Monaghan 1-18 Meath 2-03:A much more clinical Monaghan ultimately got the better of Meath in Clones yesterday to get their campaign off to the best possible start.
At the end of a close enough first half, during which Meath led briefly thanks to a goal by Jamie Queeney in the 11th minute, Monaghan were ahead by two – 0-7 to Meath’s 1-2.
In the second half Monaghan continued to dictate the pace of the game with an earl points from Owen Lennon and then two from the boot of Conor McManus to open a five-point lead.
Then the clinching score when Darren Hughes crashed in a goal as he came from deep,to put Monaghan completely in the driving seat.
Monaghan continued to reel off the points as the Meath challenge faded and they had opened a 15-point gap before Meath got their first score of the second-half.
A speculative centre by Conor Gillespie deceived Monaghan backs and goalkeeper to give Meath a consolation.
MONAGHAN:M Keogh; C Walshe, F Kelly, K Duffy; N McAdam, D Hughes (1-1, 0-1 45), D Mone (0-1); O Lennon (0-1), D Clerkin (0-2); O Duffy, P Donaghy, G Doogan (0-1); K Hughes (0-2), C McManus (0-8, Two frees), P Finlay. Subs: J McCarron (0-2, one free) for Finlay, P Dooney for K Hughes, P O'Hanlon for Doogan. MEATH: P O'Rourke; D Keoghan, B Menton, D Dalton; C Lenihan, E Harrington, S Crosby; J Sheridan, C Gillespie (1-0); B Meade, D Carroll (0-1), J Queeney (1-0); P Gilsenan, P Byrne, B Farrell (0-1, free). Subs: G Reilly for P Byrne, M Collins for Queeney, C Rowe for Lenihan, S Tobin (0-1, free) for Gilsenan, A Tormey for Farrell. Referee: C Brannigan (Down).
