Monaghan 1-20

Down 1-16 

(after extra-time)

Monaghan came from six points down in normal time to beat Down in an extra-time thriller at Healy Park and qualify for an Ulster MFC semi-final meeting with neighbours Cavan next month.

The Farney County were edged out by Derry after extra-time in last month's preliminary round at Celtic Park, but this time they finished with a flourish, outscoring their opponents by 0-5 to 0-1 in the second period of extra-time.

In a game which pitted former Monaghan and Down senior bosses Seamus 'Banty' McEnaney and James McCartan against each other, Down led by 0-3 to 0-0 after eight minutes and by 0-6 to 0-3 after 22 minutes. Jason Irwin scored the last point of the first half to leave Monaghan trailing by 0-3 to 0-6.

A Justin Clarke point and an Anthony Morgan goal pushed the Mourne County into a commanding 1-7 to 0-4 lead early in the second half, but a 44th minute Donnach Swinburne goal brought Monaghan back into it before a quartet of points from Karl Gallagher (two), Jordan McGarrell and Aaron Mulligan gave them the lead for the first time, 1-10 to 1-8.

They were still leading by a point before Ryan Connolly forced extra-time - 1-12 apiece - from a free in the sixth minute of stoppage-time.

The sides were still level - 1-15 each - at the end of the first period of extra-time, but the Farney dominated the second period when points from Mulligan (two), Sean Jones (two) and Robbie Hanratty finally broke the Mourne County's brave resistence.

Monaghan - R Farrelly; R Grimes, J Doogan, S Hanratty; C Flood, B Og O Dufaigh, J McGarrell (0-2); A Moore, J Wilson; A Mulligan (0-7, 2f), S Jones (0-3, 1f), K Gallagher (0-4); D Swinburne (1-1), L Power, J Irwin (0-1). Subs: M Meehan for C Flood (BC), O O'Hanlon for A Moore, D Dempsey (0-1) for L Power, R Hanratty (0-1) for J Irwin.

Down - D Sheridan; D Fegan, L Toal, R Tumilty; L Brannigan, G Fitzpatrick, A Crimmins; A Morgan (1-0), P McMullen (0-1); M Cunningham, J Clarke (0-2, 1f), T Close (0-1f); S Johnston (0-3, 2f), R Connolly (0-6, 2f), T Smyth (0-2). Sub: E Brown (0-1).

Referee - K Eannetta.

  

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