Cavan spring a surprise to advance to semi-final

Cavan advanced to the semi-final of the Ulster Senior Football Championship as they saw off Monaghan in Kingspan Breffni.

In front of a bumper crowd of 13,496 patrons the Breffni men raced into a lead they never relinquished.

Cavan began the livelier of the two sides and took a 1-2 to 0-0 lead thanks in no small part to a Martin Reilly penalty and points from Conor Brady and Niall Murray.

Rory Beggan and Conor McManus responded for Monaghan but it was Cavan who led the break 1-8 to 0-4 with Geroid McKiernan and Conor Madden both on target with two points apiece.

Monaghan launched a stern fightback in the second half with McManus, Shane Carey and Conor McCarthy all on target but Cavan withstood the rally and points from full back Padraig Faulkner and McKiernan helped them over the line.

They now await the winners of Armagh and Down.