McCarron fires Monaghan past Westmeath into All-Ireland quarters

The sides went in level at the break but Monaghan overpowered Westmeath in the second half

Jack McCarron scored 1-5 for Monaghan in their All-Ireland SFC Round 3 victory over Westmeath. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

All-Ireland SFC Round 3: Monaghan 1-28 Westmeath 2-19 

It was in Clones that Westmeath’s well-oiled machine of 2026 spluttered out of the championship as Monaghan progressed to the All-Ireland quarter-finals with a six-point win. But it was not without a battle. The breaks were ferocious. The contest was superb.

In the championship heat and summer sun, however, the usual leaders of Conor McCarthy, Stephen O’Hanlon and Jack McCarron saw Monaghan home, the latter duo combining for a killer goal to wipe away the memory of an earlier Ryan O’Toole miss from yet another dazzling O’Hanlon run. The sides were all square at half-time but Monaghan outscored their opponents 1-13 to 0-10 thereafter. 

Monaghan just shoot and shoot and shoot. Their ten wides and three shots left short failed to deter them, with the chaos followed once again by all important control as Westmeath gradually waned.

Westmeath hot shots Matthew Whittaker and Brandon Kelly were both held scoreless in the second half, having combined for 2-5. Even the unlikely return of Ray Connellan - who was a late addition to the bench - couldn’t salvage the game for Westmeath. 

Mick McCarville at midfield had some huge moments in the second half and McCarron just kept on firing. He hit 1-5 in all, omnipresent and in the form of his life with his side Croke Park-bound.

The hosts had the breeze in the first half, utilised by Rory Beggan as he struck 0-6 from frees. The old adage that goals win games was being put to the test, but at the other end, Westmeath raised two green flags.

Firstly through Matthew Whittaker, who put fitness doubts behind him to steam through and rattle home. He was causing so much havoc that Oisín McGorman was sprung from the bench after just 24 minutes to follow Whittaker's every move.

Brandon Kelly had 1-3 by the break. His goal was ice cool. Shane Allen spotted Senan Baker one on one inside, who Ryan Wylie had kept very quiet, but it was he against Beggan on the high ball. It was flicked to semi-safety by Beggan, but on came Kelly to scoop it up and curl high into the empty net.

John Heslin was physical and on the end of a lot of important plays but Ryan O'Toole kept him to just a point in that opening 35. The sides went in level 0-15 to 2-9 at the break. 

Dessie Ward hit Monaghan's first two scores of the second half. Still, Robbie Forde levelled for Westmeath. There were just over 18 minutes to play with Monaghan leading by two points when McCarron got his crucial goal. O'Hanlon picked up possession in midfield and made a searing run through the Westmeath defence before laying off to McCarron who finished coolly to the net. Monaghan tightened their grip with three successive points from Stephen Mooney, David Garland and McCarthy. 

On the Farney march. What will worry manager Gabriel Bannigan however is a potential injury to Beggan, who reappeared for the second half strapped and was subbed off late on for Kian Mulligan, who made an impressive save from Shane Corcoran on his second championship appearance.

Scorers for Monaghan: J McCarron (1-5), R Beggan (0-6, three 2-pt frees), S Mooney, S O’Hanlon (0-3 each), M Bannigan (0-3, 3 frees), A Woods, M McCarville (both 0-2 ptr), D Ward (0-2), D Garland, C McCarthy (0-1 each) 

Scorers for Westmeath: B Kelly (1-3), M Whittaker (1-2), R Wallace (0-4, one 2-pt frees, one 45) S Corcoran (0-3), J Heslin, R Forde (0-2 each), K O’Sullivan, S McCartan, T Baker (0-1 each) 

MONAGHAN: R Beggan; R Wylie, K Lavelle, D Byrne; D Ward, R O’Toole, C McCarthy; M McCarville, K Gallagher; A Carey, M Bannigan, S O’Hanlon; J McCarron, A Woods, S Mooney.

Subs: O McGorman for Gallagher (22), D Garland for Woods (51), K Mulligan for Beggan (66), R Hanratty for Lavelle (67), R McAnespie for A Carey (70).

WESTMEATH: J Mitchell; A Treanor, C Drumm, T Baker; R Whittaker, S Allen, M Whittaker; B Cooney, S Ormsby; K O’Sullivan, S McCartan, C Dillon; J Heslin, S Baker, B Kelly.

Subs: R Forde for Cooney (25), S Corcoran for S Baker (45), R Connellan for Heslin (53), J Duncan for O’Sullivan (55), D Scahill for Treanor (59).

Referee: N Mooney (Cavan)