The Monaghan minor footballers maintained their unbeaten start to Ulster championship group A after beating Down 1-17 to 1-13 at Clones.
Monaghan made a blistering start leading 1-4 to no score inside ten minutes. Killian Kearns with a penalty goal seven minutes in.
Down registered a penalty goal on 12 minutes making it a three-point game. However, Monaghan kept the visitors at arm’s length and held on to lead 1-8 to 1-4 at half-time.
The sides traded a point each after the restart before scores from Cian Rafferty (two) and Killian Kearns pushed Monaghan seven points clear.
A late rally followed from the Mourne men but Monaghan held on for a four-point win.
Meanwhile Cavan suffered a second straight defeat in group two going down 2-11 to 1-9 against Armagh at Kingspan Breffni.
A dominant first-half display gave Armagh the launchpad for victory. The visitors led 1-5 to 0-2 at the break, Joshua Shehu and Nathan Quigley with Cavan’s first-half points.
Cavan started the second half with intent. Ultan O’Reilly’s goal four minutes into the second half saw the Breffni men make it a one-point game.
The comeback was short-lived however. Aaron Garvey replied with a goal for Armagh on 39 minutes and the Orchard men held on for a five-point victory.
