Finlay steers Monaghan to victory

Donegal 0-15 Monaghan 0-16 : Monaghan are through to the third round of the All-Ireland qualifiers after a one point victory…

Donegal 0-15 Monaghan 0-16: Monaghan are through to the third round of the All-Ireland qualifiers after a one point victory over Donegal in Ballybofey.

The visitors were just about the better side and owe much to the accurate boot of Paul Finlay, whose free-taking punished Donegal time and again.

Michael Murphy was equally impressive for Donegal but a style change late on may have cost his side.

Donegal made three late changes before throw-in with Brian Roper, Brendan Devenney and Johnny Gallagher replacing Stephen Griffin, Ryan Bradley and Barry Monaghan.

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The visitors called on Gary McQuaid to step in for Darren Hughes.

After a disjointed first half there was nothing to choose between the teams. Points were traded early on with Finlay scoring two frees and Roper registering twice in the opening minutes.

Both sides were denied goals by the woodwork, first when Monaghan's Conor McManus struck the frame and then when Kevin Cassidy's effort came crashing down off the bar but didn't cross the line.

Monaghan took a three point lead when Rory Woods, Finlay and McManus all pointed but they were pegged back by two Colm McFadden points and a brilliantly tenacious effort from midfielder Rory Kavanagh.

With the scores level at eight points apiece at the break it was all to play as Donegal introduced Christy Toye in place of Kevin Rafferty.

Roper could have dealt a huge blow to Monaghan from the restart but his shot was excellently saved by Padraig McBennett.

Roper, ever-lively, won a free-kick moments later. Murphy pointed only for Woods to score twice to edge Monaghan ahead. Midfielder Eoin Lennon made it three without reply in the 45th minute and Tommy Freeman, having been provider for Woods moments earlier, slotted over for a three point lead.

Donegal were struggling to find their rhythm as Woods and Freeman displayed their dynamism up front but a hopeful long ball from Toye landed in the hands of David Walsh and his left-footed effort dropped neatly over.

Finlay's fifth converted free from as many attempts restored the three point lead until Murphy and Toye closed the gap again.

Both free-takers had been in imperious form and Finlay proved he could do it from play when scoring Monaghan's 16th point. When Murphy decided to take his next off the ground it proved costly and the homeside fell short of the mark by a solitary point.