Pat Havern replies for Down with a free that looked to be a two pointer but the umpire waves a white flag so it is only one.

WOW! What a start for Monaghan who rattle the net after just ten seconds of action.

Captain Micheal Bannigan powering through after his side won the throw before blasting to the net.

We're underway in Breffni Park.

Cavan have an outside chance of making it to the league final with the Ulster outfit locked on eight points along with Roscommon and Meath who sit ahead of them on score difference.

Cavan do have the advantage over Roscommon on head-to-head, but they would need Louth to avoid defeat against Meath and to seal victory of their own versus Cork for it to come to that

Sean Hurson the referee throws the ball in and we are underway.

Two changes on the Monaghan team - Sean Jones will now start on the bench wearing number eight with Gary Mohan ruled out completely, Joel Wilson will now start at midfield.

Kevin Loughran will start at right half-forward in place of Stephen O'Hanlon.

Conor Laverty makes three changes to the Down team named in the match programme. Eugene Branagan replaces Caolan Mooney.

Shay Millar drops out and Ryan Magill comes in while in the other corner-forward position Conor McCrickard drops to the bench and John McGeough starts.

It's opposite ends of the Division Two spectrum for both Monaghan and Down here in Clones today.

The Farney men are looking to secure promotion back to Division One and they can guarantee that with a victory while Down come to the home of Ulster football needing a win to have any chance of avoiding the drop to the third tier.

Monaghan were big winners away at Meath last time out to really stamp their promotion credentials while Down edged fellow relegation strugglers Westmeath to keep their survival credentials alive.

Gabriel Bannigan has had the full use of Rory Beggan for this league campaign after the Scotstown natives foray across the pond last spring and he has delivered in spades as his counties top scorer with 0-28.

Conor Laverty will look for a similar impact from his bench this week after they helped his side over the line in Newry last week. Adam Crimmins hit the winner and combined with Shay Millar for 0-5 off the bench with Millar in from the start today.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Ryan Wylie, Kieran Duffy, Dylan Byrne; Ryan McAnespie, Ryan O'Toole, Conor McCarthy; Gary Mohan, Michael McCarville; Stephen O'Hanlon, Michael Bannigan, Ciaran McNulty; David Garland, Andrew Woods, Jack McCarron.

Subs: Darragh Croarkin, Kevin Loughran, Gavin McPhillips, Darren Hughes, Dessie Ward, Joel Wilson, Barry McBennett, Darragh Treanor, Fergal Hanratty, Stephen Mooney, Karl O'Connell.

Down: Ronan Burns; Peter Fegan, Pierce Laverty, Ceilum Doherty; Miceal Rooney, Daniel Guinness, Patrick McCarthy; Caolan Mooney, Ryan McEvoy; Danny Magill, Odhran Murdock, James Guinness; Shay Millar, Pat Havern, Conor McCrickard.

Subs: John O'Hare, Ruairi McCormack, Eugene Branagan, Ryan Magill, Donal Scullion, Adam Crimmins, Aaron McClements, Andrew Gilmore, Gareth McKibben, Patrick Brooks, John McGeough.

Image source, BBC Sport

Welcome to what is invariably the craziest day in the inter-county football calendar.

Round seven of the Allianz Football League as all the downs and ups and divisional finals places are arrived at.

A few issues - four to be precise - have already been arrived at going into today with Derry, champions last year, definitely relegated from Division One, Westmeath and Leitrim suffering the dreaded drop in Divisions Two and Three after pointless campaigns to date and Wexford guaranteed promotion from Division Four.

But everything else remains to be decided although probably the main focus from today is who is going to join the Oak Leafers in dropping to Division Two?

Tyrone currently occupy the second relegation spot but could yet escape if they beat or indeed draw at home to Dublin with Armagh, Kerry and Mayo also in danger of suffering the drop.

Armagh host already-relegated Derry and have the head-to-head edge on the Red Hands having beaten them in round two.

At the top of Division One, Galway, Dublin and Donegal sit on eight points with Mayo and Kerry still in contention to reach the final as Galway host the Kingdom today and Mayo at home to Donegal.

In Division Two, Monaghan just need a draw against Down at Clones to secure a return to Division One but that may be no easy task with with the Mournemen fighting for their lives to avoid the drop as they stand in a relegation spot going into today.

A home victory over Cork could secure Cavan promotion with Meath and Roscommon the other sides still in contention for Division One places as they face relegation-threatened Louth and Westmeath.

In Division Three, Antrim need a minor miracle to survive as they face promotion hopefuls Kildare in Newbridge. The Saffrons need to win and hope that Sligo - who beat them in Belfast a week ago - lose against a Leitrim side that did not even fulfil their home fixture with Fermanagh last week because of a lack of players.

The Ernemen can still be promoted but it looks a long shot as they will need to beat Laois at home and Antrim to win at Newbridge in addition to Offaly beating Clare in Ennis.

Fasten your seat belts for what is certain to be a lively ride.

Image source, Inpho