Kieran Duffy, Monaghan, and Patrick McCarthy, Down, in All-Ireland SFC action. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
All-Ireland SFC Group Three
Monaghan 2-27 (2-6-15) Down 1-26 (1-4-18)
By Paul Keane at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, Armagh
Fury, frenzy and a whole lot of fun in Armagh where Monaghan drew on all their big game experience to see off Down, top Group 3 and ultimately secure a prized All-Ireland SFC quarter-final place.
Four points down with 20 minutes to go in a cracking encounter, Monaghan turned a tricky situation into a hugely significant four-point win to underline their status as genuine All-Ireland contenders.
Jack McCarron's half-time introduction was vital with the Scotstown man striking a vital 1-3.
In what was a thrilling shoot-out for top spot between the two sides with perfect records in the group, Tailteann Cup holders Down led by that four-point margin with 50 minutes on the clock.
But McCarron's goal moments later got 2023 All-Ireland semi-finalists Monaghan going and the ciotog attacker added another two-pointer, as well as a single, before full-time.
Boss Gabriel Bannigan may be a little alarmed at just how many scoring opportunities Monaghan coughed up to a livewire Down side who picked off 1-26.
But with a dozen different scorers, and tonnes of experience in this Monaghan team, he will still believe that they can go deep into the All-Ireland series as they continue to excel under the new rules.
All is not lost for Conor Laverty's Down as they will still advance to an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final next weekend as runners up in Group 3.
Pat Havern hit a dozen points for the 2010 finalists but they will rue a couple of late missed opportunities as they fought desperately to reel Monaghan in. Coughing up four points for technical fouls were hugely costly too.
Both sides had been putting up big scores in the group stage so an open, attacking game was always anticipated and we weren't let down.
The first-half alone yielded a combined 2-29 with Down edging it by 1-15 to 1-14.
Monaghan edged the two-point count in that half, four to three, with goalkeeper Rory Beggan, who finished with 0-6, drilling two long-range frees.
Conor McCarthy and Michael McCarville curled over two beauties as well though the Farney's early 0-6 to 0-3 lead didn't last long.
Down were slightly better at sweeping up the breaking ball and created chance after chance for themselves.
They scored one goal, through John McGeough in the 21st minute, but could have had a couple more.
The McGeough goal came at the end of a speedy move up the field, a Danny Magill kick-pass up to the influential Ryan McEvoy followed by another 30m kick pass into McGeough who finished smartly.
But Beggan pulled off a great save to deny Magill a goal in the 30th minute, diving full length to his left to tip over.
Odhran Murdock fired just over close to half-time while Monaghan defender Ryan Wylie twice blocked goalbound efforts from James Guinness and Murdock.
Havern had a thrilling duel with Scotstown's Ryan O'Toole. O'Toole conceded 0-5 to Havern from play and the Down free-taker filled his boots from placed balls too, converting his second two-point free in the 43rd minute to leave Down 1-20 to 1-16 ahead at that stage.
They started the second-half strongly but suddenly found themselves in Monaghan's slipstream again as the promoted Division 2 team rallied.
Half-time substitute McCarron pulled Monaghan back with a 50th minute goal, finishing at the third attempt after McCarthy and Bannigan had gone close.
McCarron butchered a second goal chance soon after as the ball hit the post and bounced out to safety.
But the experienced attacker slotted a brilliant two-pointer in the 58th minute to tie a pulsating game up yet again, 2-21 to 1-24.
Monaghan brought all their big game know-how to bear in the closing 15 minutes or so as they managed the contest superbly, picking off points from O'Toole, Beggan and substitute David Garland to keep Down just about at arm's length.
Scorers for Monaghan: Jack McCarron 1-3 (1 tp, 1f), Rory Beggan 0-6 (3 tpf), Micheal Bannigan 1-2, Stephen O'Hanlon 0-3, Conor McCarthy 0-2 (tp), Micheal McCarville 0-2 (tp), Dessie Ward 0-2, Andrew Woods 0-2, Ryan O'Toole 0-2, Aaron Carey 0-1, Louis Kelly 0-1, David Garland 0-1.
Scorers for Down: Pat Havern 0-12 (3 tpf, 3fs), John McGeough 1-0, Danny Magill 0-4 (tp), Adam Crimmins 0-2, Daniel Guinness 0-2, Odhran Murdock 0-2 (0-1f), Conor McCrickard 0-2 (0-1f), Ceilum Doherty 0-1, Eugene Branagan 0-1.
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Killian Lavelle, Kieran Duffy, Dylan Byrne; Ryan Wylie, Ryan O'Toole, Aaron Carey; Micheal McCarville, Dessie Ward; Ryan McAnespie, Stephen O'Hanlon, Conor McCarthy; Andrew Woods, Micheal Bannigan, Stephen Mooney.
Subs: Jack McCarron for Mooney h/t, Louis Kelly for Lavelle 49, David Garland for Woods 57, Darren Hughes for Duffy 59, Ciaran McNulty for McAnespie 70.
Down: Ronan Burns; Peter Fegan, Pierce Laverty, Patrick McCarthy; Ceilum Doherty, Miceal Rooney, Ryan Magill; Odhran Murdock, James Guinness; Danny Magill, Pat Havern, Daniel Guinness; Adam Crimmins, John McGeough, Ryan McEvoy.
Subs: Caolan Mooney for James Guinness h/t, Eugene Branagan for Rooney 54, Conor McCrickard for McGeough 56, Oisin Savage for Ryan Magill 65, Aaron McClements for Crimmins 67.
Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).
