Bank of Ireland Dr. McKenna Cup Section C

Monaghan 1-9 Ulster University 2-16                3/1/16

Monaghan’s Dr. McKenna Cup campaign started with a defeat against Ulster University in Clones on Sunday. Evan Regan and Caileán O’Boyle hit a combined total of 2-5 as the University side reversed last year’s first-round result.

The visitors led almost from start to finish against an inexperienced Monaghan side featuring just five of the starting 15 that won last year’s Ulster SFC Final. Barry McGinn, who hit 1-3, was the pick of five Monaghan debutants who started – the others being Cian Mohan, Karl McQuaid, Barry Hanratty and Anthony Courtney. Mark Thornton later joined the list of rookies to make a first senior county appearance.

Having trailed by 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time – following a run of six unanswered points by the students – Monaghan rallied to go within the minimum after McGinn’s goal, but O’Boyle and Regan found the net to secure a convincing win for UU, who had ten scorers.

Monaghan host Armagh in round two next Sunday.

Monaghan: C Mohan; K McQuaid, K Duffy, John McCarron; B Hanratty, C Walshe (Capt.), O Coyle; K O’Connell, F Kelly; P Keenan (0-1), C McKenna, A Courtney; D Malone (0-1), O Duffy (0-1), B McGinn (1-3, 0-2f).

Subs: M Thornton for Coyle, D Millar (0-1) for Courtney (39), D Mone for Hanratty, D McKenna (0-2f) for McGinn (both 50), S Gollogly for C McKenna (59).

Ulster University: S Fox; R Brennan (0-1), K Clarke, S Sheridan (0-1); R McHugh (0-3), F Burns, D Savage (0-1); M Argue (0-1), N McKeever; C Clarke, C O’Boyle (1-2), C Grugan (0-1); E Regan (1-3, 0-3f), N Madine (0-1f), S McArdle.

Subs: R Beggan (0-2, 1f, 1 ’45) for Fox (40), M Clarke for McArdle (inj., 50), N O’Neill for O’Boyle (63), J McGovern for McKeever (66), T Mescal for Clarke (68), C Harvey for Sheridan (69).

Referee: P Falloon (Down).