Monaghan overcome UUJ in high scoring affair

Monaghan 4-16 UUJ 2-13

Monaghan opened their win account at the third attempt in the Dr McKenna Cup, overcoming UUJ on a 4-16 to 2-13 scoreline at Inniskeen.

The Farney men, who were beaten by Fermanagh and Armagh in their opening Group A games, had goals from Dermot Malone, Ciaran Hanratty and Hugh McElroy (2-3).

UUJ actually took the lead thanks to a Caolan O'Boyle goal but Malone and Hanratty found the students' net as Monaghan established a 2-8 to 1-5 half-time lead.

In an entertaining and high-scoring second half, McElroy knocked home a penalty to push Monaghan into a nine-point lead.

Darren Hughes, a Monaghan man himself, notched a goal in response for UUJ but a second major from McElroy made the game safe.

Hanratty and Malone finished with 1-3 and 1-1 respectively for the winners, while Hughes (1-2), O'Boyle (1-1), Ciaran Donnelly (0-3) and Colm Cavanagh (0-2) led the scoring for UUJ.