Allianz National Football League Division Two

Monaghan 0-13 Galway 0-12                                    6/4/14

Monaghan secured a second consecutive promotion with a narrow win over Galway in Clones on Sunday. Monaghan were already all but through to the final, but Paul Finlay’s last-gasp point ensured they took a fourth successive win and continued their winning home run which stretches back to 2011. Monaghan were never behind, but they had to work hard to grind out the result, thanks to the efforts of the likes of Dessie Mone, Colin Walshe, Fintan Kelly, Stephen Gollogly and Finlay, who made a big impact as a substitute, while Gary O’Donnell, James Kavanagh and Michael Martin were best for Galway.

Monaghan started brightly, with Dessie Mone kicking a good point and Stephen Gollogly doubling their lead after a one-two with Colin Walshe. Conor McManus opened his account from a 30-metre free for a foul on Drew Wylie and Walshe linked up with Peter O’Hanlon to hit a fine score, before Galway got off the mark when Michael Lundy blazed a goal chance over the bar. A misplaced kick-out allowed Cathal Mulryan to tap over for Galway, but Kieran Hughes converted a 25-metre free for a foul on McManus and Dermot Malone quickly added a nice point from play. Seán Armstrong replied for Galway and Michael Martin pointed a 25-metre free after a foul on Mulryan, but a well-worked move involving Mone, Gollogly and Hughes released Dick Clerkin to loft over a good point off his left foot. Martin won a 20-metre free for Armstrong to tap over and bring Galway within two, but McManus won and scored a 30-metre free to send Monaghan in leading by 0-8 to 0-5.

Gary O’Donnell hit an early second-half point for Galway, who survived a nervy moment when goalkeeper Thomas Healy punched clear a high ball by Christopher McGuinness under pressure from McManus. Malone released Fintan Kelly to restore Monaghan’s three-point lead with a left-footed effort and McManus quickly tacked on a point from play, but Michael Martin and Paul Varley kept Galway in touch. Paul Finlay came off the bench to keep Monaghan on the front foot and Galway then saw Healy sent off for an off-the-ball incident with McManus, before Kieran Hughes fired over when a shot from sub Pádraig Donaghy hit an upright and fell for Malone. Galway did work a goal chance ten minutes from time, but sub Shane Walsh was dispossessed, although points by Adrian Varley and Paul Conroy from a free closed the gap to the minimum. Galway looked to have earned a draw through an injury-time point by Walsh, but there was still time for Finlay to win it from distance. Monaghan will play Donegal in the Division Two Final at Croke Park on April 27; throw-in at 2pm.

Monaghan: R Beggan; C Walshe (0-1), D Wylie, F Kelly (0-1); D Mone (0-1), V Corey, K O’Connell; P O’Hanlon, D Clerkin (0-1); K Hughes (0-2, 1f), S Gollogly (0-1), G Doogan; D Malone (0-1), C McManus (Capt., 0-3, 2f), C McGuinness.

Subs: D Hughes for Clerkin (H-T), P Finlay (0-2) for O’Hanlon (40 mins), J McCarron for McGuinness (48), P Donaghy for Gollogly (54), C Galligan for Mone (62).

Galway: T Healy; J Moore, D O’Neill, F Hanley; G Bradshaw, G O’Donnell (0-1), P Varley (0-1); J Kavanagh, T Flynn; M Lundy (0-1), E Hoare, C Mulryan (0-1); M Martin (0-3, 1f), P Conroy (Capt., 0-1f), S Armstrong (0-2, 1f).

Subs: A Varley (0-1) for Hoare (48), M Breathnach for Martin (55), D Cummins for Lundy, S Walsh (0-1) for Mulryan (both 59), K Kelly for Hanley (inj., 60), M Farragher for Armstrong (62).

Referee: A Nolan (Wicklow).