The first of the All-Ireland quarter-finals was a game of choices and, while Sean Cavanagh’s decision to haul Conor McManus down midway through the second half stands out, some of Monaghan’s were just as damaging.

Stephen Gollogly has recovered from an eye injury to take his place in the Monaghan team to play Tyrone in Saturday's opening All-Ireland SFC quarter-final at Croke Park (throw-in 5pm).

Boom goes the cloak of invincibility! Or was it more like a whimper?

Monaghan 0-13 Donegal 0-07

Paul Finlay and Dermot Malone have been added to the Monaghan attack for their Ulster SFC final showdown with defending champions Donegal in Clones on Sunday (throw-in 4pm).

Dick Clerkin has been included in the Monaghan team for Saturday's Ulster SFC semi-final against Cavan in Clones (throw-in 7pm) despite doubts over his fitness.

Laois 2-12 Monaghan 0-12

A MUCH-maligned Offaly side produced one of the shocks of the All-Ireland SFC qualifier weekend with a deserved victory over Division One opponents Monaghan in Tullamore.

FIVE years ago, Jack O’Connor’s Kerry escaped from Monaghan with a hard-earned one-point win and the Kingdom manager later pinpointed the experience as a crucial staging post on the county’s path towards another All-Ireland title.

A NASTY mist had descended on Páirc Esler in Newry on Saturday night by the time the managers came back out to chew over this one.

The provincial club Football Championships got underway in Ulster and Connacht today, while there was also plenty of county football final action across the country.

THERE were no joyous group hugs afterwards. No-one wearing red sank to their knees or raised their heads towards the skies in wonder.

Kerry 1-16 Monaghan 1-12, Killarney

GALWAY may have gone on a scoring spree at Pearse Stadium yesterday but Joe Kernan was not getting carried away after he saw his side put Monaghan to the sword.

IT has been over four months since that crushing All-Ireland final defeat but the Cork footballers returned to competitive action for the first time yesterday with the sort of performance that oozed character and determination.

Kerry 1-13 Monaghan 0-13

MONAGHAN have made one change in personnel and a couple of positional switches from the team that started against Donegal for tomorrow’s All-Ireland qualifier against All Ireland champions, Kerry.

Playmaker Paul Finlay is back in the Monaghan team for tomorrow's GAA Football All-Ireland senior championship qualifier against Donegal (Ballybofey, throw-in 5pm), after seeing out his eight-week ban for verbal abuse of a match official.

WATERFORD coach Davy Fitzgerald has made two changes from the side that defeated Offaly last Saturday for Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final against Wexford in Semple Stadium.

Monaghan 1-12 Meath 0-10, Scotstown

Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney has kept faith with a winning line-up for tomorrow's crunch NFL Division 2 tie against Cavan at the Kingspan Breffni Park, throw-in 7pm.

Damien Freeman is to continue as captain of the Monaghan senior football team - it will be the fourth year that he has led the county side.

14-man Crossmaglen Rangers narrowly pulled through their quarter-final tie with Clontibret of Monaghan on a day of Senior Club Football Championship games that was dominated by action in Ulster.

The Monaghan County Committee has confirmed that Seamus McEnaney will remain in charge of the county's senior footballers for the 2008 season.

Monaghan's Vincent Corey has dismissed comments that he is the next Kieran Donaghy after the DCU Sigerson Cup winner was moved to full-forward from full-back during the Farney county's championship matches against Tyrone and Donegal.

Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney has opted to stick with the same team that started the recent qualifier win against Donegal for this Sunday's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Kerry (Croke Park, throw-in 2pm).

Waterford hurler Dan Shanahan and Monaghan footballer Vincent Corey have been honoured today with the Opel Gaelic Player of the Month awards for July.

Monaghan 2-12 Donegal 1-7

Tyrone won their 11th Ulster SFC title with a battling win over courageous Monaghan at Clones.

Derry 1-9 Monaghan 0-14

TICKETS for tomorrow’s Bank of Ireland Ulster football championship final will be on sale in the Croke Park area today.

Vincent Corey and Eoin Lennon have both been included in the Monaghan line-up for tomorrow's All-Ireland SFC second round qualifier against Wexford (Clones, throw-in 4.30pm).

Marty McElkennon's Monaghan side are verging on being at full strength for the visit Mayo to Clontibret on Sunday (throw-in 2.30pm).

Monaghan 0-17 Wexford 0-12

WITH Dave Bennett ruled out through injury, Brian Phelan retains his place at midfield on the Waterford hurling team to meet Offaly in tomorrow’s All-Ireland qualifier at Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow.

Paddy Bradley's spectacular one-man show ended the Ulster Championship dream of NFL Division Two champions Monaghan.

Monaghan have reacted to the loss of influential defender Vincent Corey by leaving a vacancy at corner-back for Sunday's Ulster clash with Down.