Monaghan played against the breeze in the first half. Leitrim got off the mark on the 2nd minute with a point from play. Leitrim had chances to increase their lead within the first 10minutes but hit 4 wides on the trot. Monaghan got off the mark in the 12th minute with a point from play by Eoin McQuaid after a period of wides from Monaghan. Leitrim hit their 2nd point 6minutes later with a point from a free. Leitrim hit the first of their goals in the 21st minute to leave Monaghan trailing by 4 points. Monaghan hit their 2nd point on the 23rd minute after a fine score by Stephen Finnegan. Leitrim score 2 points in the 28th and 29th minute to increase their lead. The 2nd of Leitrim’s goals followed in the 30th minute to push them further in front after Monaghan failed to clear their line. Cormac Duffy sent over a point from a free in the 32nd minute. Francis Hughes won the next kick out and Monaghan’s Jamie Walsh rifled the ball into the Leitrim net to close the deficit. However Leitrim had the last say of the half after when they hit their 3rd goal to leave the half time score Monaghan 1-03 Leitrim 3-04
Monaghan had a strong breeze in the 2nd half but it never look that way for the first 20 minutes. Leitrim started the brightest with a point in the 1st minute of the second half. Monaghan followed that score by Leitrim with a excellent score by Paddy O Neill after great work by Barry Kerr who had a great game from start to finish. Leitrim added to their account in the 8th minute with another point. Monaghan closed the gap with a point from a free on Conor Marry by Adam O Driscoll. The next 10 minutes was dominated by poor distribution by both teams. Leitrim managed to hit a point in the 19th minute of the second half to again increase their lead. And in the 26th minute of the second half Leitrim hit their 4th goal to leave Monaghan with all the work to do.. Monaghan did make a fine comeback and to the fore of that was James Daly, Barry Kerr and second half substitute Andrew McPhillips. The latter when introduced helped to drive Monaghan on and ignited a spark in the whole team that was missing until his introduction. Points by Ronan McDonald and the inspirational James Daly helped to drive Monaghan on. Conor Marry followed with another point and Andrew McPhillips scored his 1st point after a mighty catch by James Daly in midfield. With 5 minutes left Barry Kerr drove through the Leitrim defence to hit Monaghan’s second goal of the game to leave 4 points between the sides. Monaghan’s Niall Keenan scored a fine score in the 33rd minutes to leave for an exciting few minutes. Ronan McDonald kicked another point to leave the final score Leitrim 4-07 Monaghan 2-11
Monaghan Panel;
James Daly (Blackhill) Conor Duffy (Carrickmacross) Shane Lambe (Aughnamullen) Barry Kerr (Cremartin) Eoin McKearney (Ballybay) Niall Keenan (Donaghmoyne) Francis Hughes (Clontibret) Cormac Duffy (Ballybay) Eoin McQuaid (Clones) Patrick O Neill (Ballybay) Adam O Driscoll (Seans) Ronan McDonald (Donaghmoyne) Alan Kierans (Magheracloone) Killian Mooney (Killeevan) Stephen Finnegan (Donaghmoyne) Shane Woods (Donaghmoyne) Mark McMahon (Toome) Francis McNally (Clontibret) Fergal O Hanlon (Aghabog) Stephen Kerr (Emyvale) Conor Marry(Doohamlet) Jamie Walsh (Doohamlet) James Lavelle (Cremartin) John Mulligan (Monaghan Harps)
By poconnor Mon 17th Jun
