By Colm Shalvey

Ulster U20 Football Championship Final

Down 3-15 Monaghan 1-14 (AET)

Down won a thrilling Ulster U-20 FC Final against Monaghan at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh. The game, which had been postponed by a week after the tragic death of Monaghan captain Brendan Óg Ó Dufaigh in the hours after his team’s semi-final win over Donegal, went all the way to extra-time, where Down eventually pulled away from their tiring opponents. Seán Jones kicked eight points for Monaghan, but despite missing some straightforward chances during the second half, Down had ten players on the scoresheet as they clinched their first provincial silverware at U-20/21 level since 2009.

Monaghan had started brightly with points from Daragh McElearney and Ronan Boyle and even though Down hit the net on seven minutes through Ruairí O’Hare, the impressive Seán Jones replied with a series of scores from all angles. With Down getting a grip of midfield after the water break, they moved ahead, helped by points from O’Hare, Shealan Johnston and Peter McMullan, but McElearney palmed to the net for Monaghan, who led by 1-9 to 1-7 at the end of a topsy-turvy first half.

Jones, Donnach Swinburne and Jason Irwin added to Monaghan’s tally during the third quarter, but with Andrew Gilmore making a big impact off the bench by kicking 1-2 (including a spectacular goal), Down regained the lead going into the last ten minutes. Monaghan responded through Kyle Connolly and Jones to level it up at 1-14 to 2-11, but they were unable to find any further scores during extra-time. Both sides started the extra 20 minutes with 14 men after added-time black cards for Monaghan sub Jack Doogan and Down’s Danny Magill.

Keeper Charlie Smyth converted a brace of long-range frees for Down during extra-time, while Gilmore and substitute Shea Croskey were also on target, before another sub, Justin Clarke, palmed home their third goal at the end of a lightning-fast counter-attack.

Monaghan could hold their heads up high after a traumatic fortnight for these young players, but it’s Down who progress to an All-Ireland semi-final against Connacht champions Roscommon.

Scorers for Down: Andrew Gilmore 1-3 (0-2f); Ruairí O’Hare 1-2; Justin Clarke 1-0; Shealan Johnston 0-2 (1f); Tom Smyth 0-2; Charlie Smyth 0-2f; Anthony Morgan 0-1; Peter McMullan 0-1; Danny Magill 0-1; Shea Croskey 0-1.

Scorers for Monaghan: Seán Jones 0-8 (3f); Daragh McElearney 1-1; Jason Irwin 0-2; Donnach Swinburne 0-1; Ronan Boyle 0-1; Kyle Connolly 0-1.

Down: Charlie Smyth; Tiernan Fettes (Joint-Capt.), Ryan Magill, Patrick McCarthy; Tom Smyth, Anthony Morgan, Lorcan Toal; Odhrán Murdock, Tom Close; Éamon Brown, Shealan Johnston (Joint-Capt.), Danny Magill; Peter McMullan, Ruairí O’Hare, John McGovern.

Subs: Andrew Gilmore for Brown (39); Seán Óg McCusker for Fettes (47); Justin Clarke for T Smyth (57); Shea Croskey for McGovern (58).

Extra-time subs: Liam McManus; John McGovern for D Magill (14); Patrick Brooks for McCarthy (20).

Monaghan: Ryan Farrelly; Ronan Grimes (Capt.), Thomas McPhillips, Ronan Boyle; Daragh McElearney, Shane Hanratty, Michael Meehan; Gavin McPhillips, Joel Wilson; Michael Hamill, Darragh Treanor, Shane Slevin; Donnach Swinburne, Seán Jones, Jason Irwin.

Subs: Kyle Connolly for Slevin (43); Jack McGeown for Hamill (51); Oisín O’Hanlon for Meehan (56); Jack Doogan for McPhillips (57); Liam McDonald for Irwin (60 + 3).

Extra-time subs: Jason Irwin for Wilson (8); Michael Hamill for O’Hanlon (H-T); Robbie Hanratty for Jones (14).

Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone).