Mullingan proves the hero for Monaghan

AFTER EXTRA-TIME

AARON MULLIGAN was the hero as Monaghan came from six points behind to win an extra-time thriller at Healy Park and set up a semi-final date with Cavan.

Down eased into a three points lead on seven minutes, through Tom Smyth, Shealan Johnston (free) and Ryan Connolly. They went four clear with Connolly’s second point, but despite losing impressive wing-back Christopher Flood to a black card, the Farney trailed by 0-6 to 0-3 at the interval.

Down pushed further ahead when Smyth slipped a pass to Morgan for a brilliant goal just three minutes after the restart. Monaghan were back in it when Donnach Swinburne smashed home a 45th-minute goal. McGarrell brought the Farney level, with Mulligan and Gallagher pushing them two clear. But Down hit back as Connolly’s free in the sixth minute of stoppage time tied it up at 1-12 each. They were level, 1-15 each, midway through added time, but Mulligan added a couple of fine scores.

SCORERS – Monaghan: A Mulligan 0-7 (2f), D Swinburne 1-1, K Gallagher 0-4, S Jones 0-3 (1f), J McGarrell 0-2, J Irwin, D Dempsey, R Hanratty 0-1 each. Down: R Connolly 0-6 (2f), A Morgan 1-0, S Johnston 0-3 (2f), J Clarke (1f), T Smyth 0-2 each, T Close (f) E Brown, P McMullan 0-1 each.

DOWN – D Sheridan; D Fegan, L Toal, R Tumilty; L Brannigan, G Fitzpatrick, A Cribbins; M Cunningham, J Clarke, T Close; S Johnston, R Connolly, T Smyth.

MONAGHAN – R Farrelly; R Grimes, J Doogan, S Hanratty; C Flood, B Og O Dufaigh, J McGarrell; A Moore, J Wilson; A Mulligan, S Jones, K Gallagher, D Swinburne, L Power, J Irwin. Subs: M Meehan for Flood (BC 24), O O’Hanlon for Moore (35)

REF– K Eannetta (Tyrone)