Red card flurry as Cavan win

Cavan 1-10 Monaghan 0-5

In a fractious derby duel, referee Barry Cassidy (Derry) had to work overtime to keep a lid on proceedings as tempers consistently boiled over.

Cassidy sent three Monaghan players off and two home players. Monaghan talisman Conor McManus was first to be red-carded after his marker, Killian Brady, was left needing treatment 70 metres from the action. Seven minutes later, the numbers were evened up when Cavan’s leading scorer Martin Dunne saw red after Colin Walshe was left prostrate.

Crucially, while Dunne’s colleagues chipped in to minimise the loss of their star attacker, Monaghan were found wanting without McManus. Cavan’s bid to win the war looked promising when a point apiece by Alan Clarke and Mark McKeever (30) helped leave six points, 0-7 to 0-1 between the sides at the break.

The fireworks continued on the restart with Cavan’s John McCutcheon seeing red after a challenge on Darren Hughes just 90 seconds into the half.

Tommy Freeman’s introduction got Monaghan fans going and when Dick Clerkin pointed (43), the visitors were on a roll. It was to be a false dawn though as Martin Reilly converted a spot-kick (58) to leave Cavan 1-8 to 0-3 ahead.

The visitors’ woes were completed with the dismissals of Gavin Doogan (63) and Dessie Mone seconds later for second yellow card offences.

CAVAN: A O’Mara; K Brady, R Dunne, O Minagh; D O’Reilly, A Clarke (0-1), J McCutcheon; G McKiernan (0-3, 2f), T Corr; C Mackey (0-1), N McDermott, M McKeever (0-1); M Dunne (0-2, 1f), D Givney (0-1), J Brady (0-1, 1f. Subs: F Flanagan for K Brady (34); K Clarke for R Dunne (half-time); M Reilly (1-0) for N McDermott (52); N Murray for J Brady (65); J Hayes for F Flanagan (69).

MONAGHAN: M Keogh; K Duffy, F Kelly, C Walshe; D Mone, D Hughes, N McAdam; O Lennon, D Clerkin (0-1); G Doogan, P Donaghy, O Duffy; J McCarron, K Hughes, C McManus (0-1, 1f). Subs: M McElroy for N McAdam (23); T Freeman (0-2, 1f) for P Donaghy (39); C McGuinness for J McCarron (39); P Dooney (0-1) for O Duffy (55).

Referee: B Cassidy (Derry)