Allianz National Football League Division Two
Monaghan 2-17 Down 0-24
Monaghan secured a quick return to Division One of the NFL, despite losing in Clones to a Down side who were relegated even though they finished their campaign with two gutsy victories. After a lethargic first half, Monaghan came from nine points down to draw level late on, helped by Stephen O’Hanlon, Dessie Ward and Stephen Mooney making an impact off the bench. Down regrouped to get the win in a frantic finish, but it wasn’t enough to avoid going straight back to Division Three.
Monaghan made a dream start when Mícheál Bannigan raced through to fire to the net from the first attack, but they would go all of 20 minutes until they managed their first point of the game. Down took over with eight unanswered points (all from inside the arc), with Pat Havern, Eugene Branagan, Odhrán Murdock and Danny Magill among their scorers. Conor McCarthy ended Monaghan’s drought, while Bannigan chipped over a brace, but Havern, Murdock and Danny Magill added to their tallies to leave Down deservedly ahead by 0-11 to 1-3 at half-time.
Down extended their lead by kicking the first three scores of the second half through John McGeough, James Guinness and a Ryan Magill two-pointer, before a two-point free by Rory Beggan and the introduction of Stephen O’Hanlon belatedly got Monaghan going. The game burst to life during the final quarter, as a two-point score from sub Dessie Ward and a goal from David Garland brought Monaghan right back into it. Stephen Mooney also came off the bench to get on the scoresheet to bring the hosts level, but Down were able to respond via Havern, Ryan McEvoy and subs Caolán Mooney and Shay Millar.
Ward found his range from outside the arc again with the last play, but there was no more time for Monaghan to eke out an equaliser. The win wasn’t enough for Down, with Louth getting the result they needed against Meath. Monaghan will play Roscommon in the Division Two Final next Sunday.
Scorers for Monaghan: Mícheál Bannigan 1-4 (0-3f); Dessie Ward 0-5 (2 2-pt); Rory Beggan 0-4 (2 2-pt-f); David Garland 1-0; Stephen Mooney 0-2; Stephen O’Hanlon 0-1; Conor McCarthy 0-1.
Scorers for Down: Pat Havern 0-6 (4f); Ryan Magill 0-4 (1 2-pt); Odhrán Murdock 0-3; Eugene Branagan 0-2; Danny Magill 0-2; Ryan McEvoy 0-2; John McGeough 0-1; Caolán Mooney 0-1; Shay Millar 0-1; Patrick Brooks 0-1; James Guinness 0-1.
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Kevin Loughran, Kieran Duffy, Dylan Byrne; Ryan Wylie, Ryan O’Toole, Conor McCarthy; Joel Wilson, Mícheál McCarville; Ryan McAnespie, Mícheál Bannigan (Capt.), Ciarán McNulty; Jack McCarron, Andrew Woods, David Garland.
Subs: Gavin McPhillips for Wilson, Stephen O’Hanlon for McAnespie (both H-T); Stephen Mooney for McCarron (45); Dessie Ward for McCarville (46); Barry McBennett for Woods (67).
Down: Ronan Burns; Patrick McCarthy, Pierce Laverty, Peter Fagan; Daniel Guinness, Ceilum Doherty, Danny Magill; Odhrán Murdock, Ryan McEvoy; Míceál Rooney, Eugene Branagan, Ryan Magill; James Guinness, Pat Havern, John McGeough.
Subs: Caolán Mooney for Branagan (53); Aaron McClements for J Guinness, Shay Millar for McGeough (both 56); Patrick Brooks for Doherty (60); Adam Crimmins for Rooney (67).
Referee**:** Barry Tiernan (Dublin).
