Gaelic Games

Monaghan have the edge on Cavan as Rory Beggan lands three two-pointers

Cavan’s 12 wides proved costly as they suffer defeat to their Ulster neighbours

Oisín Kiernan of Cavan looks for support during the Allianz Football League Division Two match against Monaghan at Kingspan Breffni Park. Photograph: Andrew Paton/Inpho
Oisín Kiernan of Cavan looks for support during the Allianz Football League Division Two match against Monaghan at Kingspan Breffni Park. Photograph: Andrew Paton/Inpho
Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni
Sat Jan 25 2025 - 21:10
NFL Division Two: Cavan 0-20 Monaghan 2-22

Old derby, new rules, familiar result. The home side have only won five of these Drumlin Clasico clashes in the last 20 league and championship meetings going back to 1990 so it wasn’t exactly a shock but Monaghan deserved their win over the noisy neighbours.

Cavan registered four two-pointers in the first half, three of them from play, but still trailed at the interval, Conor McCarthy’s third-minute penalty helping them to a 1-10 to 0-12 half-time lead.

There wasn’t much between them in the first half but wind-assisted Cavan registered seven wides – they had 12 in total – and messed up a couple of good goal chances while the visitors had just one wide, an uncharacteristic missed free from the influential Rory Beggan.

Pádraig Faulkner, with a great effort from the right wing, and Luke Molloy (free) nudged the home side back in front before Ryan McAnespie levelled it up.

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Beggan, in the quarterback role, teed Barry McBennett up for Monaghan’s next before spectacular scores from Dara McVeety and Killian Clarke made it 0-9 to 1-2 in favour of the hosts.

But the Farney made inroads with two Beggan two-pointers (the second a free) and a white flag from Seán Jones as they hit the front on 22 minutes.

By half-time, it was a one-point ball game but Monaghan dominated the second half for large parts.

After a dashing run from Bannigan, David Garland bundled home an early goal and the Donaghmoyne man quickly added a point to leave five between them.

Goalkeeper Gary O’Rourke and David Hamill traded scores but Monaghan were growing stronger as Cavan wilted. McBennett and McCarthy (two-pointer) registered; Conor Madden fisted one for Cavan but a Beggan free from outside the arc – moved up 50 metres – made it 2-17 to 0-14.

Cavan clawed back four points in a row but Monaghan never looked unduly worried and any faint hopes of an unlikely comeback were dashed with scores from Jack McCarron and Bannigan, followed by a well-taken two-pointer from Garland.

CAVAN: G O’Rourke (0-1); N Carolan, B O’Connell, J McLoughlin; P Faulkner (0-1), D McVeety (0-4, 1tp), O Kiernan (Castlerahan) (0-2, tp); K Clarke (0-2, tp), E Crowe, Ciarán Brady, G Smith, L Molloy (0-1, f), R O’Neill, J Smith (0-1), S McEvoy (0-5, tp, f)

Subs: R Donohoe for E Crowe, TE Donohoe (0-1, f) for R O’Neill (both h-t); Conor Madden (0-2) for G Smith (47 mins); T Madden for L Molloy (54); Cian Reilly for P Faulkner (70).

MONAGHAN: R Beggan (0-6, 2tpf, 1tp); R Wylie, K Lavelle, D Byrne; R O’Toole, G McPhilips, C McCarthy (1-2, 1-0 pen, 1tpf); B McBennett (0-3), M McCarville, R McAnespie (0-1); M Bannigan (0-4, 2f), C McNulty, D Garland (1-4, 1tpf, 1f), M Hamill (0-1), S Mooney.

Subs: J Dougan for M Hamill (temp, 10-15); B McCaul for M Hamill (temp, 21- 28); S Jones for S Mooney (43); B McCaul for C McNulty (54); J McCarron (0-1, f) for B McBennett (60); J Irwin for G McPhilips (69); C Lennon for R O’Toole (70)

Referee: L Devenney (Mayo).