronan Pasoma; Ethan Cullen, Keelan McGroddy; Johnny McGroddy, Jamie Lee McBride, Kyle McFadden; Ronan Gallagher, Kevin Doherty, Paul McGroddy. Subs: Gary McClafferty for R Gallagher; Aaron McClafferty for A McBride; B Coyle for K Doherty. 

St Eunans: Ronan McGeehin; Noah Barrett, Anthony Gallagher, James Kelly; Dylan Doogan, Kieran Tobin, Padraig Hughes; Kevin Kealy, Jordan O’Dowd; David Boyle, Jake Whelan, Conor O’Donnell Jnr; Oran Winston, Eoin McGeehin, Pauric Boyle. Subs: Oisin Scanlon for  P Hughes. 

Referee: Anthony McCallig (Naomh Ultan)