Monaghan comfortably send Cavan crashing out of Ulster

Ulster SFC round 1

Monaghan 0-27

Cavan 2-14

Paul Fitzpatrick at St Tiarnach’s Park

Monaghan will face Derry in the Ulster semi-final as they eased past Cavan in Clones, leading from gun to tape and surviving the concession of two second-half goals to win with seven points to spare.

While the visitors will point to a number of missed chances, including a Paddy Lynch penalty which was saved by Rory Beggan, Monaghan were the better side and deserving winners, carving out scoring opportunities much more easily. The home side started and finished the game stronger; they had eight different scorers in the first half as they posted their highest tally of the season and won by the widest margin in this fixture since 1972.

Sub Darragh Lovett’s goal and point in quick succession cut the gap to three with 10 minutes remaining as the Farney looked vulnerable for the first time but a Cavan breach, after Brían O’Connell had fisted the ball over, proved to be a major turning point. The ‘point’ was scratched off, Monaghan converted the subsequent free and all Breffni momentum was lost, with Favour Shehu subsequently picking up a straight red card as a contest which had roared into life petered out quietly.

Monaghan’s fast start set the tone. Andrew Woods opened the scoring inside the first minute, cutting in from the left to curl over neatly, and within two minutes Aaron Carey had doubled the advantage after good work in tight space. Dessie Ward, whose runs from deep caused Cavan endless trouble, added another from a tight angle soon after as by the third minute the Farney already led by three.

Cavan struggled to cope with Monaghan’s intensity around the middle third and the hosts repeatedly won primary possession. Carey struck again after Monaghan claimed the restart and drove straight through a passive defensive screen, pushing the margin out to four before the Breffni men had properly settled.

Ryan Donohoe struck the upright with an ambitious two-point attempt but the break fell kindly for Monaghan and they continued to apply pressure. A high delivery from Micheál McCarville caused problems and impressive championship debutant Cameron Dowd rose superbly before Garland converted the rebound after his effort clipped the crossbar. By the ninth minute, Monaghan were five to the good and moving the ball with confidence and purpose.

Cavan eventually opened their account through Lynch, a fisted point after good work from Niall Carolan, with Lynch adding another soon after following a turnover on the kick-out. But each time they threatened to gain a foothold, Monaghan responded.

Stephen O’Hanlon clipped an excellent score from a tight angle after burning past Brían O’Connell and Ward then produced a superb two-pointer which stretched the lead to seven.

Karl Gallagher added another two-pointer from the edge of the arc, his first in championship football, underlining Monaghan’s growing authority. Lynch did reply with a 55-metre free from the hands but Monaghan continued to find space inside the arc, with Stephen Mooney pointing on the turn after slick combination play involving Ward, Kelly and Garland.

At that stage Monaghan had eight different scorers on the board and were swarming Cavan in possession. The visitors did manage a brief rally, with Lynch converting again and Tiarnan Madden adding a neat left-footed effort after Conor Brady burst through, but Monaghan always seemed capable of opening them up in response. Another Oisin Brady point before half-time offered some encouragement but Monaghan still carried a deserved 0-15 to 0-8 lead into the break.

They resumed with a slight wind at their backs and quickly extended the margin when captain Bannigan jinked inside to score within seconds of the restart. A heavy challenge from Ward on Dara McVeety briefly halted play – McVeety would subsequently go off - but Monaghan continued to dictate matters territorially and tactically in the opening minutes of the second half.

Cavan, however, produced their best spell of the contest in the third quarter. Lynch pointed after good approach play involving O’Connell and Emmanuel Shehu, who was excellent in the second half, and when Ward conceded possession cheaply, Shehu raced clear to add another. Suddenly the gap was back to six and there was a sense that the contest might yet tighten.

A three-up infraction handed Beggan a presentable two-point free but he dragged it wide, offering Cavan further encouragement, before Garland steadied Monaghan with an excellent strike from the left wing. Woods followed with another neat point from the opposite side and again the hosts had breathing space.

The game’s defining sequence arrived shortly afterwards. Conor Brady surged forward through the centre and slipped a clever pass inside to Madden, who found the net as Cavan almost walked it in. The deficit was reduced to five and moments later ref Sean Hurson awarded a penalty after Carolan’s direct run through the middle caused panic in the Monaghan defence.

Lynch struck low to Beggan’s right but the Monaghan goalkeeper produced a good save, diving sharply to push the ball away and preserve his side’s advantage. It was a crucial intervention and Monaghan immediately capitalised. Ward steadied matters with a composed point and Beggan added a 45 to push the lead back out again.

Shehu kept Cavan in contention with an excellent two-pointer approaching the hour mark but Monaghan’s response was immediate once more. O’Hanlon’s pace created another opening which Bannigan finished and although Woods was denied a goal by Liam Brady at the other end, Monaghan continued to generate chances with relative ease.

Then came Cavan’s strongest spell. Lynch drove forward through the centre and slipped a clever pass to Lovett, who finished low to the net. From the next attack, Lovett again threatened and although Beggan produced another outstanding save, it came at the expense of a point, which reduced the gap to three entering the closing stages.

For the first time all afternoon, Monaghan looked vulnerable and the travelling support in the small crowd of 7,980 sensed an opportunity. When O’Connell fisted over what appeared to be another score to narrow the margin further, momentum seemed firmly with the visitors.

However, the effort was ruled out for a three-up infraction and the swing proved decisive. Bannigan converted the resulting free and Beggan followed with another 45 soon after as Monaghan regained control and slowed the tempo effectively.

Cavan’s frustration grew in the closing minutes and matters worsened when Favour Shehu was shown a straight red card following an off-the-ball incident with Bobby McCaul. By then the sting had gone from the contest and Monaghan closed out the game comfortably with Beggan adding a final late score to seal an authoritative victory.

Cavan: Liam Brady; Niall Carolan, Brían O’Connell, Cormac Brady; Peter Corrigan, Ciaran Brady, Conor Brady; Ryan Donohoe, Ryan Tobin; Tiarnan Madden, Eoin Clarke, Emmanuel Shehu; Dara McVeety; Patrick Lynch, Oisin Brady

Subs: Gearoid McKiernan for P Corrigan (19), Darragh Lovett for D McVeety (42), Evan Crowe for O Brady (46), Caoimhan McGovern for R Donohoe (52), Favour Shehu for N Carolan (58).

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Darragh McElearney, Ryan O’Toole, Dylan Byrne; Cameron Dowd, Dessie Ward, Aaron Carey; Micheál McCarville, Louis Kelly; Karl Gallagher, Micheál Bannigan, Stephen O’Hanlon; David Garland, Andrew Woods, Stephen Mooney

Subs: Conor McCarthy for L Kelly (51), Bobby McCaul for D Garland (52), Jack McCarron for K Gallagher (58), Oisin McGorman for A Woods (62), Killian Lavelle for C Dowd (68).

Ref: Sean Hurson (Tyrone)

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