Ulster U20 Football Championship: Down and Tyrone draw, while Monaghan beat Antrim

Down looked lively in the early stages against the Red Hands with Jamie Doran and Senan Carr in particular carrying a dual threat up front.

Tyrone, in contrast, came out of the starting blocks slowly and it was after the Mourne side had seized the early initiative that their opponents offered a riposte.

Doran made an impact on proceedings with a brace of points with Carr also on target but it was in the 26th minute that Down struck a particularly telling blow.

The Tyrone defence was caught off guard when the Mourne outfit launched an attack from deep that culminated in Donal Scullion firing home a superb goal.

Tyrone could only muster two points in reply from Oisín Gormley and Gavin Potter that saw them trail by 1-4 to 0-2 at the half-way stage.

But when Potter, Conor Owens and Noah Grimes stepped up the scoring rate after the break, Down came under pressure although it was a late point from Callum Daly that saw Tyrone ultimately gain parity of esteem

Monaghan, meanwhile, started briskly against Antrim who had fallen heavily to Tyrone in their opening game.

The Saffrons showed greater cohesion on this occasion and Tiernan McCormick and Tom Shivers posted points.

But after Fionan Carolan had landed two points for Monaghan, it was Bobby McCaul who helped cement the team’s lead at the half-way stage (1-3 to 0-4) when he slotted home a 17th minute goal.

In the second-half, though, Stephen Mooney landed five points to keep Monaghan in touch. And in the last quarter Monaghan dug deep to put Antrim under even more pressure.

But when Jonny Hannon plundered a goal for the Saffrons he looked to have given them the kiss of life but that was only until Kian Duffy immediately rifled home a spectacular goal to secure Monaghan’s 2-8 to 1-6 win.