Monaghan 1-15
Cavan 0-15
MONAGHAN WILL FACE Down in the Ulster SFC semi-final after a three point win over Cavan in Kingspan Breffni today.
Ryan Connolly hit the post at the very death as Cavan chased a late equaliser, but Monaghan’s potency in front of goal ultimately proved the difference between the times.
The Farney trailed by two points at the interval but Conor McManus’s timely second-half goal set his side on the road to victory.
Considering the conditions it was a high quality game with 31 scores shared between the sides.
Backed by a strong breeze, Cavan led Monaghan by 0-9 to 0-7 at the interval after an entertaining opening 35 minutes.
Rory Beggan clipped over a couple of impressive placed balls from distance for the Farney, but scores from Cian Mackey, Seanie Johnston and Gearoid McKiernan left the home side two points to the good at the interval.
McManus’s goal midway through the second-half stun Cavan and pushed Monaghan into a lead they wouldn’t surrender.
Owen Duffy and Conor McCarthy curled over scores as Monaghan booked their place in the last four of the province.
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I just don’t get this. All the South Africans were back playing for their clubs the week after playing for their country. Cian Prendergast, the Connacht captain mind, didn’t feature at all. Conor Murray the same in Munster. Just wondering if our Irish panel of 45 players are a bit precious ?
@Pat Cooney: Ireland played a 4 games. South Africa only had to play 3. So a lot of there players had all of last week off and they can also afford to do as they have a lot better strength in depth than us having used something like 52 players in total in the last couple of months. Where as Bealham and Hansen started in every game this Autumn Int.
@Harry O’ Callaghan: on the other hand though, South Africa were also coming off the Rugby Championship.
@teuO6nLS: No, they used a lot of new players throughout that tournament and it was spaced out. We haven’t used anywhere close to 52 players this year and last year. They have the luxury of resting their big game players like Etzebeth, Kolisi, Pollard, Kriel, Kolbe, Le Roux because they have tow or three players practically as good in that position. We don’t unfortunately. We rely on keeping momentum with a core player group of around 25. Prendergast should definitely play for Connacht as he’s only played 15th a of rugby in the last 4 weeks. Bealham, Aki and Hansen definitely deserve a rest especially Bealham as his mental fatigue was obviously showing when he knocked the ball on 3 times and gave away a penalty in the opening quarter against Australia.
@Pat Cooney: They weren’t released back to their clubs. At least they’ve got plenty of rugby under their belts. Izzy is about to turn 25, has the grand total of 11 starts for Ulster and was also sat on his hole.
Makes sense, i think the IRFU would probably want to rest other players like Doris, VDF and Porter
@Owen ODonoghue: it’ll be left up to the clubs. Play them now but rest them over Xmas or rest them now but play them over Xmas. It’s been like that the past two years that they have to get two consecutive weeks off