Dark clouds lifting as Down turn the corner

A NASTY mist had descended on Páirc Esler in Newry on Saturday night by the time the managers came back out to chew over this one.

With the future clouded maybe it was appropriate that relegation issues should dominate the thoughts of the two bosses after this Ulster joust.

But while the theme may have been the same, their take on it was miles apart with Down’s James McCartan relieved their top-flight status was assured while Eamon McAneaney admitted Monaghan were in “a dogfight” to avoid relegation. McCartan, one suspects, was overplaying the relegation card for this win now gives the All-Ireland runners-up a shot at making the league final.