Down show that they are getting closer to top form

ANY more sceptics in the audience? Further, and perhaps conclusive evidence, that Down have emerged from their slumbers was offered at Clones yesterday where Monaghan didn't possess enough power or guile to derail Pete McGrath's focused team.

There will be better Ulster senior football championship quarter-finals, but Down - hard-pressed to escape from the flailing clutches of their opponents for almost an hour - will not be unduly worried about such matters. The bottom line is that they have taken another step in the right direction and, importantly, some old heroes are rejoining the fray.

Was it mere coincidence, or something of greater significance, that Down only spurted clear of Monaghan when Ross Carr and Peter Withnell joined the action? Carr, especially, brought a greater precision to the Down attack and was a suitable foil for John Shorty Treanor, who was their attacking inspiration throughout.

Down were very much the masters and, yet, still have some work to do. For instance, they went 37 minutes of play, at one stage without a forward scoring (relying on defenders and midfielder Gregory McCartan to keep the flame alight) and, despite acquiring superior possession, were only a point ahead with 13 minutes remaining.

But a win is a win. For Monaghan, the harsh reality is that the team simply hasn't maintained its rate of progression over the past 12 months and, while pre-match injuries and one or two dubious refereeing decisions may provide some solace, the onus is now on them to use their time in Division Two of the National League to add extra bite and, also, to toughen up slightly.

Down's power was a vital part of their armoury. Greg McCartan and Conor Deegan gained a significant amount of possession around the middle of the park, the half-back line of Gary Mason, Micheal McGill and DJ Kane added strength and speed (and all three managed to score, into the bargain) while Brian Burns held Monaghan full-forward Peter Duffy scoreless, although the Down defender was somewhat fortunate to escape censure for an early second half challenge.

The "main man", though, was Treanor. Recalled from the wilderness by McGrath, the Burren man - "I'm now the wrong side of 30," he admits - was everywhere, even taking sideline balls from his own half-back line. The free-range ploy had Monaghan's centre half-back Joe Coyle, who endured a nightmare time, somewhat bemused and, by the time he was switched and Seamus Mullen given the marking duties, it was too late.

Ironicaly, Mdnaghan opened the stronger, giving their supporters in the crowd of 21,005 a glimpse of what the team's true potential might be. Slowey, Declan Smyth and Stephen McGinnity all tapped over points early on, with just a Treanor free in reply, to give Monaghan an 0-3 to 0-1 lead.

It was nip and tuck for a while but, when McGill sallied forth to kick an equalising point to make it 0-5 each in the 25th minute and, 30 seconds later, Gregory McCartan kicked Down into the lead for the first time, one sensed the pendulum had started to swing in one direction only, towards the Mourne mountains.

Indeed, Monaghan failed to score for a full 20 minutes - from the 23rd to the 43rd minutes - with a Slowey free ending that sequence while, coincidentally, 10 minutes later, a Mickey Linden point was the first time a Down forward had managed to score in a full 37 minutes, the intervening scores being provided by players further back.

Still, Monaghan, assisted in no small way by goalkeeper John O'Connor who pulled off two excellent saves, were hanging onto Down's coat-tails and a Smyth free in the 57th minute left them just a point adrift, 0-9 to 0-8.

Withnell had appeared on the field - accompanied by the loudest cheer of the day - in the 52nd minute (and was booked within two minutes, along with Monaghan full-back Ger McGuirk and Carr joined him on the field in the 60th minute. Thereafter, Down were in cruise mode.

The real damage was inflicted on Monaghan as the game entered its final phase. Down strung together five unanswered points from Mason, Gregory McCartan, James McCartan, Linden and Withnell to finally move comfortably clear, and Declan Loughman's late point for Monaghan was merely of the consolation sort.

Down may not quite be at the stage to suggest they can add another Sam Maguire to the titles won in 1991 and 1994. But they are getting ever closer.