Monaghan 1-12 Antrim 0-7:Monaghan recorded their first victory of 2008 when they proved too strong for Antrim in this entertaining Dr McKenna Cup game in Ballybay yesterday.
With Eoin Lennon dominating midfield, when Monaghan stepped up a gear in the second half, Antrim had few answers.
Monaghan led at half-time by 1-3 to 0-3, Raymond Ronaghan getting the goal in the 25th minute.
Within 10 minutes of the restart they had extended their lead to seven with four unanswered points, two by Thomas Freeman and one apiece by Lennon and Conor McManus. Two points by Antrim top scorer Michael McCann reduced the deficit but Lennon added two fine late points to seal the victory.
MONAGHAN: P McBennett; D Mone, JP Mone C Flanagan; D Freeman, G McQuaid, S Markey; E Lennon (0-3), P Finlay; O Duffy, R Ronaghan (1-0) C McManus (0-4); D McNally, V Corey, T Freeman (0-5). Subs: N McAdam for D McNally, S Mulligan for C Flanagan, S Fitzpatrick for S Markey, G McEnaney for G McQuaid, M Duffy for D Freeman.
ANTRIM: S McGreevey; T Scullion, P Doherty, A McClean; L Carland, O O'Neill, S Kelly; J Quinn, S McVeigh; G Crossey, M McCann (0-4), T O'Neill (0-1); K McGourty, M Magill (0-1), M Doogan. Subs: T Convery for O O'Neill, C Totten (0-1) for S McVeigh, P Close for L Carland, C Murray for G Crossey.
Referee: G Corrigan (Down).
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)