Monaghan 0-16

Cavan 0-15

MONAGHAN CAME FROM four points down in a second-half surge to book their place in the Ulster senior football championship semi-finals.

Conor McManus and Colin Walshe kicked late points as the visitors did just enough to avoid a shock in Breffni Park.

The 2013 Ulster champions will now play either Fermanagh or Antrim while Cavan head for the qualifiers.

Terry Hyland’s side went in front in the sixth minute when Michael Argue fisted them into a 0-2 to 0-1 lead and were never behind again until the 61st minute when Monaghan’s perfectly-timed rally peaked.

Cavan led 0-9 to 0-7 after a scrappy first half in which they frustrated the Monaghan attack and limited them to just a single McManus point from play.

Points from sub Ciaran Brady and Argue left them 0-13 to 0-9 in front and in control with just over 20 minutes remaining.

But Monaghan’s experience down the stretch was evident as Dick Clerkin and Colin Walshe came off the bench to kick important scores.

They held Cavan scoreless for 18 minutes before Martin Dunne equalised at 0-14 apiece with four minutes remaining.

McManus’s seventh of the afternoon, and then Walshe, sealed a win though Cavan did have one last chance at the death. Dunne chose to point his free, cutting the gap to the minimum, but there was no time for a final Cavan attack.

Scorers for Monaghan: Conor McManus 0-7 (5f), Paul Finlay 0-3 (3f), Dessie Mone, Darren Hughes, Karl O’Connell, Dick Clerkin, Colin Walshe, Kieran Hughes (1f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cavan: Niall McDermott 0-4 (4f), Martin Dunne 0-2 (1f), Cian Mackey 0-2 (1f), Gearoid McKiernan, Michael Argue 0-2 each, Ronan Flanagan, Ciaran Brady, Raymond Galligan (1f) 0-1 each.

Monaghan

1. Rory Beggan (Scotstown)

2. Dessie Mone (Clontibret)
3. Drew Wylie (Ballybay)
4. Ryan Wylie (Ballybay)

5. Fintan Kelly (Clones)
6. Vinny Corey (Clontibret)
7. Karl O’Connell (Tyholland)

8. Neil McAdam (Monaghan Harps)
23. Shane Carey (Scotstown)

24. Ryan McAnespie (Emyvale)
11. Paul Finlay (Ballybay)
12. Darren Hughes (Scotstown)

13. Dermot Malone (Castleblayney)
14. Kieran Hughes (Scotstown)
15. Conor McManus (Clontibrte)

Subs:

Stephen Gollogly for Malone (black card, 40)
Colin Walshe for Carey (43)
Dick Clerkin for Finlay (50)
Christopher McGuinness for McAnespie (53)

Cavan

16. Raymond Galligan (Lacken)

2. Jason McLoughlin (Shannon Gaels)
3. Rory Dunne (Redhills)
4. Ronan Flanagan (Castlerahan)

5. James McEnroe (Ramor Utd)
6. Feargal Flanagan (Butlersbridge)
7. Damien O’Reilly (Belturbet)

8. Tomas Corr (Denn)
9. Gearoid McKiernan (Swanlinbar)
10. Dara McVeety (Crosserlough)
11. Michael Argue (Bailieboro)
12. Martin Reilly (Killygarry)

13. Cian Mackey (Castlerahan)
23. Niall Murray (Cavan Gaels)
15. Niall McDermott (Ballinagh)

Subs:

Ciaran Brady for McEnroe (38)
Martin Dunne for O’Reilly (52)
Michael Lyng for Reilly (black card, 58)
Tom Hayes for Mackey (66)

Referee: Padraig Hughes (Armagh)

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