Nicky Rackard Cup Quarter-Final
Monaghan 2-13 Donegal 6-12 16/5/15
Monaghan exited the Nicky Rackard Cup after giving 2013 winners Donegal a scare in Clones last Saturday. Monaghan twice led by five points, including at half-time, and despite losing Mark Treanor to injury, they were still on level terms going into the last five minutes of an entertaining game, but a ruthless finish saw Donegal hit the net four times to advance. Monaghan restricted Donegal’s high-scoring attack for most of the game, but the visitors’ late flourish skewed the final score. The end to this game brought a progressive year for Monaghan to a disappointing end, but it was a spirited performance, led by Niall Garland, Stephen Lambe and Conor McKenna. Ronan McDermott was in blistering form for Donegal, hitting four goals, while Seán McVeigh, Ciarán Mathewson, Kevin Campbell also chipped in with a combined 2-10 as they set up an all-Ulster semi-final against Armagh.
Monaghan: K Hanniffy; J Guinan, K Crawley, B Flanagan; A Kenny, P Treanor, C McKenna (0-1); D Crowe (0-1), É Mac Suibhne (Capt., 0-1); F Rafter (0-1), M Treanor, R Meegan (0-6, 5f); M Murphy, S Lambe (0-3), N Garland (2-0).
Subs: C Meegan for M Treanor (inj., 34 mins), P Dowdall for Mac Suibhne (61), T Forde for Rafter (66), H Byrne for Meegan (68).
Donegal: P Burns; M Callaghan, J Donnelly, J Boyle (0-1); J Downey, C McDermott, N Cleary; D Cullen, S McVeigh (1-2); J O’Loughlin, K Campbell (0-4), E McDermott; B Lafferty (0-1), R McDermott (4-0), C Mathewson (1-4, 0-3f).
Subs: C Kilgannon for Downey (29), S Gillespie for O’Loughlin (61).
Referee: A Nash (Derry).
By cshalvey Sat 23rd May
