Queen's University 0-13 Monaghan 0-9:QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY got their Dr McKenna Cup campaign off to a winning start at the expense of an experimental Monaghan side in Clones on Saturday.

Monaghan had to play three-quarters of the match with 14 players following the second yellow card dismissal of Francis Caulfield after just 14 minutes.

Queen’s always looked that bit sharper and more cohesive as a ring-rusty Monaghan struggled to get into their stride.

The students were only headed once and that after 13 minutes when points by Paul Finlay, free, and Martin McElroy cancelled out Charlie Kielt’s opener. Queen’s led 0-5 to 0-3 at half-time and while Monaghan pulled back a point within two minutes of the restart, the students took almost total control in the third quarter to rattle off five unanswered points to open a six-point lead at that stage.

They then had Joe Ireland dismissed on a straight red card but they rallied for three further points to open an eight-point lead.

The introduction of Keith Hill gave new impetus to Monaghan and they fashioned a fighting finish with four points without reply, three from Paul Finlay and one from Keith Hill.

QUB: P Graham; O Duffy, N McGovern, O Costello; L Howard, J O’Kane, M Gallagher; R Jones (0-2), N McKenna (0-3, two frees); B Cox (0-2), C Kielt (0-3, one free), C Crilly (0-1); J O’Brien, PD Savage, C Rafferty. Subs: J Ireland for M Gallagher, S Barton for B Cox, C Fleming 0-2 (two frees) for C Crilly, C McGovern for J O’Brien.

MONAGHAN: M Keogh; D Wylie, S Driver, K Duffy; G Doogan, S Smyth (0-1), G Flanagan; F Caulfield, D Clerkin; B O’Brien, P Finlay (0-5, four frees), D Malone, O Duffy, M McElroy (0-2), M Downey. Subs: D Duffy for K Duffy, K Hill (0-1) for M Downey, J Turley for G Flanagan, J O’Hara for O Duffy, C Woods for B O’Brien.

Referee: G Walsh (Antrim).