Monaghan livewire attacker Ciaran
Hanratty bagged a brace of goals as
host side Down exited the Ulster SFC
(1-15 to 2-15) after a thrilling clash
at The Marshes in Newry.
The Castleblayney Faughs’ clubman was
on fire and his goals either side of
the half-time break proved key towards
propelling the Oriel County into the
last four of the championship.
Due to crowd congestion caused by fans
on their way to the venue, the match
was delayed for 15 minutes and
frustration seemed to be the name of
the game as Paul Grant and Monaghan’s
Paul Finlay were both yellow carded.
The play early on was of the frenetic
type and Monaghan opened the scoring
when Tommy Freeman broke through after
41 seconds and two another point from
Shane Smyth (5th) and Stephen Gollogly
- from a Ciaran Hanratty pass - left
Down trailing by 0-0 to 0-3.
Monaghan were rocked back on their
heels though in the 9th minute when
Packie Downey made hay from poor
marking to cut inside the Monaghan
defence and finish well to level
matters, 1-0 to 0-3.
Daniel Hughes followed up with a point
to edge the homesters in front but
Monaghan dug deep and a cracking goal
from Ciaran Hanratty propelled
Monaghan into a 1-5 to 1-3 lead with
25 minutes on the clock.
In what was a thoroughly entertaining
game, Down sub Paul Murphy popped up
two minutes later to make it a one
point game as the cracking atmosphere
and fluid football made for a riveting
afternoon for the fans.
Matters were then level on the
half-hour mark when Murphy notched his
second point in a row and when James
McGovern rifled over a free, Monaghan
seemed to be ruffled.
From there to the interval, it
continued to be a nip and tuck affair
with an injury time from by Paul
Finlay making it 1-6 apiece only for
James McGovern to send over another
free to leave the Mourne County one
point to the good, 1-7 to 1-6, at
half-time.
The second half followed the same
pattern as the first as the play
flowed from one end of the pitch to
the other.
Paul Finlay’s second point of the game
in the 39th minute levelled matters
once again, 1-8 to 1-8, only for Aidan
Carr to land also his second point
just two minutes later.
Then in quick succession Thomas
Freeman missed a very scoreable free
and Michael Walsh was left holding his
head after also shooting wide at the
other end of the pitch.
Monaghan boss Seamus McEnaney took
action to beef up his full-forward
line by introducing the bustling Rory
Woods in alongside messrs. Hanratty
and Freeman.
By the three-quarter mark, Monaghan
seemed to have the bit between their
teeth and Damien Freeman At the other
end of the field, Down almost bagged a
second goal but Benny Coulter’s shot
in the 52nd minute hit the post only
for Michael Walsh to point in the
follow up.
Down continued to edge matters on the
scoreboard and a point from sub. Paul
McComaskey left two points, 1-12 to
1-10, between the sides for the first
time in the match with 25 minutes of
the second half gone.
Down were still leading (1-13 to 1-12)
on the half-hour mark when sub. Woods
did marvellously to work the ball in
towards the Down goal before finding
the loitering Hanratty who finished to
the net with aplomb with 66 minutes on
the clock.
Hanratty’s goal left Monaghan in pole
position and when Paul Finlay swung
over his third point of the match from
near the sideline, suddenly Monaghan
were sitting pretty on the back of a
three points lead.
Down worked hard to counter and
Michael Walsh pointed after 70 minutes
of normal time.
Monaghan were not to be denied though
and Finlay restored his side’s three
points lead less than 40 seconds later
and when he followed up with another
dream effort in the 71st minute,
Down’s goose looked well and truly
cooked.
Aidan Carr was unerring again from a
free to leave just Hanratty’s goal
separating the sides but the Mourne
County couldn’t quite manage to chisel
out a match-saving goal and time ran
out on them to the delight of the
Monaghan fans in the packed ground.
Monaghan:
S Duffy; C Flanagan, G McQuaid, D
Morgan; D Mone, V Corey, B McKenna; E
Lennon, P Finlay (0-05, 1f); D Clerkin,
S Gollogly (0-02), D Freeman; C
Hanratty (2-01), S Smith (0-01), T
Freeman (0-05, 3f).
Subs used:
JP Mone for D Mone, R Woods for Smith,
C McManus (0-01) for Clerkin, D Mone
for Gollogly, P Meegan for McKenna.
Down:
M McVeigh, J Clarke, D Rooney, K
McGuigan, R Murtagh, B Grant, M Cole,
D Gordon (0-01), P Murphy (0-02), J
McGovern (0-04, 3f), A Carr (0-04, 3f,
1 '45'), R Sexton, D Hughes, P Downey
(1-00), B Coulter.
Subs used:
M Walsh (0-02) for Downey, P
McComiskey (0-01) for McGovern, S
Kearney (0-01) for Sexton.
Referee:
M Deegan (Laois).
Fans at the
Big Game - Photo by Louis McNally
