Gritty Monaghan edge out Cavan in scrap for survival
Monaghan edge scrap for survival with neighbours
Under Malachy O’Rourke, Monaghan have generally reserved their best performances for the days when their backs have been to the wall.
That was the case here in what was another typically feisty rumble in the drumlins between two sides who will meet again in championship in mid-May.
“We have worked very hard to get into this division and we want to stay here if it all possible,” stated O’Rourke, although that sentiment was not all that evident in the early stages.
Cavan veteran Cian Mackey smashed the ball to the roof of Rory Beggan’s net just 80 seconds in to hand the visitors a dream start but the Breffni men were unable to build on it, kicking eight first-half wides and going through four different freetakers.
“I think it’s quite obvious what went wrong, we just didn’t convert our chances,” said Cavan boss Mickey Graham.
“We got ourselves into position early on, we got a great start then we had a couple of chances to keep that scoreboard ticking and we just didn’t make it happen and we let them back into it.”
That they did, scoring just one more point — a Niall McKiernan free — in almost half an hour after the goal as Monaghan drew level on 20 minutes following three frees from man of the match Conor McManus and one from Beggan.
Cavan’s first score from play was worth waiting for, Dara McVeety curling in a brilliant effort, but Darren Hughes got on the end of a counter-attack to level. Conor McCarthy (free) and Conor Madden traded scores before the interval to leave the sides deadlocked at 1-3 to 0-6 at the interval.
There was little between them at this stage but an experienced Monaghan side were able to slip into a higher gear, with substitutes Jack McCarron, Kieran Duffy, and Ryan McAnespie making a difference.
“Cavan got a great start but I thought we settled into the game well. We could have made better use of our possession but we went in level at half-time and that was a good enough position to be in,” said O’Rourke.
“We knew we had to push on then but it took us a while to put some daylight between the sides. But I thought we showed more quality going forward in the second half, we battled hard and I thought we deserved the victory.
We felt we had that ability to drive on and the fellas coming in from the bench made a big impact, that was important.
McCarthy and Mackey both registered on the restart before a sweet score from McCarron, who kicked two more points and picked up two yellow cards in an eventful cameo.
A wonder strike from Conor McManus gave his side confidence and they kicked on, the Clontibret man landing another huge effort from play.
Cavan were by now reliant on talisman Gearoid McKiernan for inspiration — he came off the bench for his first action of the year and landed 0-3, including one sensational score from play — but it wasn’t enough to ever really threaten the Farney, whose aggression and work-rate were superior to their opponents.
Monaghan, then, are in with more than a fighting chance of playing Division 1 football for the sixth successive season in 2020. For their neighbours, Division 2 beckons.
“We had more shots than they had, we had more possession than they had but all that matters is the scoreboard,” rued a disappointed Graham.
Scorers for Monaghan:
C McManus (0-6, 4 frees); Jack McCarron (0-3, 1 free); C McCarthy (1 free); R Beggan (2 frees) (0-2 each); D Hughes (0-1).
Scorers for Cavan:
C Mackey (1-1); G McKiernan (0-3, 2 frees); R Galligan (free), N McKiernan (free), Conor Madden, Dara McVeety (0-1 each).
MONAGHAN:
R Beggan, C Walshe, D Wylie, R Wylie, K O’Connell, V Corey, C Boyle, D Hughes, G Doogan, S Carey, D Malone, F Kelly, C McCarthy, M Bannigan, C McManus
Subs:
R McAnespie for Doogan (ht), J McCarron (0-3, 1f) for Bannigan (43), K Duffy for Corey (48), O Duffy for Carey (55), B Kerr for O’Connell (70)
CAVAN:
R Galligan, J McLoughlin, P Faulkner, C Moynagh, G Smith, Ciaran Brady, C Rehill, D McVeety, K Clarke, N McKiernan, P Smith, N Murray, M Reilly, C Mackey, C Madden
Subs:
S Smith for P Smith (ht), G McKiernan for Mackey (50), J Smith for McKiernan (50), J Brady for Murray (63)
Referee:
B Cawley (Kildare)
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