Sport

Monaghan earn a small measure of revenge

Monaghan 2-12 Fermanagh 1-10: MONAGHAN LEFT Brewster Park yesterday with two league points and revenge for the championship …

Mon Feb 02 2009 - 00:00

Monaghan 2-12 Fermanagh 1-10:MONAGHAN LEFT Brewster Park yesterday with two league points and revenge for the championship defeat at the hands of Fermanagh last May.

Fermanagh had to field without a number of their regulars, with influential half back Ryan McCluskey suspended and Marty McGrath withdrawn before the start with an injury.

Monaghan, on the other hand, had most of their big guns on show with Vincent Corey, Paul Finlay and Tommy Freeman all contributing well to the win.

But it was Monaghan’s attack-minded half backs, which included Conor McManus who scored a goal and three points from play, who built the platform for their victory. Fermanagh had no answer to the power and pace showed by their neighbours.

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The game began brightly for the home side, though, when a Pat Cadden shot for a point hit the post and landed in the arms of Enda Ferris who dispatched to the net.

Monaghan hit back with a goal and a point from the marauding McManus, with the goal coming from a stinging shot into the top corner after a flowing move.

Monaghan surged ahead with points from Finlay and Mark Downey, but Fermanagh hit back with a wonderful effort from midfielder Shane O’Brien who launched the first of three massive points from play.

At the other end, Tommy Freeman shot over three points.

Fermanagh started brightly in the second half with points from Eamon Maguire and Peter Sherry, but were rocked back on their heels when Freeman dispatched a penalty after a Fermanagh defender had dived on his original shot inside the small square.

McManus popped up for two further points.

Fermanagh fought to the end and three points from O’Brien, twice, and Daryl Keenan left just the goal between the teams.

But Monaghan got the next scores from Finlay and substitute Paul McQuigan.

FERMANAGH: R Gallagher; S Goan, S Lyons, M Jones; S McDermott, T McElroy, D Kelly; J Sherry, S O’Brien; M Little, R Keenan, P Cadden; E Maguire, S Ryder, E Ferris. Subs: D Keenan for Cadden (25 mins), P Sherry for Kelly (36 mins, yellow), R Foy for J Sherry (46 mins), D Kille for Keenan (52 mins, yellow), Cadden for Ryder (65 mins).

MONAGHAN: P McBennett; D Moane, V Corey, J Conlon; C McManus, G McEaney, D Hughes; D Clerkin, E Lennon; S Gallogly, P Finlay, M Downey; C Hanratty, B McKenna, T Freeman. Subs: G MacQuaid for Conlon (13 mins), D McArdle for D Moane (30 mins, yellow), R Woods for McKenna (h-t), D Freeman for Downey (45 mins), S McAleer for Clerkin (55 mins), P McQuigan for Woods (58 mins, yellow).