Vinny Corey's Monaghan fell to a four-point defeat to Down as the 2023 McKenna Cup got underway.
A goal in each half was the difference as Down registered a 2-10 to 12 point victory.
Andrew Gilmore found the Monaghan net on 16 minutes in a close game where Monaghan led by a point. The Down goal making it 1-3 to four points.
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Down led by three at half-time, 1-6 to six points. Oran Murtagh added Down's second goal two minutes into the second-half.
Monaghan did not collapse and saw scores from Francis Hughes, Stephen O'Hanlon (3), Michael Bannigan and Conor McCarthy eventually losing 2-10 to 12 points.
