Monaghan maelstrom sinks Down at Croke

2 August 2017

MONAGHAN gained revenge for their Ulster SFC semi-final loss to Down as they had eight points to spare in an entertaining contest at Croke Park on Saturday evening.

The Farneymen made three changes to their starting line-up before the game with Kieran Duffy, Ryan McAnespie and Darren Freeman all coming into the fold.

Down made one adjustment as Castlewellan’s Sean Dornan replaced Jerome Johnston in the full forward line.

It was Malachy O’Rourke’s charges that drew first blood with Darren Hughes setting the tone with an early minor. Kieran Hughes upped Monaghan’s advantage to two before Sean Dornan spurned a glorious goal chance for Down.

Referee Maurice Deegan adjudged that Dornan was fouled as he moved in on goal with Darragh O’Hanlon pointing the resultant free.

Down were soon back on terms as the marauding Caolan Mooney burst forward to strike between the sticks. Some of the play from both sides for the remainder of the first half was top quality.

Star of the show for the Mourne men was Connaire Harrison who notched 1-3 as he took turns in destroying three different markers.

Conor Maginn was the creator-in-chief for Harrison’s 33rd minute goal as he bustled through a crowd of Monaghan defenders before flicking the leather to the Glasdrumman sharpshooter who then bundled the ball under Rory Beggan.

Seven minutes previous to Harrison’s three-pointer, Monaghan corner back Fintan Kelly had a goal of his own when he found himself in space and the time to blast the ball past ‘keeper Michael Cunningham.

The warring Ulster entities went in at the break drawing 1-9 each.

There was a feeling that Down had been marginally the better side and should have been further ahead only for goal chance misses by Dornan and Kevin McKernan.

Monaghan hit a lot of wides and were lacking a cutting edge in attack at times.

O’Rourke rang the changes at the interval with Owen Duffy and Jack McCarron entering the fray.

Down had a disastrous third quarter and they were outscored 0-7 to 0-2 to trail 1-16 to 1-11.

The brilliant Conor McCarthy grabbed a couple of points with Shane Carey, Conor McManus and Ryan Wylie amongst the scorers.

Kieran Hughes was dominating the aerial battles around the middle as Down’s intensity levels began to fade.

Eamon Burns’ side did have two further goal chances with Harrison blasting over the bar after a great catch and turn.

The excellent Maginn also spurned a chance, but his was from a tight angle.

Monaghan were 1-17 to 1-12 up at this stage and despite a three point cameo from sub Jerome Johnston, the Farney men coasted the closing stages as Down tired.

Credit goes to the Monaghan subs who made a telling impact on the second half.

They accounted for 0-7 with Conor McCarthy superb in notching 0-4.

Down’s replacements had less of an impact bar Johnston’s effective contribution.

It’s Dublin next for Monaghan. Another huge challenge.

Down: Michael Cunningham, Niall McParland, Gerard McGovern, Darren O’Hagan, Darragh O’Hanlon (0-2), Conaill McGovern, Caolan Mooney (0-1), Peter Turley, Niall Donnelly, Kevin McKernan (0-2), Conor Maginn (0-2), Shay Millar (0-1), Sean Dornan, Connaire Harrison (1-4), Ryan Johnston. Subs: Jerome Johnston (0-3) for Dornan, Aidan Carr for Turley, Mark Poland for Maginn, David McKibbin (0-1) for Millar, Donal O’Hare for Mooney, Joe Murphy for R Johnston.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan, Fintan Kelly (1-0), Drew Wylie, Ryan Wylie (0-1), Karl O’Connell, Colin Walshe, Kieran Duffy, Kieran Hughes (0-3), Darren Hughes (0-3), Ryan McAnespie, Dermot Malone, Gavin Doogan, Shane Carey, Darren Freeman, Conor McManus (0-10). Subs: Owen Duffy (0-1) for Malone, Jack McCarron (0-2) for Carey, Dessie Ward for Doogan (blood sub), Conor McCarthy (0-4) for Freeman, Vinny Corey for Walshe, Doogan for McAnespie, Dessie Mone for O’Connell.

Down 1-6

Monaghan 1-24

ALL-IRELANAD SFC QUALIFIER

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