Nicky Rackard Cup Round Two
Monaghan 0-15 Donegal 1-16 12/5/12
Four unanswered points in injury-time gave Donegal victory over Monaghan in the Nicky Rackard Cup in Clones on Saturday. Despite all the well-publicised controversy involving the Monaghan hurlers in recent months, they put in a strong performance for most of this match and led for a lot of the way, only to fall away in the closing stages against a Donegal side in confident mood after their surprise win over Roscommon. With Stephen Lambe in accurate form, particularly in the first half, Trevor Hilliard typically competitive at midfield, Éanna Mac Suibhne impressive at wing-forward and Mark and Peter Treanor and Jim McHugh solid at the back, Monaghan were unlucky to come away with defeat. Lee Henderson and Niall Campbell hit 1-12 between them for Donegal – with Henderson coming into his own in the latter stages – while Joe Boyle and Danny Cullen also played central roles.
Stephen Lambe got Monaghan off the mark from a 40-metre free after a foul on Brian McGuigan, but Eugene Organ brought Donegal level with a point from play. Lambe won and scored another free in the fourth minute and although Lee Henderson got a good point for Donegal, Lambe converted his third free after Jamesie Donnelly was adjudged to have thrown the sliotar. Donegal hit the front for the first time with two quick-fire points – the first from a Niall Campbell free after a foul on Henderson and the second from Danny Cullen after Enda McDermott had won the resulting puck-out. Éanna Mac Suibhne got a fine point back for Monaghan after good work by Trevor Hilliard and McGuigan, before Patrick Boyle went close to finding the net, only to be denied by Donegal keeper Paul Burns.
Lambe restored Monaghan’s lead with a fine point at the end of a move started by a strong tackle by Peter Treanor, but Henderson hit an equally good score following a pass from Enda McDermott. Mark Treanor landed an inspirational point at the end of a surging run to start a spell of dominance for the hosts, who added a point from Mac Suibhne and a brace of 50-metre frees by Lambe after fouls on himself and Conor McKenna. Campbell converted a similar effort after a foul on Ardal McDermott and Pádraig Doherty got forward to hit a point, but when Lambe won and scored a 30-metre free, Monaghan looked set to take a three-point lead in at half-time.
It wasn’t to be, however, as referee Declan Magee allowed play to continue well beyond the four allotted minutes and Donegal took advantage. Magee ruled that Ronan McDermott had been fouled in the square after allowing the Donegal forward a generous number of steps and Niall Campbell drilled the resulting penalty to the net to level it up at the interval: Monaghan 0-10 Donegal 1-7.
Lambe started the first half in similar fashion to the first, converting a 30-metre free for a foul on McGuigan, and he added his ninth (and final) point on seven minutes after good approach play by Mac Suibhne and McGuigan. Campbell sent over a brace of frees for fouls on Enda McDermott either side of a well-taken effort from Hilliard for Monaghan to leave two points between the teams going into the last 15 minutes. Gerry Ruddy kept Monaghan ahead with a spectacular save from a Ronan McDermott shot and he also showed good reactions to bat away an effort from Campbell and beat Enda McDermott to the rebound.
McKenna hit a good point for Monaghan after a pass from Mark Treanor, but Henderson hit a brilliant free from inside his own half and way out on the right wing to give Donegal hope. He repeated the trick with a 65-metre free after a foul on Cullen and when Jim McHugh committed a technical foul 35 metres from the Monaghan goal, Henderson needed no invitation to send Donegal ahead. Monaghan almost hit the front three minutes from time when Mac Suibhne bore down on goal, but Burns came to Donegal’s rescue, although the Farney men did manage an equaliser when Hilliard combined with his midfield partner Gary Boyd to split the posts in style.
Henderson converted a 50-metre free for a foul on Organ going into injury-time and Cullen quickly doubled Donegal’s advantage. Monaghan sought to build an attack at the other end, but Mark Treanor was harshly penalised for charging and Henderson drove the resulting free over the bar. The Donegal corner-forward hit the target from play to take his tally to eight in the fifth added minute as the visitors booked their place in the semi-finals. Monaghan, who finished with 14 after Hilliard was shown a second yellow card for dissent at the death, will be back in action next Saturday in a quarter-final.
Monaghan: G Ruddy; P Murphy, J McHugh, M Treanor (0-1); P Meegan, P Treanor, S Loftus; G Boyd (Capt.), T Hilliard (0-2); C McKenna (0-1), S Lambe (0-9, 7f), É Mac Suibhne (0-2); M Lennon, P Boyle, B McGuigan.
Subs: J Lacey for Murphy (inj., 12 mins), G Baxter for Boyle (53).
Donegal: P Burns; B Harrigan, J Boyle, P Doherty (0-1); C McDermott, J McGee, J Donnelly; S McVeigh, A McDermott (Capt.); E McDermott, D Cullen (0-2), R McDermott; N Campbell (1-4, 1-0 pen, 0-4f), E Organ (0-1), L Henderson (0-8, 5f).
Sub: K Campbell for McVeigh (59).
Referee: D Magee (Down).
By michael Sat 12th May
