GAA: Down shock Monaghan to reach the Ulster final

Donal O'Hare was the hero for Down as they shocked Monaghan to reach the Ulster final for the first time in five years with a dramatic 1-14 to 0-15 victory at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh.

In that decider on July 16 they will face-off against a fancied Tyrone side, and although Down have not won a provincial crown since 1994, they will be full of confidence after a sensational win in front of 13,396 fans.

Darragh O'Hanlon scored the Down goal from a second-half penalty but they had to withstand a late Monaghan surge and six minutes of added time before they could celebrate a massive win.

Monaghan stormed into the game but, despite dominating the opening quarter, they trailed by 0-10 to 0-8 at half time - Monaghan were far too wasteful with their chances in the early stages.

Ryan Wylie gave them the lead after nine minutes but the impressive Connaire Harrison replied with Down's first point moments later.

Two scores from Darren Hughes and Jack McCarron looked to have put Monaghan in a more comfortable position but Down found their stride.

O'Hanlon slotted three frees to tie the game up, but five points in a row from Harrison (two), Shay Miller, O'Hanlon and Kevin McKernan gave them a big 0-9 to 0-5 lead coming up to half-time.

Down were constantly growing into the game and as the forwards pushed up on Rory Beggan's kick-outs Monaghan struggled to cope.

Owen Duffy scored a vital point for Monaghan in the 29th minute but that was cancelled out straight away by Conor Maginn down the other end.

Crucially Monaghan scored the last two points of the half, with McCarron and McManus on target but they still went into the interval two points in arrears.

Monaghan needed to score first at the start of the second half but Down obliged and it was their goalkeeper Mickey Cunningham who slotted a 45 in the 37th minute to extend their lead.

McKernan doubled his tally before Colin Walshe hauled down Niall Donnelly, and replacement referee Paddy Neilan - starting referee David Coldrick picked up an injury - awarded a penalty.

O'Hanlon had not missed from the placed kicks in the match prior to that and blasted his penalty past Beggan to give Down a 1-12 to 0-8 lead in the 42nd minute.

But Monaghan were always going to get their time in the ascendency and a couple of McManus frees kept them in touch before Darren Hughes scored a second point to drag them back to 1-13 to 0-12 behind with 17 minutes remaining.

Monaghan's bench was immense when they got over the line against Fermanagh and Cavan in the previous rounds and they made an impact again.

McCarron, McManus and Kieran Hughes all scored as Monaghan moved within a point.

It was a frantic finish to the game where Maginn had a goal disallowed for a foul on Rory Beggan, while McCarron missed a late free as Down held on.

Down: M Cunningham (0-1, 0-1 '45); N McParland, G McGovern, D O'Hagan; D O'Hanlon (1-5, 0-5f, 1-0 pen), C McGovern, C Mooney; K McKernan (0-2), N Donnelly; P Turley, C Maginn (0-1), S Millar (0-1); J Johnston, C Harrison (0-3), R Johnston.

Subs used: D O'Hare (0-1) for Harrison (53), J Murphy for McGovern (59), A Carr for Turley (67), D McKibbin for Mooney (67), M Poland for R Johnston (69).

Monaghan: R Beggan; F Kelly, D Wylie, R Wylie (0-1); C Walshe, V Corey, N McAdam; K Hughes (0-1), K O'Connell; D Hughes (0-2), K Duffy, O Duffy (0-1); C McCarthy (0-1), J McCarron (0-3, 0-2f), C McManus (0-6, 0-3f).

Subs used: R McAnespie for McAdam (42), D Ward for O Duffy (47), D Mone for K Duffy (47), D Malone for McCarthy (57), S Carey for D Hughes (62, BS), C Forde for Beggan (71, BS), Beggan for Forde (74).

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath) / Paddy Neilan (Roscommon).