Points surge sinks Down

Points surge sinks Down

27 June 2012 - by BY MATT FITZPATRICK

AFTER a good first half Down’s minor footballers lost their way in the final quarter as Monaghan came storming back with five unanswered points to snatch victory in Armagh and seal their place in the Ulster final.

Down had their chances. Conor McGrady had an effort cleared off the line with the keeper beaten and Sean McGonigle and Jack Haughey also went close to finding the back of the net.

Overall, Monaghan deserved to win. They played as a unit, were cool under pressure and moved the ball well. Down failed to capitalise on some good possession, gave away possession too easily and lacked the team work and finishing power of the opposition.

Monaghan have not won an Ulster minor title since 1945 and now they have every chance of breaking their duck when they meet either Tyrone or Derry in the Ulster final on July 22.

The Down defence generally played well for three quarters of the game but once Monaghan moved up a gear in the final quarter they struggled to contain the eager Farney attack.

Anthony Doherty,  (inset) Ruairi Wells, Donal McKeever and Joe McDermott in the half back line played hard throughout. However they found the Monaghan attack led by Ryan McAnespie, Conor McCarthy, Padraic Keenan and Fergal McGeough quite hard to contain, especially in the final quarter.

Daniel McCarthy was the Down midfield star in the first half and looked like being a match winner, but Monaghan shuffled their side with James McElroy taking over in the final 20 minutes as Monaghan began their big surge for victory.

Up front the Down attack was disjointed. Sean McGonigle, Tom Grimley and Ronan McAlinden worked overtime but with few rewards against a Monaghan defence in which Fergal Malone, Mark Magee, Shane Conlon and Ryan Wylie gave away few chances.

Down opened strongly and points from half back Donal McKeever and Daniel McCarthy saw them two ahead inside the opening six minutes. Midfielder David McAllister scored Monaghan’s opening point after eight minutes but two minutes later Conor McGrady lobbed over a Down point to restore the Mourne side’s two-point advantage.

Monaghan came storming back with points from Fergal McGeough and Conor McCarthy to level the game midway through the half.

Down had chances by McGonigle and Daniel McCarthy cleared before Ronan McAlinden pointed a free to regain the lead and two minutes from half time Conor McGrady added another Down point before having a goal attempt cleared off the line.

Two minutes into added time Padraic Keenan pointed a Monaghan free to leave the interval scoreline Down 0-5 Monaghan 0-4.

Monaghan were quickly out of the blocks for the second half and David McAllister levelled within ten seconds of the restart.

Down hit back strongly and a minute later Daniel McCarthy fired over the bar. When he added another point after eight minutes, Down were in control.

Sean McGonigle had his goal attempt cleared before David McAllister pointed for Monaghan. With twelve minutes of the half played Joe McDermott showed his attackers how to score as he raced through to give Down a two-point lead.

But that proved to be the last score for the Mourne lads. Monaghan stepped up a gear and took control. Points from Ryan Wylie and James McElroy had the sides level midway through the half.

Down managed a few dangerous raids but failed to score. With five minutes remaining Ryan McAnespie pointed to give Monaghan a lead they retained to the end.

Down: R. Burns; A. McDonald, A. Doherty, M. O’Hare; D. McKeever (0-1), R. Wells, J. McDermott (0-1); D. Doyle, D. McCarthy (0-3); C. Gallagher, S. McGonigle, R. McAlinden (0-1 free); C. McGrady (0-2), T. Grimley, J. Haughey. Subs: D. McAleenan for Haughey (40), D. McKeown for McAlinden (53), C. Foy for McGrady (62).

Monaghan: C. Forde; R. Wylie (0-1), M. Magee, F. Malone; S. Buckley, S. Conlon, B. Hanratty; J. McElroy (0-1), B. Greenan; P. Keenan (0- 1 free), D, McAllister (0-3), C. McCarthy (0-2 frees); A. Treanor, R. McAnespie (0-1), F. McGeough (0-1). Subs: C. Hughes for Hanratty (25), C. Lavelle for McGeough (40), D. McElroy for, Conlon (56); D. Dolan (0-1) for McAllister

     (63).

Referee: S. McLaughlin (Donegal).

Final score: Monaghan 0-11 Down 0-8.