Offaly 3-8; Monaghan 0-12: Although guilty of some very erratic shooting, Offaly clinched promotion before their own supporters in Tullamore in their final group match.
A near-gale-force wind and showers of hail militated against constructive football, and playing with the elements in the first half Offaly sowed the seeds for success, as goals by Scott Brady, Niall McNamee and Neville Coughlan proved crucial.
The goals helped Offaly gain a 3-3 to 0-10 half-time lead and left the visitors with an uphill battle after the break, a battle they never looked like winning.
OFFALY: C McNamara; S Sullivan, C Evans, S Brady (1-0); B Mooney, C Daly, K Slattery; C McManus (0-3), P Kellaghan; N McNamee (1-2), R Malone, A McNamee (0-1); C Quinn, N Coghlan (1-1), J Reynolds. Subs: T Deehan (0-1) for Reynolds (h-t); J Grennan for Malone); P Kelly for McNamara (both 50 mins); M Mitchell for Brady (59); C Farrell for Kellaghan (67).
MONAGHAN: G Murphy; P McKenna, J Coyle, Edmund Lennon; D Duffy, JP Mone, V Corey; Eoin Lennon (0-1), Jason Hughes; M Duffy, P Finlay (0-4), D Clerkin; T Freeman (0-1), D McArdle, D Freeman (0-6). Subs: D McDermott for McKenna (28 mins); J Conlon for M Duffy (h-t); R Woods for Clerkin (53); John Hughes for Hughes (55); S McGeough for Finlay (61, inj).
Referee: G Haugh (Limerick)
