Ulster Senior Football Championship Preliminary Round

MONAGHAN 1-17 CAVAN 2-15

By Colm Shalvey at St. Tiernach's Park, Clones

The Ulster SFC began with a dramatic local derby in Clones, where Cavan pipped Monaghan after extra-time. Despite the game not quite reaching a penalty shoot-out, which had looked on the cards in the final moments, both goalkeepers were central to a dramatic finish, with Rory Beggan bringing Monaghan level very late on, only for Cavan captain Raymond Galligan to send over a superb winning free for the Breffni side.

Cavan had trailed by six heading to the hour mark, but a storming finish to the 70 minutes saw them claim the momentum going into extra-time. Martin Reilly’s goal inched Cavan closer to the finish line and although Monaghan twice levelled it up in the final minutes, Galligan’s long-range effort proved decisive.  

Cavan started brightly with points from Gearóid McKiernan and James Smith and although Mícheál Bannigan got Monaghan off the mark, Oisín Pierson found the net in the ninth minute to hand the visitors a four-point lead. Monaghan hit back with a purple patch before the first water break, as scores from Conor McManus (two), Stephen O’Hanlon and Ryan McAnespie brought them back on level terms.

Stephen Smith regained the lead for Cavan, but another McManus brace, either side of a fisted point by Kieran Duffy, moved Monaghan ahead for the first time. Monaghan had been threatening a goal, most notably when Conor McCarthy rattled the woodwork at the end of a flowing move, and they made a chance count when Duffy turned provider for McManus to send a left-footed shot past Raymond Galligan. Fintan Kelly added a point to move Monaghan seven clear at half-time: 1-11 to 1-4.

Like in the first half, Cavan began the second with the first two scores, via Oisín Kiernan and substitute Thomas Galligan. Fisted points by Duffy and Dessie Ward proved to be all Monaghan could manage into a stiffening breeze, while a brace of fine efforts from distance by Luke Fortune kept Cavan in touch.

Cavan showed much more urgency during the final quarter, with a McKiernan brace and a Martin Reilly effort making it a two-point game entering added time. Niall Murray halved Cavan’s deficit after taking an advanced mark, before Gerard Smith swung over an impressive equaliser to make it 1-13 apiece and force extra-time.

Neither side added to their tallies for the first eight minutes of extra-time, during which Monaghan were reduced to 14 men after sub Christopher McGuinness was sent off. The hosts did re-establish a narrow lead through points from subs Colin Walshe and Andrew Woods, but that was wiped out after the restart when Martin Reilly palmed to the net from point-blank range.

Shane Carey sent over from an attacking mark to quickly bring Monaghan back on level terms, while the final few minutes boiled down to a series of long-range frees. A Chris Conroy ’45 edged Cavan (who had Reilly black-carded late on) ahead and although Rory Beggan held his nerve from a similar range to square it up once more deep inside added time, his opposite number Raymond Galligan found his range from well outside the ’45 to send Cavan through to an Ulster quarter-final against Antrim.

Scorers for Monaghan: Conor McManus 1-4 (0-2f); Mícheál Bannigan 0-2; Kieran Duffy 0-2; Conor McCarthy 0-1; Ryan McAnespie 0-1; Rory Beggan 0-1f; Stephen O’Hanlon 0-1; Colin Walshe 0-1; Andrew Woods 0-1; Shane Carey 0-1 (m); Dessie Ward 0-1; Fintan Kelly 0-1.

Scorers for Cavan: Martin Reilly 1-1; Oisín Pierson 1-0; Gearóid McKiernan 0-3; Luke Fortune 0-2; Stephen Smith 0-2; Raymond Galligan 0-1f; Gerard Smith 0-1; Oisín Kiernan 0-1; James Smith 0-1; Niall Murray 0-1 (m); Thomas Galligan 0-1; Chris Conroy 0-1 (’45).

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Fintan Kelly, Conor Boyle, Ryan Wylie (Capt.); Ryan McAnespie, Drew Wylie, Karl O’Connell; Darren Hughes, Dessie Ward; Kieran Duffy, Conor McCarthy, Mícheál Bannigan; Stephen O’Hanlon, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus.Subs: Dermot Malone for D Wylie (26), Shane Carey for McCarthy (61), Niall Kearns for O’Hanlon (64), Christopher McGuinness for K Hughes (70).

Extra-time subs: Colin Walshe for Bannigan, Andrew Woods for Kelly (9), Conor McCarthy for O’Connell (16).

Cavan: Raymond Galligan (Capt.); Pádraig Faulkner, Killian Clarke, Jason McLoughlin; Gerard Smith, Luke Fortune, Ciarán Brady; James Smith, Killian Brady; Stephen Smith, Oisín Kiernan, Martin Reilly; Oisín Pierson, Cormac O’Reilly, Gearóid McKiernan. Subs: Thomas Galligan for J Smith (inj., H-T), Niall Murray for Pierson (40), Chris Conroy for C Brady, Thomas Edward Donohoe for O’Reilly (both 54), Paul Graham for K Brady (57).

Extra-time subs: Evan Doughty for Murray, Cormac Timoney for McLoughlin (20), Niall Murray for Donohoe (22).

Referee: Ciarán Branagan (Down).