Hastings Cup Group C

Monaghan 1-10 Wicklow 1-8                                   3/1/15

Monaghan’s Under-21 footballers also got 2015 off to a winning start in Castleblayney when they edged out Wicklow on Saturday. All six forwards got on the scoresheet for Monaghan, led by Dónal Meegan’s four points and a first-half goal from Fergal McGeough, which helped the hosts emerge from a closely-contested match. Meegan and McGeough had good support from the likes of Fearghal McMahon, Fergal Malone, Colm Meegan and substitute Mark Magee for Monaghan.

Wicklow were first off the mark with a pointed free by Conor McGraynor, but Darren McElroy linked up with David Freeman to bring Monaghan level. A David Boothman free was cancelled out by David McMahon, whose namesake Fearghal edged the hosts ahead for the first time. Johnny Delahunt replied for Wicklow, who struck the first goal through Paddy Phelan following a pass from Dermot Henderson. Fergal McGeough tapped over a 13-metre free for a foul on Dónal Meegan and he then got on the end of a move involving Fearghal McMahon and McElroy to fire to the net. A Dónal Meegan point doubled Monaghan’s lead and Freeman added a nice score to make the half-time score 1-6 to 1-3. Wicklow got the first two points of the second half through Delahunt, but Dónal Meegan responded and Fearghal McMahon opened up a four-point lead after a strong run by McGeough. Wicklow failed to take a gilt-edged goal chance midway through the second half before McGraynor converted another free. Meegan cut in to kick a point with his right foot, but a brace of frees by McGraynor cut Wicklow’s deficit to the minimum, while Monaghan sub Evan Doherty had a shot at goal tipped around the post. Meegan won and scored a close-range free to secure victory for Monaghan, who travel to Ballina next Saturday to play Mayo.

Monaghan: D Kirk; A Kieran, K Loughran, F Malone; C Meegan, N Loughman, S Conlon; C Lavelle, M McCarville; F McGeough (1-1, 0-1f), D McMahon (0-1), D Freeman (0-1); D Meegan (0-4, 1f), D McElroy (0-1), F McMahon (0-2). Subs: E Doherty for McElroy (35 mins), M Magee for McCarville (38), S Kerr for Loughman (46), N Rooney for D McMahon (49).  

Wicklow: A Murphy; B Finan, J Kavanagh, E Kelly; J Crowe, D Lohan, C Hatton; D Boothman (0-1f), C McGraynor (0-4f); D Henderson, K Kealey, P Phelan (1-0); M Lennon, J Delahunt (0-3), C French.

Subs: T Donoghue for Lennon (H-T), E Mara for Kelly (50), M Thompson for Henderson (52), D Tomkins for Kealey (54).  

Referee: J Clarke (Cavan).