Monaghan 2-12

Cavan 0-10

 

By Joe Hanratty

 

MONAGHAN delivered another comprehensive win when they defeated Cavan in the Allianz Football League under lights at Breffni Park on Saturday evening. 

 

Two first half Monaghan goals from big full forward Raymond Ronaghan and Conor McManus effectively sealed this one for Monaghan. With an eight-point lead at half time the outcome never looked in doubt. Had Cavan managed an early goal in the second period they might have mounted some sort of a comeback. But that goal never looked on. The Monaghan defence were well on top of things with John Paul Mone anchoring a very secure and well-marshalled defence. Eoin Lennon dominated the midfield and though he picked up an ankle injury requiring him to exit the game there was no way back for Cavan.

 

They were down to 14 men with the sending off of Eddie Reilly and it was just a matter of playing out the time and opening the way for more panel members to be used. Cavan were never really up to the task and Seamus McEnaney will be well pleased in bagging two more valuable league points as Monaghan prepares for their next outing when they take on Armagh in Clones.

   

The opening ten minutes looked like an even affair as both side knocked over two points apiece with Seanie Johnston and Martin Reilly delivering for Cavan and Vincent Corey and Tommy Freeman (free) doing the business for Monaghan. Then in the 13th minute the game decisively swung in Monaghan’s direction when Tommy Freeman sent a good pass to Raymond Ronaghan who rocketed to the Cavan net. Conor McManus followed this with another Monaghan point and the visitors were on their way. 

 

While, Seanie Johnston pulled back a point for Cavan, Monaghan were on a roll and in the final ten minutes of the first half they ran rampant, hitting 1-3 on the trot and leaving the game past the point of rescue for the home side. Monaghan’s second goal came in the 26th minute when Conor McManus and Vincent Corey played a one-two while their points came through Paul Finlay and Tommy Freeman (2 frees). Eddie Reilly managed a point for Cavan before the break to leave the score at half time Monaghan 2-6 Cavan 0-4.

 

The third quarter saw Cavan improve somewhat but there was no real turnaround on in spite of the introduction of Jason Reilly. Then both sides hit three points apiece. The Cavan scores came from their most threatening and productive forward Seanie Johnston  (2) and substitute John Cunningham while Monaghan’s came from Conor McManus, Paul Finlay and Tommy Freeman.

 

But Cavan weren’t up to the task of staging a real comeback, and as the game entered the last quarter they effectively fizzled out and Monaghan opened up a nine-point lead as Tommy Freeman and substitute Eoin Dufy sent over two more scores. Cavan’s case was not helped when their corner forward Eddie Reilly was red carded. They did manage a couple of consolation points in the final minutes through Seanie Johnston (free) and Keith Fannin. For the Breffni men it is back to the drawing board while Monaghan march on and sit proudly on top of the table after two games.

 

Cavan: - James Reilly, Dermot Sheridan, Paraic Reilly, Michael Brides, Barry Watters, John McCutcheon, Keith Fannin (0-1), Lorcan Mulvey, Declan Gaffney, Martin Reilly (0-1), Michael Lyng, Anthony Forde, Eddie Reilly (0-1), Sean Johnston (0-6, 2frees), Rory Donohue.

 

Subs: John Cunningham (0-1) for D Gaffney, Jason Reilly for M Lyng, Michael Hannon for B Watters, Dermot McCabe for Lorcan Mulvey, Sean Brady for E Reilly,

 

Monaghan: - Padraig McBennett, Dessie Mone, John Paul Mone, Dermot McArdle, Damien Freeman, Gary McQuaid, Paul McGuigan, Dick Clerkin, Eoin Lennon, Paul Finlay (0-3, 2frees), Vincent Corey (0-1), Conor McManus (1-2), Rory Woods, Raymond Ronaghan (1-0), Tommy Freeman (0-5, 3frees).

 

Subs: Eoin Duffy (0-1) for C McManus, Steven Gollogly for R Ronaghan, Brendan McKenna for E Lennon, Darren Hughes for G McQuaid, Gary McEnaney for P McGuigan.