Bank of Ireland Dr. McKenna Cup Section A

Monaghan 1-17 Derry 0-14                               29/12/19

Monaghan made a bright start to the 2020 Bank of Ireland Dr. McKenna Cup when seeing off Derry in Inniskeen last Sunday.

Monaghan started and finished strongly to begin Séamus McEnaney’s new term in charge on a winning note. Having raced into an early lead, Monaghan found themselves a point down by half-time and Derry moved three clear on a couple of occasions after the restart, only for the hosts to hit 11 of the game’s last 13 points.

Five debutants started for Monaghan, with Aaron Mulligan in particular catching the eye by kicking 1-4 to lead eight scorers for the hosts. Monaghan travel to Ballybofey to face Donegal this Sunday.

Monaghan: R Beggan (0-3, 2f, 1 ’45); R O’Toole, C Boyle, C Walshe; P Keenan, R Wylie (Capt.), M Bannigan (0-2); D Hughes, B McBennett (0-1); A Mulligan (1-4, 0-2f), A Woods, P Donnelly; D Ward (0-2), G Mohan, C McCarthy (0-1).

Subs: K Hughes (0-2) for Mohan (H-T), D Malone for Donnelly (42 mins), J McCarron (0-2) for Woods (48), N Kearns for D Hughes (55), K O’Connell for Keenan (59).

Derry: T Mallon; C McCluskey, P McGrogan, R Dougan; C McFaul (0-1), S Downey, D Cassidy; P Cassidy, E Bradley (0-5, 2f); D Tallon, C Bradley (0-1), O McWilliams; B McCarron (0-2, 1f), E Duffy, R Bell (0-4, 1f).

Subs: J Doherty (0-1) for McWilliams (H-T), N Toner for Tallon (48), A Doherty for McCarron (54), C McAtamney for Duffy (59).

Referee: P Hughes (Armagh).