In Castleblayney, this Sunday Cavan and Monaghan face each other in a Northern Sound Derby in Division one of the Allianz Football league. Last weekend- Cavan marked their return to the top tier with a clash at home to All Ireland champions Dublin while Monaghan took on the beaten All Ireland finalists Mayo in Castlebar.
Cavan v Dublin
Mattie McGleenan is in his first year in charge of Cavan and his side took to field last Sunday in front of a 16,231 strong crowd at Kingspan Breffini Park. Unfortunetly the visitors prevailed by 0-18 to 0-11 after leading by 0-10 to 0-07 at the halftime break. Seanie Johnston was the top scorer for the Breffini County with 0-05 points. Ahead of the eagerly anticipated clash which was delayed by 15 minutes due to the traffic congestion. There was a ferocious pace to the start of the match and they were level at 0-04 apiece after 15 minutes. Then Johnston got his third of the afternoon to put Mattie McGleenans side in the lead.
Dublin woke up to the Cavan threat and scored the next five points from the 21st to the 29th minute. Smith and McDermott for Cavan and Rock for Dublin finished off the scoring of the half and Dublin had a three point advantage. Smith opened up the scoring for Cavan in the second half but Dublin were always comfortable and ran out 0-18 to 0-11 winners. Dublin hitting 12 wides in the process
After the Game Shannonside Northern Sounds Damien Donohue spoke with the Cavan manager Mattie McGlennan who said ‘it was a learning experience and you see now why they were All Ireland champions but I’m delighted with our boys’
Monaghan v Mayo
There was better for fortune for Monaghan as the Farney army began their third successive Division One National football league campaign with a brilliant 1-11 to 0-12 win over their Connacht Rivals. Darren Hughes got the goal for the Farney side at the start of the second half while Sharpshooter Conor McManus kicked six points to help them on their way to victory at the start of their third straight season in the top tier of the competition.
Malachy ORourkes side had a blisterning start and led their hosts by 0-0 5 to 0-1 after 20 minutes . The Ulster men followed up Fergal Bohans opener with four points from Conor McManus including 3 frees and a 45 after 12 minutes and Darren Hughes pointing in the 20th minute. the last fifteen minutes of the half belonged to Mayo with two points from Regan and one apiece from OConnor, McLoughlin and Freeman leaving Monaghan trailing by 0-6 to 0-0-5 at the break. A couple of minutes into the second half came the games decisive moment when Scotstowns Darren Hughes brilliantly finished the ball to the net Thomas Kerr played a long ball to find McManus who in turn broke away from his man before playing in Hughes and Monaghan returned to the lead.
Over the next few minutes Mayos Cillian OConnor scored couple of frees but a Thomas Kerr point and a fantastic successful 60 metre effort from Goalkeeper Rory Beggan gave Monaghan a three point advantage.
A Conor McManus score from play put them four ahead before the westerners got two more through their marksman Cillian OConnor. in the 60th minute- the challenge got tougher for Monaghan when Karl OConnell was dismissed for his second yellow card. However this didn’t deter Gavin Doogan getting a point and restoring a one goal lead. Cillain OConnor got back on the act again with two more points to ensure Monaghan were in for a turbulent landing but a brillant Conor McManus point from near the sideline brought Monaghan a great away win and the perfect start to their 2017 league campaign. Monaghan manager Malachy ORourke caught up with Northern Sounds Alan Gunn after the game
Monaghan v Cavan
You can hear live commentatory on Monaghan v Cavan on Northern Sound on Sunday at 2pm with Alan Gunn, Damien Donohue and Nudie Hughes behind the mics.
