THEY KEPT A GOOD MON DOWN
Mourne men withstand a strong Farney comeback to earn spot in the final
DOWN pulled off the shock of the summer to reach their Ulster final since 2012.
Monaghan were hot favourites to advance to a fourth provincial decider in five years, but they were out-played last night as Eamonn Burns’ side came of age in the Athletic Grounds.
Down hit five points in a row before half-time to lead 0-10 to 0-8.
Darragh O’hanlon’s penalty early in the second half pushed them clear but Monaghan rallied in the last quarter to set up a grandstand finish.
Down deservedly held on to book their place in the decider against Tyrone on July 16, with their fans streaming onto the pitch to celebrate a dramatic win.
Monaghan started well, leading 0-4 to 0-2 after 16 minutes.
Down were relying on frees by Darragh O’hanlon to hang in the game with Monaghan playing with more conviction in the early stages.
But from mid-way through the first half, Down exploded into life and Connaire Harrison was their main man up front.
He was a man possessed, giving Monaghan’s Drew Wylie the toughest game he’s had in a long time.
Harrison kicked three points from play and Down grew in confidence with each glorious score.
Monaghan hung on, somehow, with Conor Mccarthy’s point edging them 0-5 to 0-4 ahead in the 21st minute.
But from there, Down reeled off five points in a row in a breathless seven-minute spell.
Harrison levelled it and Shay Millar gave them the lead for the first time in the 23rd minute.
Harrison and another O’hanlon free stretched their lead further before Kevin Mckernan’s inspirational score from the right wing put them 0-9 to 0-5 up.
Monaghan scored three of the last four points before the break to cut the deficit to 0-10 to 0-8.
Owen Duffy’s fisted point stopped the rot and Mcmanus’ majestic curling left-foot point meant there was no need to panic.
But all hell broke loose at the start of the second half – including a change of ref with David Coldrick injured – as Down started like a steam train.
Within seven minutes of the restart, they had tagged on 1-2. with Darragh O’hanlon burying a penalty. Niall Donnelly was fouled in the square by Colin Walshe and the defender drilled it past Beggan to give real hope of a famous win.
Two O’hanlon frees put Down clear at 1-13 to 0-10 but Monaghan fought for their lives.
Darren Hughes and then a wellworked score finished by Mcmanus brought them close before a magic slice with Kieran Hughes’ left boot left a point between them with four minutes still to play.
That’s the way it stayed as the game headed into six minutes of injury-time.
Jack Mccarron missed a late chance to equalise with a free and Down broke down the field, with unmarked sub Donal O’hare making sure of a shock result.