Monaghan advance at Armagh's expense

All-Ireland Qualifiers : Monaghan dumped 2002 winners out of the All-Ireland championship this evening after a dour encounter in Clones. Extra-time was needed to separate the sides with Monaghan eventually running out 0-13 to 0-12 winners.

Billed as the tie of the weekend, the match failed to live up to expectations with precious little football to entertain a disappointing crowd at St Tiernach’s Park.

Monaghan enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but, with Tommy Freeman failing to overturn his eight-week ban, lacked a cutting edge up front.

Paul Finlay struggled to find his range from frees but did manage to slot over some nice scores from play while Conor McManus also chipped in with some scores of his own.

Armagh, who had Steven McDonnell sent off in the closing stages of normal time for throwing a punch at Dessie Moan, lived of scraps and only Aaron Kernan rose above the mediocre.

In today’s early throw-in, Wexford’s kept their All-Ireland campaign alive after a hard-fought win 2-11 to 0-16 win over Offaly.

With half-time approaching, Wexford trailed by four but a Ciarán Lyng goal energised the side.

With PJ Ward in fine form, Offaly kept plugging away and, despite falling three behind with seven minutes to play refused to buckle. Niall McNamee reduced the lead to a single point in injury time but Wexford held on to reach the next round.

Elsewhere this evening, Donegal put their off-field problems behind them to defeat Carlow 2-13 to 1-6, London produced a valiant display but were beaten by Down 1-16 to 1-7 and Tipperary enjoyed a 2-10 to 1-12 win over Louth.

Leitrim’s poor run in the qualifiers – they have yet to win a single match – continued as they were beaten 0-13 to 0-10, Longford and Meath beat Waterford by 1-20 to 0-8 and Wicklow surprised Fermanagh in Aughrim as they won by 0-17 to 1-11.

In the first round of the hurling qualifiers, meanwhile, Cork had way too much for Offaly and came through by 3-19 to 1-12 while Laois ended Antrim’s involvement with a 0-18 to 1-12 win.