Down 1-12 Monaghan 0-11
A sharper, hungrier Down proved too strong for Monaghan in most departments in this lively, if at times scrappy, encounter.
Played in greasy conditions from the off, mistakes and poor decision making abounded, Down hitting 17 wides in all, eight in the first half.
Down got off to a flying start and had the ball in the Monaghan net after just 23 seconds, Donal O’Hare crashing home after good work by Cathal Crilly.
Paul Meegan got Monaghan off the mark two minutes later with Packie Downey pushing Down three in front again after 4 minutes.
Down were dominating play at this stage and should have extended their lead but poor finishing saw them hit four wides in succession.
From that 12th minute on though the home side started to come more into the game and by the 15th minute they had levelled with points by Darren Hughes, Daniel McKenna and an excellent effort by Neil McAdam with Daniel McKenna then putting them in front for the first time with a point from a free in the 18th minute.
Traded points
Down equalised through Niall Madine and then retook the lead through O’Hare from a free. Kevin McKernan and Thomas Connolly traded points to leave them deadlocked going into the final 10 minutes of the first half half.
There was then goalmouth drama at both ends, Monaghan denied by the crossbar while Enda Duffy produced a point blank save to deny Arthur McConville. Only one further score was added, a point by Kevin McKernan to leave the half time score Down 1-5, Monaghan 0-7.
Goalkeeper Duffy was in action again on the resumption to deny Down yet again before Paul Devlin extended their lead to two after six minutes.
Monaghan responded with another good period that saw points by Darren Hughes, Daniel McKenna from a free and substitute Paul Finlay, the latter score seeing them retake the lead.
It was a lead though that was short-lived as Down rallied strongly entering the final quarter to hit five unanswered points between the 19th and 33rd minutes to push the visitors four points in front with minutes remaining.
Down finished much the stronger and they registered the final point of the game.
DOWN: K Gordon; D O'Hagan, L Howard, G Collins; D Turley, B McArdle, M Magee; P Fitzpatrick, N Madine (0-1); P Devlin (0-3, one free, one 45), P Downey (0-1), K McKernan (0-2); C Laverty, C Crilly, D O'Hare (1-2, 0-1 free). Subs: A McConville (0-1) for P Downey, C McKay for C Crilly, C Garvey (0-1) for L Howard, Luke Howard for P Fitzpatrick, K Anderson (0-1) for K McKernan.
MONAGHAN: E Duffy; K O'Connell, P McGuigan, R Wylie; M McElroy, D Wylie, P Kieran (0-1); D Hughes (0-2), N McAdam (0-1); B Greenan, D Malone, T Connolly (0-1), T Kerr, D McKenna (0-3, two frees), P Meegan (0-1). Subs: S Carey for B Greenan, O Duffy for T Kerr, P Finlay (0-2, one free) for D Wylie, D Mone for P Kieran, S Gollogly for T Connolly.
Referee: B Cassidy (Derry).
