Monaghan 0-16 Donegal 0-15: FOR THE second week in-a-row Monaghan had a point to spare after a titanic battle with Donegal in Ballybofey on Saturday evening.
The return of Paul Finlay was crucial for the winners as he scored seven points from seven shots (six frees). He was ably assisted by Rory Woods (three points), while Dick Clerkin gave the winners an edge in midfield.
In front of over 10,000, the home side led briefly at the start of both halves but for most of the game Monaghan were on the front foot and, in the end, Donegal came up just short.
Donegal were up against it throughout the second half but they never threw in the towel and close to the end Colm McFadden had the chance for a point to force extra-time but his effort fell short.
Johnny Gallagher made his Donegal debut at corner back in place of the injured Barry Monaghan, while Brendan Devenney and Brian Roper came back into the front line in place of Ryan Bradley and Stephen Griffin.
Roper was one of the Donegal players to show his true form until exhaustion forced him off midway through the second half.
Monaghan started well and within a minute Conor McManus saw his effort come back off the upright. Colm Hanratty pointed them ahead seconds later but there was never more than a point between them inside the first 20 minutes as McFadden, Roper (2) and Michael Murphy pointed for Donegal, while Paul Finlay (two frees) and Tomás Freeman replied for Monaghan.
Donegal's Kevin Cassidy saw a shot rebound off the crossbar after 19 minutes following a fine move.
Woods, Finlay and Conor McManus edged Monaghan three clear, while Michael Murphy pulled one back from a free.
Finlay converted his fourth free on 28 minutes but Donegal hit back with points from McFadden (two frees) and Rory Kavanagh to leave the sides deadlocked at the break, 0-8 each.
Monaghan took a firm grip on the game by the 46th minute with four points from Woods (two), Eoin Lennon and Tomás Freeman. David Walsh, Finlay, Murphy and Stephen Gollogly traded points to still leave three in it with 15 minutes left. Then two points from Christy Toye and Murphy reduced the margin to the minimum. Finlay stretched the lead only for Toye to hit back before Finlay hit a superb effort from distance. Kavanagh's late point couldn't save Donegal.
MONAGHAN; P McBennett; D Mone, JP Mone, D McArdle; D Freeman, V Corey, G McQuaid; E Lennon (0-1), P Finlay (0-7, six frees); D Clerkin, S Gollogly (0-1), C McManus (0-1); C Hanratty (0-1), R Woods (0-3), T Freeman (0-2). Subs: D Hughes for McQuaid; P McGuigan for Gollogly; S Smyth for Woods.
DONEGAL: P Durcan; J Gallagher, N McGee, K Lacey; E McGee, K Cassidy, F McGlynn; N Gallagher, R Kavanagh (0-2); K Rafferty, D Walsh (0-1), B Roper (0-2); C McFadden (0-3, three frees), B Devenney, M Murphy (0-5, five frees). Subs: C Toye (0-2) for Rafferty; M Hegarty for Devenney; S Griffin for Roper.
Referee: R Hickey (Clare)
