Mulligan helps Farney into semi-final

TWO well-taken goals, one in each half, propelled Monaghan minor footballers to a semi-final with five-in-a-row-chasing Kerry, the Ulster champions defeating Kildare by nine points at Mullingar.

Monaghan had a lucky escape when Eoghan O’Haire hit the butt of the post for Kildare with just 20 seconds elapsed. The sides were level at 0-3 apiece when Aaron Mulligan found the net in the 19th minute after fine work by Seán Jones. Monaghan went on to lead by 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time.

Donnacha Swinburne scored the second goal in the 36th minute after fielding a delivery by wandering ’keeper Ryan Farrelly.

Kildare seldom looked like getting a goal and they trailed 2-8 to 0-8 with ten minutes remaining.

Monaghan sealed their spot in the penultimate round with three late points from Swinburne, a Jones free, and a classy score from Karl Gallagher.

SCORERS – Monaghan: A Mulligan 1-3 (2f), D Swinburne 1-1, S Jones 0-4 (4f), L Power, S Hanratty, K Gallagher 0-1 each. Kildare: P Behan 0-5 (3f), E O’Haire 0-2 (2f), S Reilly 0-1. MONAGHAN – R Farrelly; R Grimes, J Doogan, S Hanratty; C Flood, B Óg Ó Dufaigh, M Meehan; J McGarrell, A Moore; A Mulligan, S Jones, K Gallagher; D Swinburne, L Power, J Irwin. Subs: O O’Hanlon for Power (56), J Wilson for McGarrell (58), J McGeown for Grimes (60), R McKeown for Moore (60 + 2). KILDARE – J Ball; J Lynch, C McGroary, J Hamill; S Englishby, K Kelleher, D Caulfield; L Broderick, M Kiely; J Cleary, A Beirne, P Behan; E O’Haire, A Kennedy, P McDermott. Subs: N Jackman for Englishby (h-t), S Reilly for Broderick (h-t), M Curtin for Kiely (54), S Hill for Caulfield (55), D Costello for Cleary (60), S Morrissey for O’Haire (60 + 2). REF – P Faloon (Down).