Monaghan brushed aside a disappointing Down side with a comfortable 2-22 to 0-09 victory at St. Tiernach's Park in Clones.

An inexperienced Down side kept in touch with the home side right up until the break, trailing their hosts by 0-09 to 0-06 at the interval. 

However, their challenge soon faded after the restart as the Farney men kicked it up a gear, outscoring their opponents 2-13 to 0-03 in the second half. 

Kieran Hughes and Owen Duffy both raised the green flag with emphatic finishes with the Monaghan forwards keeping the scoreboard ticking over. 

They have now set up a meeting with either Donegal or Fermanagh in the Ulster semi-final.

Here are some of the best pictures.

A Down fan before the game
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Presseye/Andrew Paton

Shane Carey of Monaghan with Conor Magin and Gerard Collins of Down
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Presseye/Andrew Paton

Stephen Kane of Down and Dermot Malone of Monaghan
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Presseye/Andrew Paton

Kieran Hughes of Monaghan with Joe Murphy of Down
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Presseye/Andrew Paton

Kieran Hughes of Monaghan and Kevin McKernan of Down
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Presseye/Andrew Paton

Dermot Malone of Monaghan gets away from Darren O'Hagan and Joe Murphy of Down
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Presseye/Andrew Paton