Monaghan 1-12 Sligo 0-7

MONAGHAN CLAIMED A comfortable eight-point victory against Sligo at St Tiernach’s Park in this afternoon’s Allianz NFL Division 3 clash.

The hosts led by 0-6 to 0-2 at half-time and could have been even further ahead if they were more clinical with their finishing.

With 21 minutes on the watch, the Farney men led by 0-2 to 0-0, with Owen Duffy knocking over both points.

After a low-scoring start, the pace of the game picked up but Sligo were over-reliant on top scorer Adrian Marren, who bagged six of his side’s seven points.

Monaghan scored the crucial goal nine minutes into the second half when Christopher McGuinness finished a flowing move.

That score put Monaghan 1-8 to 0-3 in front and in cruise control for the remainder of the game.

Marren knocked over four points for Sligo in the closing stages but Monaghan held on comfortably to claim a second victory from three League outings.

Monaghan: R Beggan (0-1, ’45); K Duffy, D Mone, F Kelly; K O’Connell, N McAdam, C Walshe (0-1); O Lennon (Capt.), D Clerkin (0-1); G Doogan, K Hughes (0-3), O Duffy (0-2); C McGuinness (1-1), P Finlay (0-1f), T Freeman (0-2f)

Sub: S Smyth for Freeman (63 mins).

Sligo: P Greene; C Harrison, J Martin, R Donovan; N Ewing, A McIntyre, M Quinn; S Gilmartin, S McManus; M Breheny, P Hughes B Curran; B Egan, N Murphy (0-1), A Marren (0-6, 2f).

Subs: F Quinn for Curran (34), J Kelly for Egan (H-T), B McGovern for Greene (inj., 46), J Kilcullen for Breheny (49), K Cawley for Ewing (inj., 57).

Sligo’s Adrian Marren (Pic: Inpho)

Roscommon 0-13 Wicklow 1-10

JACKO Dalton secured a draw for Wicklow with an equalising goal in stoppage time against hosts Roscommon at Dr. Hyde Park.

Conor McGraynor and Dalton were two names that were not on the Wicklow team sheet but the pair played significant roles as the visitors snatched a draw.

Roscommon led by two points at half-time and while James Sheerin notched a point 28 seconds after the restart for Wicklow, they would not score again for another 26 minutes.

Roscommon took over and points from Michael Finneran, Conor Daly and a brace from Donie Smith put them firmly in control.

McGraynor came off the bench to stop the rot for Wicklow with a well-taken ’45 and the Garden County hauled themselves back into contention.

A free from McGraynor and another point from play, scored by John McGrath, had Wicklow breathing down Roscommon’s necks down the home straight.

David O’Gara fisted Roscommon three points clear but in the second minute of stoppage time, Dalton fetched McGraynor’s long ball, turned and lashed home a super leveller.

Division 4 round-up: Wins for Tipp, Clare and Leitrim >