Football

Owen Duffy shines again in Monaghan win over Cavan

Cavan's Cian Mackey caused problems for Ryan Wylie and the Monaghan defence Picture by Seamus Loughran
Cavan's Cian Mackey caused problems for Ryan Wylie and the Monaghan defence Picture by Seamus Loughran Cavan's Cian Mackey caused problems for Ryan Wylie and the Monaghan defence Picture by Seamus Loughran

Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final: Cavan 0-15 Monaghan 1-15

CAVAN RATINGS

Raymond Galligan: Mostly sent his kick-outs short to team-mates; one through the middle went straight to Kieran Hughes though, and his accuracy dipped after the break. Took some risks, but also a high catch, and made a great save to deny McCarron a goal. 6.5

Padraig Faulkner: Although man-marking McManus did well to block an Owen Duffy shot. Troubled more in his main role, and not close to ‘Mansy’ for the crucial goal. 5.5

Killian Clarke: The captain didn’t look comfortable around wing-back and was more impressive when he moved to the middle of the park where he worked hard to lift his team. Almost fisted in a goal. 7

Niall Murray: Followed Dermot Malone very closely and curtailed his involvement in the game. Got forward for a wide and a skewed shot, but didn’t contain McCarthy. 6.5

James McEnroe: Scored as much as the man he was man-marking, McCarron, although that was mostly due to poor shooting from the latter. Booked after the goal and soon subbed. 6.5

Conor Moynagh: A classy footballing centre half-back, getting Cavan going with his precise kick-passing, but also did the defensive job well, intercepting and shouldering to win back possession. 7

Gerard Smith: The Lavey man saw plenty of possession, especially in the first half, and generally used it well, finding team-mates calmly. Shot weakly from a narrow angle when he got in for a goal chance. 7

Liam Buchanan: Started at full-forward to little effect, but got a point as soon as he dropped back to midfield. Replaced at half-time. 6

Gearoid McKiernan: Man-marked by McAdam early on, pushed up to full-forward, but scored last point of first half from a deeper role. Didn’t rise to the occasion in second period. 6.5

Cian Mackey: Still the brains of the Cavan attack, with good movement to link play and the ability to take scores – three from play on the day. Struck one wide but caused difficulties for the Monaghan defence. 8

Conor Madden: Lost possession through a fumble and found it hard to get into the game against the energetic Doogan; was taken off after 25 minutes. 5.5

Martin Reilly: Influential on the right flank early on and then put in some effective effort when moved to the centre-field exchanges but didn’t offer much scoring threat. 7

Niall Clerkin: Up against Monaghan skipper Walshe and found it hard to escape his shadow. Made some good runs but team-mates didn’t find him. 6

Niall McDermott: A decent display in terms of link play, initially operating out deeper, then pushed up to full-forward at times. Accurate from frees but not able to threaten enough from play himself. 7

Seanie Johnston: Barely touched the ball before converting a free late in first half. More involved after break, adding three more frees. 6.5

Substitutes

Ciaran Brady: Showed that he should probably have started, covering well in defence, then increasingly pushing up well and winning possession. 7.5

Dara McVeety: Brought on for the second half and showed some nice touches but clearly not fully fit. 6.5

Ryan Connolly: Booked for a foul late in the game but almost hit the headlines when his shot hit the upright at the very end. 6.5

Joe Dillon: Not on long enough to be rated.

Jason McLoughlin: Not on long enough to be rated.

Caoimhin O’Reilly: Not on long enough to be rated.

MONAGHAN

Rory Beggan: Kicked two superb frees into the wind and his kickouts when supported by it his varied deliveries with the wind in the second period. 8

Fintan Kelly: Had a degree of freedom to attack in the first half with moderate success. Conceded two second half frees but was strong in his battle with Seanie Johnston. 6

Drew Wylie: Raised the tenor of the game with a storming run, throwing Martin Reilly to the ground in front of the stand. Struggled with McVeety for a spell but produced couple of eye-catching turnovers. 7

Ryan Wylie: Involved in several of Monaghan’s attacks in both halves, assisting their final score of the first period for McManus. Continued in that vein through. 7

Colin Walshe: Took a while to grow into the game but eventually found his stride, kicking a fine score early in the second half. Solid defensively. 7

Vinny Corey: An extra cordon in the white wall of shirts lined across their own 45, Corey’s tackling was as strong and disciplined as ever. 6

Karl O’Connell: A few uncharacteristic basic errors, including spilling the ball unchallenged twice. Opened the half’s best goal chance for Owen Duffy. Much improved second half. 7

Kieran Hughes: The tenacity and sharpness of Martin Reilly caused him real problems in the first half but he came good after the break with a big display. 7.5

Neil McAdam: Did well to shackle Gearoid McKiernan defensively until his superb score in first half injury-time. Did well around the middle in the second half without any real inclination to attack. 7.5

Gavin Doogan: Tackle after tackle after tackle, he is a hugely effective shield right on the Monaghan defensive 45 before being sacrificed in a tactical move. 7

STAR MAN

Owen Duffy (Monaghan): Kicked four points from play including his side’s opener with a wonderfully measured effort from the corner. Should have done better with his goal chance but made up for it by setting up McManus’s major. His hard running caused Cavan real problems. 8.5

Kieran Duffy: Ended up full-back at one stage in the first half and played in a variety of positions. Had a bit of trouble from Brady in the second half. 6

Dermot Malone: Took him a while to get into it but started to throw his head in around the middle and pick up some loose ball. 6

Jack McCarron: Kicked three wides in the first half, each further away than the last, as he struggled with the measure of the wind. Better second half, though not without its flaw. 6.5

Conor McManus: Won every ball and kicked a couple of outrageous scores into the wind first half, but his shooting wasn’t as refined with the wind at his back. Still led the line magnificently. 8

Substitutes

Ryan McAnespie: An effective half-time sub, he introduced a bit of pace to the Monaghan counter-attack. 7

Conor McCarthy: The best of their subs, he scored with his first touch inside seconds and added the clinching score late on. 7.5

Dessie Ward: Extra link around the middle. 6

Dessie Mone: Not on long enough to be rated.

Darren Hughes: Not on long enough to be rated.

Shane Carey: Not on long enough to be rated.