Rory Beggan: Left rooted to the spot by the penalty but stopped a Dara McVeety shot going over. Scored a free and a ‘45’, also missed one of each. Some trademark precise kick-outs and kick-passes in open play, although one went dangerously astray. 7
Drew Wylie: A slight touch on Conor Madden was harshly penalised for the spot-kick, but was guilty of another foul. Moved to sweep rather than man-mark for a time, returned to restrict the Gowna man. 6
Conor Boyle: Operated further out the field, trying to man-mark Gearoid McKiernan, and did some good work, especially in the third quarter. Guided over a lovely score after a weaving run. 7
Ryan Wylie: Detailed to man-mark McVeety and probably edged that encounter. Allowed his man only one point and scored a brave effort himself. 7.5
Karl O’Connell: Blotted out Oisin Kiernan, who was taken off, but was not his usual attacking influence himself, apart from early effort cleared off the line and one searing right-wing run which ended with a wide. Clattered on the half-hour mark. Black-carded in added time for fouling Martin Reilly. 6.5
Colin Walshe: Struggled badly to contain Reilly in the opening third but got better towards the break. Made interceptions, won break ball, kept at it. 7
Paudie McKenna: Brought into the starting side but never got going. Sent a shot short, later lost possession, and was subbed on the half hour. 5
Fintan Kelly: A back who has previously caught the eye in attack, he looked a little lost around midfield. Always seemed to have his mind on defensive duties, but didn’t make many notable contributions in that regard. 5.5
Kieran Hughes: Started very well, making marks and surging runs. Covered a huge amount of ground, up at full-forward then back deep in defence, but understandably ran out of steam and was yellow-carded in added time. 7.5
Dessie Ward: Tracked back regularly on the left side of defence but didn’t exert much influence on the game. Booked after a challenge on Killian Clarke and then replaced by Owen Duffy. 6
Dermot Malone: The game largely passed him by, apart from one wide, and he didn’t come out for the second half. 5
Shane Carey: Put in plenty of effort in the first half, albeit to little effect. Like many in whiter better after the break and scored two points from play. 6.5
Ryan McAnespie: Hesitated and lost out on one ball, didn’t get his hands on too many. Dropped deep in search of possession but had little impact. Booked late on. 5.5
Conor McManus: Seemed to seek contact but instead lost possession due to clean Cavan tackling, from both Faulkner and McLoughlin. Guilty of four wides 6
Stephen O’Hanlon: Looked his age too often, shooting short, then kick-passing poorly, before sending one shot skywards and regularly running into trouble. Did keep working but was taken off at the three-quarter mark. 5.5
Substitutes:
Conor McCarthy: Replaced McKenna before half-time, having been flown up from Dublin in a helicopter, and did fairly well. 6.5
Kieran Duffy: Took over from Malone for the second period and helped get Monaghan on the front foot. 6.5
Micheal Bannigan: On for the final quarter but didn’t make much of an impression apart from a sharp sliding lay-off in the build-up to Ryan Wylie’s point. 6
Owen Duffy: Came on for Ward and made one strong run. 6
Niall Kearns: Not on long enough to be rated.
Dessie Mone: Not on long enough to be rated.
