Down delivered a magnificent performance in Letterkenny this afternoon to defeat Donegal by 3-21 to 1-21 and advance to the semi-finals of the Ulster senior football championship.

Conor Laverty’s men went toe-to-toe with the recently crowned Division 1 champions, who were chasing a third Ulster SFC title in-a-row, and came out on top with two late goals from Miceal Rooney ultimately proving the difference between the sides in the end.

Points from Daniel Guinness, Adam Crimmins and Patrick Havern helped the visitors to hold a 0-8 to 0-4 lead before Caolan McGonagle registered the game’s first goal for Donegal on 28 minutes.

Back-to-back points from Oisin Gallen moved the Tir Chonaill men in front, but more scores by Havern, Crimmins and Caolan Mooney saw Down going in with an unlikely 0-11 to 1-7 advantage at the break.

SENSATIONAL! 🤯

Daniel Guinness with a wonder goal for @officialdowngaa out of nowhere! #DONVDOW

Match clips brought to you by @AIB_GAA pic.twitter.com/rz9UPJ3iAA

— GAA+ (@GAAPlusOfficial) April 26, 2026

Michael Murphy and Gallen sent over early second-half points for Jim McGuinness’s side, with Havern (free) drawing things level ahead of Guinness hammering to Donegal’s net in the 43rd minute.

Havern added a two-pointer three minutes later and Odhran Murdock made it a five-point game ahead of Conor O’Donnell, Gallen and Murphy (free) hitting unanswered points and Jason McGee’s two-pointer squaring things up with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Down pushed three clear again though and, after O’Donnell pointed at the other end, Rooney would get in for his side’s second goal and bring them within touching distance of the upset.

A Peadar Mogan score from beyond the arc left things even more tense heading down the home stretch, but a Guinness point would be backed up by Rooney’s second goal which secured the famous win for the Mourne men as they now get set to face Armagh in seven days’ time for an Ulster SFC final berth.

AND IT'S IN THE BACK OF THE NET!!!!

Miceál Rooney with another goal for @officialdowngaa #DONVDOW Match clips courtesy of @AIB_GAA. A sensational upset from the Mourne men! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/o6SWcoN0Q2

— GAA+ (@GAAPlusOfficial) April 26, 2026

“I think the league final was good for us”

Conor Laverty says his side learned plenty from a tight Division 3 Final win over Wexford and that it’s only added fuel to their hunger heading into this one 💪 #DONVDOW

Matc clips courtesy of @AIB_GAA pic.twitter.com/HdCZkHjQL6

— GAA+ (@GAAPlusOfficial) April 26, 2026

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