Down Came out blazing against Division Two league leaders Monaghan but are relegated despite their win
Allianz League Division 2,
Venue: St Tiernach’s Park, Clones, 23rg March 2025,
Final Score: Monaghan 2-17 Down 0-24.
Down travelled to face Division Two leaders Monaghan and the home side succeeded in moving up to Division One in the Allianz National League despite a gutsy performance by Down holding on to a one point lead at the final whistle writes Jim Masson.
But it was Monaghan who struck first with a goal in the first minute on a quick break from Michael Bannigan yards from the goalmouth.
Despite the setback of going a goal down on Monaghan’s ground, Down clawed their way back with points from Pat Havern and Ryan McEvoy. Then Havern went wide as Down stepped up the attacks.
McEvoy was unlucky with a kick which bounced off the Monaghan post then as Down kept up the pressure Havern squeezed another point from Down who were doing most of the attacking.
James Guinness made an excellent run from a pass by McEvoy but he was well marked with two defenders on him.
Daniel Guinness and James Guiness made a fast charge at the Monaghan goal and almost scored. This attacked wa sfollowed by another from Patrick McCarthy passing to Danny Magill who kicked wide.
Monaghan’s Andrew Woods received the ball through and charged the own goal but goalkeeper Ronan Burns made a great reflex to deny him.The home team still had not scored by 17 minutes since their early goal and the score was 0-7 to 1-0.
Down were attacking with gusto as they had nothing to lose and Havern struck another point. Then Monaghan eventually pulled back a point quickly.
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Odhran Murdock was unlucky not to nip the ball in to the Monaghan net with a low volley but it just went inches wide the wrong side of the post.
There was no holding Down back. On one attack James Guinness launched a solid volley but it reverberated off keeper Rory Beggan who cam out to close down the angle.
Monaghan fought back and Michael Caville hit his shot wide. Then Down charged again as the referee allowed an extra two minutes in the first half but Monaghan managed to build an attack into the Down half and under pressure James Guinness gave away a free which was converted by Michael Bannigan.
At half-time the score sat 0-11 for Down and 1-03 for Monaghan with Down showing what they are capable of.
As the second period commenced, John McGeough scored an early point for Down. And Magill took a point after patiently holding the ball fighting off a persistent defender.
Down were showing good, crisp passing and looked the sharper of the two sides as Havern took another point.
Then good passing from James Guinness to McGeough to Magill saw another point on the board followed by one from Murdock.
At this stage of the match, Monaghan were 10 points behind and then came to life to try and steal the match from Down.
Monaghan keeper Rory Beggan who had been playing quite a bit outfield took a free and under the new rules and scored a two-pointer, claiming 2 in the match. This seemed to lift Monaghan who raised their game. There was a flurry of points from the home side and they received another two-pointer from sub Dessie Ward.
Then the turning point almost came for Monaghan when David Garland scored a goal closing the goal difference to one point with just minutes to play.
Down replied with a point from Havern and Down clocked up another point with Down’s Shay Millar pointing late.
With Louth beating Meath, Down were on a one-way journey down a league to Division Three but they can claim some solace from beating a Division One team, Monaghan, after they adjust to a lower league.
Down managed to hold on to their one point lead in the end but Monagahan had fought hard to pull back the difference.
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Down team: 1 Ronan Burns (GK) 2 Peter Fegan 3 Pierce Laverty 4 Ceilim Doherty 5 Miceal Rooney 6 Daniel Guiness 7 Patrick McCarthy 8 Caolan Mooney 9 Ryan McEvoy 10 Danny Magill 11 Odhran Murdock 12 James Guiness 13 Shay Millar 14 Pat Havern 15 Conor McCrickard.
Down Scorers: Pat Havern 0-6; sub Ryan Magill 0-4 (1 2-pointer); Odhran Murdock 0-3; sub Eugene Branagan 0-2; Danny Magill 0-2; Ryan McEvoy 0-2; sub John McGeough 0-1; Caolán Mooney 0-1; Shay Millar 0-1; sub Patrick Brooks 0-1; James Guinness 0-1.
Monaghan team: 1 Rory Beggan (GK) 2 Ryan Wylie 3 Ciaran Duffy 4 Dylan Byrne 5 Ryan McAnespie6 Ryan O’Toole 7 Conor McCarthy 8 Gary Mohan 9 Michael McCarville 10 Stephen O’Hanlon 11 Michael Bannigan 12 Ciaran McNulty 13 David Garland 14 Andrew Woods 15 Jack McCarron.
