Allianz National Football League Division Three
Monaghan 1-12 Sligo 0-7 3/3/13
Monaghan returned to winning ways in the NFL when they cruised past Sligo in Clones on Sunday. Monaghan, who led from start to finish, were on top throughout, even if some poor finishing prevented them from making it count in the first half. The hosts eventually pulled away when Christopher McGuinness scored the only goal, meaning the margin between the teams was the only issue in the last 25 minutes.
Malachy O’Rourke, who gave NFL debuts to goalkeeper Rory Beggan and substitute Stephen Smyth, was forced to start without the injured Darren Hughes, but it mattered little. Monaghan had good performances from Dessie Mone, Colin Walshe, Kieran Hughes, Owen Duffy and Dick Clerkin, while Adrian Marren fought a long battle up front for Sligo, despite the best efforts of Stephen Gilmartin and Charlie Harrison further back.
In a scrappy opening, Monaghan got up and running in the eighth minute through Owen Duffy, who eventually doubled his and his team’s tally on 21 minutes. Adrian Marren got Sligo off the mark a minute later with a good point and although Paul Finlay replied from a 40-metre free, Marren kicked another fine score to keep Sligo in touch. Kieran Hughes punched a high ball from Finlay over the bar to double Monaghan’s lead once again, before Dick Clerkin landed a spectacular left-footed point from the left wing. Hughes added his second point to give Monaghan a 0-6 to 0-2 lead at half-time.
Monaghan keeper Rory Beggan got the first score of the second half with a well-struck ’45 and although Niall Murphy replied with a well-taken point, Monaghan restored their five-point lead through Hughes. The hosts struck for the game’s only goal in the 45th minute when Christopher McGuinness raced through at the end of a flowing move to round Philip Greene and fire home. A 20-metre free by Tommy Freeman opened up a nine-point gap, but Marren got one back after good approach play by Johnny Kelly and Murphy. Another Freeman free was cancelled out by Marren, before Pat Hughes, who was then denied a possible goal by a Fintan Kelly block. Colin Walshe got forward to kick a point for Monaghan, and although Marren hit two in a row for the visitors, McGuinness landed a nice point to give Monaghan eight to spare in the end. Next up for Monaghan is a top-of-the-table clash with neighbours Fermanagh in Enniskillen next Saturday.
Monaghan: R Beggan (0-1, ’45); K Duffy, D Mone, F Kelly; K O’Connell, N McAdam, C Walshe (0-1); O Lennon (Capt.), D Clerkin (0-1); G Doogan, K Hughes (0-3), O Duffy (0-2); C McGuinness (1-1), P Finlay (0-1f), T Freeman (0-2f).
Sub: S Smyth for Freeman (63 mins).
Sligo: P Greene; C Harrison, J Martin, R Donovan; N Ewing, A McIntyre, M Quinn; S Gilmartin, S McManus; M Breheny, P Hughes B Curran; B Egan, N Murphy (0-1), A Marren (0-6, 2f).
Subs: F Quinn for Curran (34), J Kelly for Egan (H-T), B McGovern for Greene (inj., 46), J Kilcullen for Breheny (49), K Cawley for Ewing (inj., 57).
Referee: S McLaughlin (Donegal).
By michael Sun 3rd Mar
