Down maintained their impressive early season form with this 13-point McKenna Cup hammering of Monaghan at Clones.

Down 4-12
Monaghan 0-11

Building on their first round win over Armagh, James McCartan's side scored a whopping 3-7 between the 24th minute of the first half and the eighth minute of second half to leave the depleted home side shell-shocked. Though competitive early on, Monaghan could only manage three first half points and their fate was sealed by half-time when they trailed by 0-3 to 3-6.

Eamonn McEneaney's charges had no answer to the high-fielding Dan Gordon or the rampant Kalum King who scored a brace of first half goals from his new position on the edge of the square. Operating around midfield, former full back Gordon added a third major late in the first half to put the game beyond Monaghan's reach.

It became embarrassing for the home side when Benny Coulter rattled home a fourth Down goal eight minutes in the second half, but to their credit, they battled on and eight points from full forward Paul Finlay (five from frees) helped to put a more respectable look on the final scoreline. Tweet

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