Warwickshire blitz blows Farney away

WARWICKSHIRE all but assured themselves of a place in the last four when they finished strongly to edge past a battling Monaghan side in Páirc na hÉireann.

The Exiles got off to the better start with the accuracy of Niall McKenna helping them to a six-point lead after 20 minutes.

Warwickshire were comfortably ahead approaching half-time, but two goals in two minutes from Mark Treanor and Tadhg Campbell made it Warwickshire 1-10, Monaghan 2-5 at the break.

It was nip and tuck in the early stages of the second half with points apiece by Fergal Rafter and Eamon Collins before the latter drilled home Monaghan’s third goal to put the visitors ahead for the first time.

The sides were deadlocked on three further occasions but substitute Breen Fallon made the difference with two excellent points from either wing and Warwickshire added two more in stoppage time.

SCORERS — Warwickshire: N McKenna 0-9 (5f), G Lennon 1-4, P Hoban 0-2 (1f), D Nugent 0-2, B Fallon 0-2, J Collins and S Caulfield 0-1 each. Monaghan: F Rafter 0-7 (2f), M Treanor 1-0, E Collins 1-1, T Campbell 1-1, C Boyle 0-3, P Finnegan 0-1.

WARWICKSHIRE – C Robbins; W Allen, D Bruen, M O’Regan; P Scally, P Hoban, D Kennedy; J Collins, S Caulfield; N Kennedy, D Nugent, N McKenna; K Magee, C Boxwell, G Lennon. Subs: B Fallon for K Magee, R Curley for K Boxwell. MONAGHAN – P Bermingham; J Guinan, K Crawley, B Flanagan; P Finnegan, P Treanor, M Murphy; M Treanor, A Kenny; C Boyle, F Rafter, B McGuigan; N Garland, E Collins, T Campbell. Subs: CFlynn for N Garland, C Power for C Boyle.

REF — K Brady (Louth)