Maginn’s goal helps battling Down earn a point

Down 1-11 Monaghan 0-14

Down clawed their way back from a seven-point deficit to snatch an unlikely draw against Ulster champions Monaghan yesterday.

Both sets of supporters got their money’s worth in an entertaining clash.

Down trailed by 0-10 to 0-4 at half-time and the brilliant Jack McCarron, who kicked seven points for Monaghan, stretched the visitors’ lead further in the first minute of the second-half.

However a 40th minute goal from Conor Maginn ignited a Down comeback and they closed the gap with points from Conor Garvey, Jerome Johnston and impressive substitute Ryan Johnston.

After the goal, Down had all the momentum and outscored their opponents 0-6 to 0-2.

League point
They scored the last three points of the game with Donal O'Hare converting an injury-time free from 35 metres to claim an opening league point.

“We were questioning ourselves at half-time and I questioned the players and thankfully they showed that this team does have a wee bit of bottle,” said Down manager James McCartan.

Monaghan were completely dominant in midfield in the first half and cut through the Down defence with wave after wave of attacks.

They reeled off six points without reply in 12 minutes, McCarron and newcomer Thomas Kerr settled quickly and scored five of those points.

Maginn's goal turned the game and suddenly Down were the team with all the momentum. With Eoin McCartan on target from play, Donal O'Hare reeled Monaghan in with three frees in the last quarter, including a late equaliser.
DOWN: S Harrison; D McCartan, P Turley, D O'Hagan; R Boyle, (0-1) A Carr, C Garvey (0-1); G McArdle, R Mallon; D O'Hanlon (0-1f), M Poland, J Johnston (0-2); D O'Hare (0-4, 4f), N Madine, C Maginn (1-0). Subs: R Johnston (0-1) for McArdle (21 mins), E McCartan (0-1) for Madine (55 mins), D Savage for J Johnston (67 mins).
MONAGHAN: R Beggan (0-1, f); F Kelly, D Wylie, R Wylie; C Walshe, D Mone, C Boyle; G Doogan, P Finlay (0-1); P Keenan, S Gollogly, T Kerr (0-2, 1f); J McCarron (0-7, 2f) C McGuinness (0-1), D Malone. Subs: C McManus (0-2, 0-1 free) for McGuinness (42 mins), K Duffy for Mone (49 mins), V Corey for D Wylie (54 mins), K Hughes for Gallogly (58 mins), O Lennon for Kerr (68 mins).
Referee: Cormac Reilly (Meath).