Ulster SFC: Monaghan defeat Cavan in Clones
Emmanuel Shehu, Cavan, and Karl Gallagher, Monaghan, in Ulster SFC action. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Ulster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final
Monaghan 0-27 Cavan 2-14
By Colm Shalvey at St Tiernach's Park
Monaghan set up an Ulster SFC semi-final meeting with Derry after a high-scoring derby win over Cavan in Clones.
A fast start sent Monaghan on their way as they raced into a five-point lead, although they needed some vital saves from Rory Beggan to stop Cavan from adding to the two goals they managed during the second half.
Stephen Mooney, Dessie Ward and Ulster SFC debutants Cameron Dowd and Daragh McElearney had big impacts for Monaghan as they ended their winless spell. Emmanuel Shehu and sub Darragh Lovett were bright for Cavan, who lost Dara McVeety to injury early in the second half.
Andrew Woods, Aaron Carey, Dessie Ward and David Garland were on target as Monaghan flew out of the traps, but Paddy Lynch and Oisín Brady responded to keep Cavan in touch.
Monaghan were on top for most of the first half, with two-pointers from Rory Beggan and Karl Gallagher, plus three white flags from Stephen Mooney helping them lead by 0-15 to 0-8 at the interval.
There was much more drama in the second half as Cavan threatened a comeback, with goals from Tiarnan Madden and Darragh Lovett helping the Breffni side cut their deficit to three by the hour mark.
Beggan denied Lynch twice, however, including from a penalty, as well as making a fine stop to divert a close-range effort from Lovett over the bar. A fifth point from Mooney helped Monaghan regain momentum late on and they pushed on with points from Beggan and Mícheál Bannigan to seal their first Ulster SFC win over their neighbours since 2017.
Cavan finished with 14 men after sub Favour Shehu was sent off on 68 minutes.
Scorers for Monaghan: Stephen Mooney 0-5; Rory Beggan 0-5 (1 2-pt-f, 3 ‘45s); Dessie Ward 0-4 (1 2-pt); Mícheál Bannigan 0-3 (1f); David Garland 0-2; Stephen O’Hanlon 0-2; Andrew Woods 0-2; Aaron Carey 0-2; Karl Gallagher 0-2 (1 2-pt).
Scorers for Cavan: Paddy Lynch 0-7 (1 2-pt-f, 1f); Darragh Lovett 1-1; Tiarnan Madden 1-1; Emmanuel Shehu 0-3 (1 2-pt); Oisín Brady 0-2
Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Dylan Byrne, Ryan O’Toole, Daragh McElearney; Dessie Ward, Louis Kelly, Cameron Dowd; Mícheál McCarville, Karl Gallagher; Aaron Carey, Mícheál Bannigan, Stephen O’Hanlon; David Garland, Andrew Woods, Stephen Mooney.
Subs: Conor McCarthy for Kelly (50); Bobby McCaul for Garland (51); Jack McCarron for Gallagher (57); Oisín McGorman for Woods (61); Killian Lavelle for Dowd (inj., 68).
Cavan: Liam Brady; Niall Carolan, Brían O’Connell, Cormac Brady; Ryan Tobin, Conor Brady, Peter Corrigan; Ryan Donohoe, Eoin Clarke; Emmanuel Shehu, Oisín Brady, Ciarán Brady (Arva); Tiarnan Madden, Dara McVeety, Paddy Lynch.
Subs: Gearóid McKiernan for Corrigan (18); Darragh Lovett for McVeety (inj., 41); Evan Crowe for O Brady (45); Caoimhan McGovern for Donohoe (51); Favour Shehu for Carolan (57).
Referee: Seán Hurson (Tyrone).
