Queen's claim opening McKenna Cup win

The College sides were most impressive in this afternoon's GAA action as Queen's University beat Monaghan in the McKenna Cup, and there were hurling wins for NUI Galway, Cork IT and Roscommon.

Both Queen's and Monaghan finished with 14 men in a high octane encounter at Clones, with the University side running out 0-13 to 0-9 winners.

Cathal O'Rourke's charges were met with a determined Monaghan challenge. The students went 0-5 to 0-3 in front with Tyrone's Niall McKenna and Derry's Charlie Kielt both on target.

Monaghan matched the visitors well early on and led by 0-2 to 0-1 following points from Paul Finlay and Martin McElroy after 12 minutes.

However, the hosts were dealt a major blow a minute later following a second yellow card for midfielder Francis Caulfield after a mistimed tackle on Kielt.

McKenna and Kielt were among the scores as Queen's built up a 0-10 to 0-4 lead within 14 minutes of restart.

Substitute Joe Ireland was shown a straight red card following a dangerous tackle towards the end of the third quarter, but despite his dismissal and goal chances for Monaghan duo Eoghan Duffy and Keith Hill, Queen's stood firm for an opening win.

In Banagher, a determined second half display helped Fitzgibbon Cup champions NUI Galway earn a 0-22 to 1-10 win in the Walsh Cup.

Offaly led by 1-8 to 0-6 at half-time, with Michael Cordial netting their goal. Cordial, Stephen Wynne and Shane Kelly were amongst the hosts' point scorers.

Scores from Clare duo Donal O'Donovan and Caimin Morey, along with Niall Burke of Galway, kept the NUIG in touch.

The Galway students raised their game and had points from Burke and O'Donovan which pushed them ahead for the first time in the 48th minute - 0-13 to 1-9.

They failed to easy up in the closing quarter, holding Offaly to a single point as they booked a quarter-final date with Kilkenny next weekend.

In the Waterford Crystal Cup in Munster, Cork IT withstood a determined Kerry challenge before claiming a 1-7 to 0-6 win at Austin Stack Park.

Kerry made a promising start to this game with Darragh O'Connell particularly impressive. They led by 0-4 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter.

A Ryan Clifford goal brought CIT into contention, with the sides tied at 1-2 to 0-5 at the break. And as Kerry were held to just one second half point, Clifford and Tony Murphy added to the students' tally on the restart.

Meanwhile, in Leinster's Kehoe Cup, Roscommon claimed a 2-10 to 2-7 victory over Louth at Termonfeckin.

Louth led by 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time, with a Brian Corcoran goal edging them further clear in the early stages of the second half.

However, a brace of goals in a two-minute spell from Tomas Seale and Jamie Lawlor sent the Rossies on their way to an opening success.

Today's Results:

Barrett Sports Lighting Dr McKenna Cup:

Monaghan 0-9 Queen's University 0-13, Clones

Walsh cup First Round:

Offaly 1-10 NUIG 0-22, Banagher

Kehoe Cup First Round:

Louth 2-7 Roscommon 2-10, Termonfeckin

Waterford Crystal Cup First Round:

Kerry 0-6 Cork IT 1-7, Austin Stack Park