Ulster Senior Football Championship Semi-Final
Down 1-14 Monaghan 0-15 24/6/17
Monaghan exited the Ulster SFC when they fell to a two-point defeat against Down in Armagh on Saturday. After Monaghan failed to make possession count in the early stages, Down made them pay with five unanswered points between the 22nd and 28th minutes giving them the advantage. The Mourne County led by 0-10 to 0-8 at half-time and they added the first 1-2 of the second half – the goal from a Darragh O’Hanlon penalty – to stretch their lead.
Monaghan hit seven of the game’s next eight points, including four from top scorer Conor McManus, but substitute Dónal O’Hare, who had replaced influential full-forward Connaire Harrison, hit the clincher for Down deep into added time. Down will face Tyrone in the Ulster final next month, while Monaghan face a long trip to Wexford for Round 2B of the All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers on Saturday week (July 8).
Down: M Cunningham (0-1, ’45); G McGovern, C McGovern, D O’Hagan (Capt.); D O’Hanlon (1-5, 1-0 pen, 0-5f), N McParland, C Mooney; P Turley, N Donnelly; S Millar (0-1), C Maginn (0-1), K McKernan (0-2); R Johnston, C Harrison (0-3), J Johnston.
Subs: D O’Hare (0-1) for Harrison (inj., 53 mins), J Murphy for C McGovern (58), D McKibbin for Mooney (64), A Carr for Turley, M Poland for R Johnston (both 67).
Monaghan: R Beggan; F Kelly, D Wylie, R Wylie (0-1); K O’Connell, V Corey, C Walshe (Capt.); K Hughes (0-1), N McAdam; D Hughes (0-2), K Duffy, O Duffy (0-1); C McCarthy (0-1), J McCarron (0-3, 2f), C McManus (0-6, 3f).
Subs: R McAnespie for McAdam (40), D Mone for K Duffy, D Ward for K Duffy (both 46), D Malone for McCarthy (56).
Temporary subs: S Carey for D Hughes (60-62), C Forde for Beggan (70-73).
Referee: D Coldrick (Meath) * replaced at half-time by P Neilan (Roscommon).
By cshalvey Tue 27th Jun
