OWEN SHAKES OFF BLUES

Duffy and Mcmanus settle nervy derby

MONAGHAN have improving to do if they want to be crowned champions for the third time in five years. A match-winning goal on the hour mark from Conor Mcmanus was the difference as they saw off a spirited Cavan challenge at Kingspan Breffni to book a semi-final spot against Down on Saturday week. Owen Duffy was superb, setting up the goal and scoring 0-4 from play, while Drew Wylie was the main man in defence. However they were unconvincing at times with Cavan still in there fighting after 74 minutes. Only the width of the post denied the Breffni blue another day out, rookie sub Ryan Connolly’s shot crashing off the post in the last play. The gameplan was simple enough; set up defensively in a cagey first half against a strong wind, choke the hope out of Cavan and unleash lethal forwards to get the job done in the last 15 minutes. The reason it was so effective is because they have the players to tick all those boxes. From the hard-hitting Drew Wylie, bouncing off men and winning turnovers alongside his brave-hearted brother Ryan, to the excellence of transition players like Karl O’connell and Owen Duffy, and then on to top forwards like Conor Mcmanus, Jack Mccarron and sub Conor Mccarthy who made a big impact off the bench. The sides were level nine times, including six in a hugely combative first half at the end of which Cavan were 0-9 to 0-7 ahead. Colin Walshe and Mccarron pointed for Monaghan, the latter also having a shot across goal tipped away by Raymond Galligan. Mcmanus had a mixed day hitting five wides, but he took his goal brilliantly, slotting it beyond Galligan on the hour. It sparked an unanswered 1-2 between the 60th and 65th minutes to settle the game.

MAN OF THE MATCH Owen Duffy brushes off Cavan’s Gerard Smith and, above, Rory Beggan and Conor Mcmanus kick points