Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Football Championship Quarter-Final

Cavan 3-14 Monaghan 1-15                                     28/5/17

Monaghan exited the Ulster MFC after a thrilling quarter-final away to Cavan. The hosts raced into a five-point lead, helped by a James Smith goal, but Monaghan hit eight unanswered scores in the second quarter to move ahead by 0-11 to 1-5. Seán Burns, Robbie McAlister, Dean Connolly and David Hanley all landed fine points in this purple patch for Monaghan, but Cavan seized the initiative after the restart, helped by a second goal from Smith.

Monaghan created a series of goal chances, only to continuously be denied by impressive Cavan keeper Gary O’Rourke, until he was finally beaten by McAlister. Monaghan’s hopes were raised at that stage as the game looked set for a tight finish, but Cavan had some breathing space after they found their third goal through Cian Madden; which proved enough to see them through.

Monaghan: K Murphy; J Walsh, R Mohan, C McKenna; J Gormley, K McMenamin, K McKenna; D Connolly (0-2), A Woods; D Hanley (Capt., 0-1), R McAlister (1-2), T Duffy; C Doyle (0-3), S Burns (0-6, 3f), A Mohan (0-1),

Subs: C McNulty for Duffy (35), L Óg Murray for A Mohan (48), D Geoghegan for Doyle (63), O McElligott for Woods (inj., 67).

Cavan: G O’Rourke; E Fortune, C Timoney, J Cooke; P Rogers, P Meade (Capt.), R Coyle (0-1); D Cusack, J Smith (2-0); R Curran (0-2), C Madden (1-2), R Patterson; O Pierson (0-6, 3f), P Lynch (0-2, 1 ’45), T Reilly (0-1).

Subs: K Brady for Fortune (25 mins), O Kiernan for Meade (H-T), K Cosgrove for Curran (52), R Madden for Patterson (inj., 56), S Keogan for C Madden (62).

Referee: SP Doherty (Donegal).