Coyle's Monaghan back in business

Monaghan 0-14, Westmeath 1-09 (full-time)

Colm Coyle's Monaghan side is back in business. The former Meath star's unflappable belief in his young warriors was justified at St Tiernach's Park today.

However, they had to withstand a furious second comeback from Westmeath, who, had they taken even half of their goal chances, would have been in the draw for the second round of the Qualifiers.

Coyle insisted last weekend that his side should have beaten Down, and now he believes the Qualifiers can open up a route to Farney fulfilment.

Monaghan's sizzling start in the Clones sunshine saw them race into an early lead, with roving full forward Raymond Ronaghan at the heart of every positive move.

Solid at the back, and in command of the midfield region through Eoin Lennon and Jason Hughes, they cut strips through a hard-pressed Westmeath defence, running up a five points advantage inside the opening seven minutes.

Thomas Freeman, whose range of diagonal and direct running was wreaking havoc, thumped over three gems, and there were scores from Paul Finlay and Lennon as well to embroider some delightfully creative Farney football.

Freeman's marker was replaced after just 11 minutes, and while new man Karl Henson was marginally better than Fergal Murray, the bombardment continued, with Nicholas Corrigan racing through to score.

Westmeath's only score in the opening 20 minutes came from a Martin Flanagan free, and he and his fellow attackers could find no way to unlock a defence in which Dermot Duffy and James Coyle were simply outstanding.

The Leinster side's laboured build-up made them easy to close down, while Monaghan's more direct style continued to pay off.

They did go 15 minutes without a score, and after hitting eight wides, found the range again in the closing stages of the half, with Finlay converting two frees for a 0-9 to 0-2 interval lead.

Flanagan kicked Westmeath's first point from play early in the second half, but normal service was soon restored, with Freeman and Ronaghan combining sweetly to send Corrigan away for his second score.

Dessie Dolan and JP Casey began to move with some purpose in the Westmeath attack, but the resolute Duffy and Coyle were equal to all manner of challenge.

Nevertheless, Luke Dempsey's men were now more threatening and created goal chances.

Glenn Murphy had to be alert to deny Flanagan a goal, Dolan missed a sitter, dragging his shot wide with just the 'keeper to beat, and Alan Mangan blasted wide.

It was left to substitute Gary Dolan to finally hit the net, rifling home from 10 yards eight minutes from the end.

Now Monaghan looked strangely vulnerable, their lead cut to just two points and their opponents growing in confidence by the minute.

Another sub, Joe Fallon, steered a 45 between the posts, but two mammoth late frees from Finlay's cultured left boot retrieved the situation.