Monaghan maintain winning run

Monaghan 0-13 Down 0-11: Monaghan just about held out in a frenetic finish to make it two wins from two outings but they were pushed all the way by a resurgent Down who were a transformed side from their opening weekend drubbing by Donegal.

Manager Eamon Burns’s troubles hadn’t ended with that defeat as injuries and suspension forced him to shuffle his deck with five changes.

Ryan Johnston was out with a shoulder problem and Donal O’Hare, who was their best forward on that miserable night in Newry last time out, was red-carded in the dying embers rendering him ineligible.