National Hurling League Division 4 round-up

Cavan 0-10 Monaghan 1-18, Longford 3-20 Leitrim 1-9, South Down 2-21 Fermanagh 2-18

Monaghan continue to blaze a trail in Division Four of the National Hurling League, this time seeing off the challenge of Cavan at Breffni Park on a scoreline of 1-18 to 0-10 points.

The win secures Monaghan’s place in the final while below them a battle rages to see who will join them in the final.

Mickey McHugh registered 0-6 points from play and was a constant threat in attack while Sean Leonard’s goal before the break left them leading 1-9 to five points.

Ex-Clare hurler and LIT Fitzgibbon Cup medal winner Bernard Gaffney, now plying his trade with the Cavan hurlers was his sides top scorer, tallying a total of ten points over the 70 minutes, even though they were all frees.

Ger Ruddy must be commended on a fabulous day between the posts for Monaghan, saving four close in frees from Gaffney when he went for goal. Outside of Gaffney, the midfield pair of Kieran Brennan and Eugene Hill put in strong performances but on the day they had to bow to superior opposition and the focus now turns to the Lory Meagher Cup which commences in under six weeks time.

Longford look set to join Monaghan in the final after they walloped Leitrim 3-20 to 1-9 at Pearse Park.

The win puts Longford on six points from four games and after Fermanagh and Cavan both lost, it looks a done deal at this stage.

Surprisingly, South Down defeated Fermanagh at Liatroim on a scoreline of 2-21 to 2-18 and that win sees them tied on points with Leitirm at the bottom.

Both sides will contest the Lory Meagher Cup again this year.