Monaghan missed out on a McKenna cup final place following a heavy 4-14 to 0-11 defeat to Donegal at Castleblayney.
Donegal made a blistering leading 1-2 to no score inside seven minutes. Oisin Gallen with the game’s opening goal three minutes in.
Barry McBennett opened Monaghan’s account on 14 minutes. Six minutes later, Odhran Doherty registered a second goal for the visitors making it a nine-point game.
Donegal subsequently found another gear. Oisin Gallen’s penalty goal on the half hour mark helped Jim McGuinness’ men lead 3-9 to 0-3 at half-time.
Donegal’s Ronan Frain found the net on 51 minutes. The visitors failed to score again for 16 minutes.
Monaghan amassed four successive scores during that period but were still 13 points down. Stephen Mooney accounted for three points, Ciaran McNulty also on target.
Karl Molloy replied with two unanswered points and sealed a comfortable victory for Donegal. The visitors can look forward to a McKenna cup final meeting with Derry.
