Monaghan made to work to earn victory

Monaghan 0-13 Wicklow 1-8
Monaghan had to dig deep to withhold Wicklow’s fight back as time expired in the Rd.1 match of the Gerry Reilly 16 FT played in Millbrook, Oldcastle on Saturday afternoon.
Wicklow had wind advantage in the first half and had 4 wides (including a 45 attempt) before they got the opening score in the 3rd minute with a Daire Devine point. A Robbie Hanratty converted free had the sides level. Points were exchanged before 2 successive Wicklow points from Alan Barrett and Shaun Cranley had them up by 2 by the 17th minute. Donnacha Swinbourne second converted free had the minimum between the sides. Wicklow extended their lead again, but it was Monaghan in finished the half the strongest with 3 unanswered points to lead at the break.

H/T: Monaghan 0-6 Wicklow 0-5
Monaghan dominated the restart and had taken a 4 point lead by the 36th minute (Donnacha Swinbourne (2), Aaron Mulligan(1)). Wicklow’s Fionn O’Carroll and Andy Foley recorded points to reduce the gap. Monaghan led by 3 points at the stage and seemed to be coasting to victory. Aaron Mulligan’s goal attempt came off the crossbar and another of his shot on goal was thwarted by a brilliant save by Wicklow’s ‘keeper, Alex Byrne.

At the same time at the other end, Monaghan were lucky to clear their goal line on 2 occasions. Wicklow were now playing with belief and were rewarded when Fionn O’Carroll found the Monaghan net in injury time. They kept the pressure on, but Monaghan held on claim victory.
Overall an exciting game with some great skill displays from both sides.

Monaghan’s Donnacha Swinburne was presented with the Respa ‘Man of the match’ award by Brendan Halpin (Oldcastle GFC)

Monaghan: Ciaran Duffy, Cillian Conlan, Jack McKeown, Micheal Meehan, Oggie Duffy, Ronan Grimes, Conor Corrigan, Gavin McPhilips, Lochlain Power Monaghan Jordan McGarrell, Robbie Hanratty (0-3,2f), Sean Jones (0-1), Donnacha Swinburne (0-5,2f), David Irwin, Conor Lappin

Subs: Darragh McElearney for O.Duffy, Gareth Keenan for Corrigan, Larry McCluskey for C.Duffy, Aaron Mulligan (0-3) for Hanratty, Oisin Fagan for Jones, Conor McCooey (0-1) for McGarrell

Wicklow: Alex Byrne, Cian McHugh (0-1), Craig Maguire, Ben Fennell, Fionn O’Carroll (1-1), Daire Devine (0-1), Gavin Fogarty, Eoghan Byrne, Oisin Cullen, Andy Foley, Johnny Keogh (0-1), Shaun Cranley (0-3), Kevin Quinn, Alan Barrett (0-1), Ruari Tompkins

Subs: Daire Wright for Cullen (inj.), David Maloney Quinn, Niall Gaffney for Foley, Tristan O’Toole for Wright, Nicky Kearney for Maguire

Ref: Pat Clarke (Cavan)