Ulster SFC Quarter Final: Donegal edge out Monaghan

Ulster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final

MONAGHAN 0-21 DONEGAL 0-23

from GAA.ie

Ulster champions Donegal are through to another provincial semi-final after they held off a late surge from Monaghan in Clones.

Having led from the fifth minute on, Donegal always looked the more likely winners, but a much-improved second-half performance from Monaghan ensured that this one went right down to the wire.

With Monaghan chasing their fifth two-point score of the half at the end, a kick-out from the excellent Shaun Patton went out for a sideline ball to the home side, who were left frustrated as the hooter sounded and David Coldrick called time on their comeback. Ciarán Thompson, Michael Langan and Peadar Mogan hit 13 points between them to fire Donegal to their second win of a championship season that promises much, while NFL Division Two winners Monaghan will take some heart from outscoring their opponents by 0-14 to 0-9 after the restart.

Monaghan enjoyed plenty of possession in the early stages, but despite opening the scoring through Gary Mohan, they were soon trailing a more clinical Donegal side, who had Michael Murphy, Dáire Ó Baoill on target twice each during the opening quarter. The next quarter was all about the accuracy of Peadar Mogan and Ciarán Thompson, who landed a series of impressive scores from both sides of the arc to put Donegal in charge. Half-backs Dessie Ward and Conor McCarthy kept Monaghan in touch, with Donegal leading by 0-14 to 0-8 at the break.

Jim McGuinness had the luxury of springing All-Star Oisín Gallen for the second half and he swiftly made his presence felt by kicking a point and setting up another for Michael Langan. Monaghan were finding their range with the breeze, however, as two-pointers from McCarthy, Ward, Mícheál Bannigan and sub Jack McCarron brought them right back into the contest. A couple more subs were on target, with Stephen Mooney’s two point for Monaghan being matched by Jamie Brennan for Donegal.

Langan hit four during the second half to keep the holders in the driving seat, while Finnbarr Roarty also get forward to put his name on the scoresheet, but Monaghan kept plugging away, with Ward firing over his second two-pointer late on to half their deficit. He went within inches of his third as Monaghan piled on the pressure in the closing moments, but Coldrick’s final whistle blew with Donegal still two to the good.

Donegal will play Down in the Ulster semi-finals next Sunday, while Monaghan will have to wait for the All-Ireland group stage.

Scorers for Monaghan: Dessie Ward 0-6 (2 2-pt); Mícheál Bannigan 0-5 (1 2-pt, 2f), Conor McCarthy 0-3 (1 2-pt); Stephen Mooney 0-2; Jack McCarron 0-2 (1 2-pt); Gary Mohan 0-1; Rory Beggan 0-1 (’45); Ryan McAnespie 0-1.

Scorers for Donegal: Ciarán Thompson 0-5 (1 2-pt, 1m); Michael Langan 0-4; Peadar Mogan 0-4; Michael Murphy 0-3 (1 2-pt-f); Dáire Ó Baoill 0-2; Jamie Brennan 0-2; Patrick McBrearty 0-1; Oisín Gallen 0-1; Finnbarr Roarty 0-1.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Ryan Wylie, Kieran Duffy, Dylan Byrne; Dessie Ward, Ryan O’Toole, Conor McCarthy; Mícheál McCarville, Gary Mohan; Ciarán McNulty, Mícheál Bannigan (Capt.), Ryan McAnespie; Stephen O’Hanlon, Andrew Woods, David Garland.

Subs: Jack McCarron for Garland, Gavin McPhillips for McCarville (both 29); Stephen Mooney for Woods (52); Joel Wilson for McNulty (60); Karl O’Connell for Byrne (64).

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finnbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Stephen McMenamin; Ryan McHugh, Ciarán Moore, Peadar Mogan; Hugh McFadden, Ciarán Thompson; Dáire Ó Baoill, Michael Langan, Shane O’Donnell; Patrick McBrearty (Capt.), Michael Murphy, Conor O’Donnell.

Subs: Oisín Gallen for C O’Donnell (H-T); Jason McGee for McFadden (46); Jamie Brennan for McBrearty, Aaron Doherty for Ó Baoill (both 51).

Temporary sub: Odhrán McFadden-Ferry for McHugh (29-H-T).

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).