Monaghan into All-Ireland SFC last eight as Down and Louth claim preliminary quarter-final spots
June 15, 2025
Micheál Bannigan of Monaghan scores a goal against Down ©INPHO/James Lawlor
Monaghan advanced directly into the quarter-finals of the All-Ireland senior football championship after defeating Down in the Group 3’s top-of-the-table clash in Armagh this afternoon.
It finished 2-27 to 1-26 at the BOX-It Athletic Grounds, where the Farney men were made to come from behind against their Mourne counterparts.
Micheál Bannigan's goal on the half-hour mark saw Monaghan drawing the game level at 1-12 apiece, with Conor Laverty’s men having netted 10 minutes beforehand via John McGeough.
Down still went on to edge a 1-15 to 1-14 lead at half-time and stretched it out to four after the change of ends but, ultimately, Garbiel Bannigan’s charges upped it a gear and Jack McCarron’s goal in the 50th minute would ignite them.
A McCarron two-pointer levelled the tie and the scores of Bannigan, Ryan O’Toole and Rory Beggan (two-point free) helped them to win out by four points in the end and clinch top spot in Group 3.
It was an All @UlsterGAA thriller in Group 3@monaghangaa 2-27@officialdowngaa 1-26
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 15, 2025
Watch the highlights here 🎥 #MONVDOW pic.twitter.com/lQen52m6TD
In Portlaoise, Louth recorded a hard fought 2-17 to 2-14 win against Clare to ensure themselves an away preliminary quarter-final and send the Banner men out of the Sam Maguire Cup race in the process.
The Leinster champions were 0-5 to 0-4 in front when Sam Mulroy buried in their first goal in the 20th minute and they’d have the ball in the Clare net again after a brilliant run and finish from Ciaran Downey.
From there, Ger Brennan’s side went on to hold a 2-8 to 0-6 at the half, but their Munster counterparts made the perfect restart which saw Rory McMahon firing to the Louth net.
Peter Keane’s men hung in after that and goaled again via Aaron Griffin on the hour mark before trimming their deficit to three with two minutes remaining, but they couldn’t get the goal they needed as the Wee County advanced to the knock-out stages.
TweetThe #SamMaguireCup Group 3 Table after Round 3.
— GAA League Tables (@GAALeagueTables) June 15, 2025
Down 1-26 v 2-27 Monaghan
Louth 2-17 v 2-14 Clare#GAA #SFC #GAALeagueTables pic.twitter.com/Udv6lxXpJ6
