Monaghan 3-14  Donegal 4-14

Monaghan bowed out of the 2016 Nicky Rackard Cup after a thrilling match in Páirc Grattan, Inniskeen last Saturday 7th May. The game was pretty pedestrian in the first half with a Donegal goal from Ciaran Matthewson in injury time giving the visitors a one point lead at half time on a scoreline of Monaghan 1-6 Donegal 1-7.

Donegal made a roaring start to the second half and despite Fergal Rafter plugging away with points Donegal were leading by 11 points with 13 minutes of normal time left. Monaghan then upped the gears with Fergal Rafter scoring four points  which were followed by goals from sub Tadhg Campbell and Stephen Lambe  to leave only two points in it with four minutes left. However try as they may Monaghan couldn’t get any closer with Donegal finishing the scoring with a point in injury time from Niall Cleary to leave the full time scoreline Monaghan 3-14 Donegal  4-14

Teams and Scorers:

Donegal:Paul Burns, Pauric Doherty, Justin Mc Ghee, Mark Callaghan, Jack O’ Loughlin James Donnelly, Niall Cleary 0-3, Paul Sheridan, Christopher Mc Dermott, Lee Henderson 1-6 (1-4f), Danny Cullen (c) Ciaran Matthewson 1-1, Rónán Mc Dermott 1-0, Kevin Campbell 1-3 , Seán Mc Veigh 0-1 Subs used  Sam Doherty for Paul Sheridan,

Monaghan: David Mc Gahon, Shane Mc Nally, Patrick Finnegan, Jamie Guinan, Martin Murphy, Peter Treanor(c) 0-1  Conor Mc Kenna, Stephen Forde, Aaron Kenny, Conor Boyle, Fergal Rafter 0-11 (8f) Niall Garland 0-2 (1f)Brian Mc Guigan, Mark Treanor 1-0, Stephen Lambe 1-0  Subs Tadhg Campbell 1-0 for Jamie Guinan, Brendan Connor for Shane Mc Nally