THERE are two ways of looking at what transpired at Clones yesterday. One unalterable result, however.

You might admit the events of winter as serious evidence, and observe that Down, new residents in the division three neighbourhood, hung on pluckily and defeated the beaten league finalists Donegal by a point.

On the other hand you might point out that Donegal, injury plagued, weather bet, deprived of a man in the first minute and sucker punched by a soft controversial goal, ran Down, the most successful championship team of the decade, to within a point.

Significantly, the latter view was the one which prevailed in the Down dressing room and amongst the majority of the 15,278 crowd. It is indisputable that Down were weakened yesterday by certain absences, but the performance of the 15 who took the field barely managed to be sufficient on the day.

It was Donegal who suffered all the heaviest psychological blows in the run up. The absences of Brian Murray and Declan Bonner had scarcely been absorbed when Barry McGowan and John Joe Doherty joined them in the infirmary.

Worse was to come. The greasy weather proved itself especially unhelpful for a short passing side. Then, in the first minute, young Dessie McNamara got himself sent off for an off the ball foul on Michael Magill.

After the game, sympathy flowed for McNamara, a championship debutant, from both sides. It has to be said, however, that even if you make the usual allowances for softening up and letting your man know that you are there, striking in full view of a linesman while play has been stopped for thirty seconds is an offence which merits punishment for its stupidity as much as its illegal intent.

Nevertheless Donegal made a game of it and had the chances late on to snatch one of their most glorious wins this decade.

Down looked tentative and unsure of themselves during several key periods, but that the finish was such a cliffhanger was something of a surprise to those whose minds were beginning to wander after 16 or 17 minutes. By then Michael Magill appeared to be relishing his task as free man and Conor Deegan had just scored one of the more controversial goals which this championship will see. Deegan, loitering in space, perhaps 60 yards out, hoofed a huge kick towards the Donegal goal. Gary Walsh appeared to have caught the ball but one umpire (backed later by TV evidence) deemed Walsh to have stepped back over his line. Down were three points up and cruising.

The trend continued. Before the break the older legs in the Down attack seemed lead free. John Treanor made himself busy. Greg Blaney wandered freely. Mickey Linden scooped up an amount of good ball. By the 21st minute Down were six points ahead and the game appeared to be dying.

There was no clarion inspired charge which marked the Donegal revival, just a steady picking away at Down's frailties. Players like Damien Diver, Martin Shovlin and Mark Crossan worked heroically in defence. James McHugh and (in the second half) Brian Roper ferreted what they could out of a crowded middle third of the field. Slowly Donegal filed a potential escape for themselves. Manus Boyle picked off two points before half time. Damien Diver added another, and Donegal went to the break with Down still in their sights.

Crucially, Donegal came out and scored the first three points of the second period.

At midfield, where Donegal had no rights to expect parity, they achieved the next best thing by overpopulating the sector for the last 50 minutes of the game. The quality of ball to Down's Linden and Farrell deteriorated. For the final 25 minutes Down never managed to get more than two points ahead.

Down reacted by dispatching Micheal Magill to mark James McHugh and allowing DJ Kane to run free. The move worked, but only because James McCartan's footballing instincts brought him back to defence for most of the second half. From there he curbed the influence of his marker and won a huge amount of second half ball which he distributed impeccably.

Donegal clawed away admirably. Three points down again after 50 minutes, McHugh stitched in two lovely points and Tony Boyle converted a free from the hands to leave the sides level five minutes later.

At that point the game turned on an extraordinary save from Down's Michael McVeigh. Paddy Hegarty won a high ball over the head of Magill, turned and flicked it straight into the path of young James Ruane. Travelling at speed Ruane shot low and hard for the Down net but McVeigh got down brilliantly to save the shot. Down scooted up the field and scored a point through Mickey Linden.

The final 10 minutes were about who could dig the deepest. The fact of having survived this period is the most substantial crumb of comfort Down carry with them this week. When the game hung in the balance the great glamour team of the decade scrapped like tigers. Treanor and Linden were guilty of excessive caution in scoring positions perhaps but the midfield came through by winning a series of clean balls.

Just one point was scored in those frantic final 10 minutes, John Ban Gallagher tacking on a score in the depths of injury time. Down greeted the final whistle like an All Ireland win.