There was redemption for Monaghan as they avenged their defeat by Down in the Ulster championship semi-final with an eight point 1-24 to 1-16 victory in Croke Park this evening in their Round 4B clash. They’ll now face Tyrone or Dublin in the All Ireland quarter final next weekend. It’ll be their fourth quarter final in five years and their seventh match in this years championship after victory over Fermanagh and Cavan in Ulster before defeat to Down followed by wins over Wexford and Carlow.
Monaghan and Down were locked level at 1-09 apiece at the interval with corner back Fintan Kelly netting the goal in the 26th minute. Incredibly it was his third goal in three successive games for Monaghan and here it is as described by Alan Gunn and Nudie Hughes live on Shannonside Northern Sound FM.
Connaire Harrison responded with Downs goal in the 33rd minute as the sides went in level. The second half though belonged to Monaghan as they outscored the Mourne men by 0-15 to 0-07. Clontibrets Conor McManus was in form from frees kicking eight of them in the match while adding a further two from play while Malachy ORourke’s successful manoeuvrings from the bench gave Monaghan the edge In the tie.
Alan Gunn caught up with many key people involved in the big game this evening
The Monaghan manager Malachy ORourke
Monaghans Kieran Hughes
Monaghans Colin Walshe
Monaghan: R Beggan; F Kelly (1-00), D Wylie, R Wylie (0-01); K O’Connell, C Walshe, K Duffy; K Hughes (0-03, 0-01f), D Hughes (0-03); R McAnespie, D Malone, G Doogan; S Carey, D Freeman, C McManus (0-10, 0-08f).
Subs: O Duffy (0-01) for Malone h/t, J McCarron (0-02) for Carey h/t, D Ward for Doogan 42, C McCarthy (0-04) for Freeman 46, V Corey for Walshe 62, Doogan for McAnespie 69, D Mone for O’Connell 71.
