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Ciaran downs Mourne men While most of Ireland reacted
to Monaghan’s fine win at the weekend away to Down with shock, GAA
supporters who watched the Farneymen in London earlier this year won’t
have been one bit surprised.
The side managed by Seamus McEnaney have been building for the last number
of seasons and a run in the Championship is now well within their capabilities.
Ciaran Hanratty was the star of the show on Sunday in Newry breaking home
side hearts after bagging a brace of goals in a highly-competitive Ulster
Championship clash.
The visitors got off to a handy start with sharpshooter Tommy Freeman
pointing within the first minute.
Then points from Shane Smyth and Stephen Gollogly stretched their lead
to 0-3 to no score.
Down were struggling to find any rhythm but then in the ninth minute they
found themselves right back in the clash. With the Monaghan backs ball-watching
Packie Downey cut inside to deliver a deadly finish to the back of the
net.
The game became scrappy in patches until the 25th minute when Hanratty
struck the first of his knockout blows. Using his speed and accuracy the
Castleblaney man fired to the Down net to set Monaghan up to take this
major scalp.
Playing like their lives depended on it both sides now came into their
own playing some scintillating free-flowing football.
Down substitute Paul Murphy kicked two quick-fire points with James McGovern
also on target to hand Down a narrow 1-7 to 1-6 half-time lead.
Tensions were rising with the passing minutes of the second-half and with
just five minutes left on the clock Down were leading by 1-13 to 1-12.
With Down trying desperately to hold onto their lead Monaghan substitute
Rory Woods spotted Hanratty loitering on the edge of the home side’s
square.
The Monaghan marksman made no mistake netting his second goal effectively
killing any late hope Down had of picking up the win.
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