ULSTER MFC SEMI-FINAL Down 1-10 Donegal 1-8: A MORE composed Down deservedly booked their place in the final at the expense of a wasteful Donegal at Clones on Saturday.

Donegal started brightly with a goal by Dermot Molloy in the sixth minute giving them a foothold in the game and they led by three at the end of the opening quarter.

However, Down gradually wrested the advantage to draw level by the 24th minute with three unanswered points from Robbie White, Darragh O’Hanlon and Ross McGarry (a free). Further points by White helped Down into a 0-7 to 1-3 interval lead.

Though Donegal equalised five minutes into the second half, Down established a five-point lead thanks to points by White and substitute Mark Haughey and a goal by Ross McGarry in a goalmouth scramble in the 15th minute.

In the final quarter Donegal had the margin down to three points on three occasions, but Down stood firm to secure their victory.

DOWN: J Deeney; M Devlin, S McNamee, D O'Hanlon (0-1); K McClorey, C McClean, P Boyle; C Mooney, N McParland; C Clarke (0-1), R White (0-5), P Quinn, M Bagnall (0-1), R McGarry (1-1), D McKibben. Subs: R Doran for M Devlin, M Haughey (0-1)for P Quinn, K Quinn for C Clarke, F McEvoy for C Mooney.

DONEGAL: P Boyle, E Faulkner, P Devine, S O'Kennedy (0-1), T McKinley, C Ellis, C Greaney, F McGinley (0-1), P McGonagle, M McEniff, D Molloy (1-2), C Barrett, P McBrearty, C Gallagher, O Ward (0-3). Subs: O McGinty for M McEniff, J Doherty (0-1)for C Barrett, A Lyons for O Ward.

Referee: JJ Cleary(Derry).

Next up . . .In the other semi-final, Monaghan meet Armagh next weekend, with the winners meeting Down in the final on Sunday, July 19th.