Rossies' third-quarter surge consigns Monaghan to second loss

NFL Division 1 Round 2

Roscommon 3-16

Monaghan 1-16

Colm Shalvey at Dr Hyde Park

Monaghan remain in search of their first points of the NFL campaign after a six-point loss away to Roscommon on Sunday.

Despite the return of Rory Beggan, a still-understrength Monaghan side were put to the sword in the third quarter, during which they were outscored by 2-8 to 0-4. Louis Kelly hit 1-1 inside the first five minutes as Monaghan got off to a flying start, but they gifted a goal to Enda Smith that gave Roscommon a foothold in the game.

The visitors still led by 1-8 to 1-6 at half-time, but Roscommon dominated after the restart, with a counter-attack goal from Diarmuid Murtagh and a second of the game from Smith (this time from a penalty), both punishing Monaghan mistakes to the maximum. The game petered out from there as Monaghan’s winless streak at Dr. Hyde Park continued, with this being their fifth consecutive loss there, stretching back to 2007.

Beggan’s return was one of four changes to Monaghan’s starting team from the opening-round loss to Armagh, with Ronan Boyle making his NFL debut, Louis Kelly making his first start of the inter-county season and Ryan McAnespie starting his first match since last June.

Jack Kiernan, Jason Irwin, Stephen Mooney and the injured Dylan Byrne made way. Mícheál McCarville was brought off the bench to become the third Scotstown man to appear in the county jersey this season. Still without their St. Brigid’s players, Roscommon retained 12 of their team that had almost caught Kerry, with Oisín Cregg, Niall Higgins and Robert Heneghan coming in for Eoin McCormack, Eoin Ward and Eoin Colleran.

Rory Beggan made his first appearance of the inter-county season and it was from his booming kick-out that Monaghan opened the scoring after Louis Kelly won the breaking ball and scythed through the home defence. The Truagh youngster, who had made his NFL debut at Dr. Hyde Park last year, glided into the scoring zone again a few minutes later and this time, he went for the jugular, firing a left-footed shot to the net. Points from Enda Smith and Dáire Cregg kept Roscommon in touch, but a well-struck two-pointer by Mícheál Bannigan moved Monaghan four clear in a hectic start.

The helter-skelter nature continued in the eighth minute when Monaghan made problems for themselves deep inside their own half, ending with a loose pass from Dessie Ward being seized on by Smith, who hit the net to bring the hosts back within one. The lively Darragh Heneghan cut in from the left wing to kick an equaliser, before a fisted point from Diarmuid Murtagh edged the hosts ahead for the first time.

Monaghan responded when Beggan converted a ’45 from the right flank, before the former All-Star keeper reacted to Conor Ryan’s shot that had been half-blocked by Ryan O’Toole to start a counter-attack that ended with a point from Ryan McAnespie. A Murtagh free levelled it up again, but another swift break from Monaghan saw Bannigan add to his tally, before Stephen O’Hanlon dropped deep to break a couple of challenges and release Andrew Woods to open his account.

Both teams went close to doubling their total of goals in quick succession, as Monaghan were grateful to Daragh McElearney for making a great clearance from what looked like a certainty for Smith, before McAnespie had one chalked off at the other end. He had palmed to the net after Karl Gallagher had been picked out by Aaron Carey, but Seán Hurson ruled that the Emyvale man had been in the square, after consulting with his umpires.

Beggan was sharp off his line to start another Monaghan counter that ended with a point from Gary Mohan, but after going 17 minutes without scoring, Roscommon closed the first half with a free by Cregg that left them trailing by just two at 1-8 to 1-6. Monaghan’s lead disappeared within a couple of minutes of the restart after fisted points by wing-forwards Dylan Ruane and Darragh Heneghan and although Dessie Ward replied, the Rossies were straight back up the pitch for Murtagh to level it up for a sixth and final time.

That was the home side’s cue to take charge and Monaghan again contributed to their own downfall as Mohan’s pass sold Beggan short in the opposition half, leading to Smith leaving a couple of defenders in his wake and laying it off for Murtagh to hit the net from close range. Woods got a point back from a free, but the volume from the Roscommon supporters increased as Cregg curled over a two-point free from the left edge of the arc. Monaghan’s mounting problems increased on 46 minutes when they once again coughed up possession, allowing Roscommon to hit on the break, with Patrick Gavin being brought down by a despairing Ronan Boyle, allowing Smith to confidently hammer home the resulting penalty. Points from Bannigan and O’Hanlon offered some brief respite for the travelling fans, but as the Monaghan defence stood off Ruane, he tapped over to restore the six-point gap, which became eight when a breach of the ‘three-up’ rule gifted Murtagh a chance to send the umpires reaching for the orange flag.

Bannigan and sub Stephen Mooney were on target for Monaghan, but after Liam McDonald and Ward were both unable to convert from a promising attack, Roscommon took advantage of the turnover for 2023 All-Star Smith to take his haul to 2-2. Monaghan needed a McElearney interception to deny a likely fourth goal for the Connacht men, but even a breach of the ‘three-up’ rule didn’t offer any glimpse of an unlikely comeback, as Beggan’s free drifted wide. A couple of late goal-attempts came to nothing, with one from Carey being blocked down and a punched effort by Ward from Mooney’s cross flying just wide and while Monaghan did sign off with their second two-pointer of the afternoon via sub Eddie Walsh – their tenth scorer – it was very much Roscommon’s day.

Monaghan head to Croke Park on Saturday week to take on Dublin in what looks set to be a crucial game in their league campaign.

Roscommon: Aaron Brady; Patrick Gavin, Caelim Keogh, Niall Higgins; Oisín Cregg, Ronan Daly, Senan Lambe; Keith Doyle, Conor Ryan; Dylan Ruane (0-2), Enda Smith (2-2, 1-0 pen), Darragh Heneghan (0-2); Diarmuid Murtagh (Capt., 1-5, 1 2-pt-f, 0-1f), Dáire Cregg (0-4, 1 2-pt-f, 2f), Robert Heneghan.

Subs: Eoin Ward for O Cregg (H-T); Cathal Heneghan for D Cregg (48); Paul Carey (0-1) for R Heneghan (52); Jack Duggan for D Heneghan (59); Colm Neary for Ruane (65).

Monaghan: Rory Beggan (0-1, ’45); Daragh McElearney, Ryan O’Toole, Ronan Boyle; Thomas Hughes, Darragh Treanor, Dessie Ward (0-1); Karl Gallagher, Gary Mohan (0-1); Ryan McAnespie (0-1), Aaron Carey, Louis Kelly (1-1); Mícheál Bannigan (Capt., 0-5, 1 2-pt), Andrew Woods (0-2, 1f), Stephen O’Hanlon (0-1).

Subs: Mícheál McCarville for Kelly (37); Stephen Mooney (0-1) for McAnespie (45); Oisín McGorman for Hughes (47); Liam McDonald for Mohan (54); Eddie Walsh (0-2, 1 2-pt) for Woods (61).

Ref: Seán Hurson (Tyrone)