Inniskeen ended Castleblayney’s hopes of a seventh straight Monaghan SHC title with a 1-11 to 0-13 win over the defending champions at Clones.
Castleblayney made a blistering start and led 0-4 to no score inside nine minutes. Niall Garland (two), Declan Hughes and Pauric Malone on target.
Inniskeen eventually settled and Niall Arthur restored parity heading into first-half stoppage time. Garland’s pointed free on the stoke of half-time saw Castleblayney lead 0-8 to 0-7.
Niall Arthur’s goal 15 minutes into the second half gave Inniskeen a one-point lead. Two minutes later he was sent off leaving Inniskeen with 14 men.
Inniskeen didn’t suffer however. Padraig McGahon gave them a two-point buffer three minutes into injury time.
Thomas Hughes registered a late consolation score for Castleblayney but the reigning champions still fell short in the end.
Elsewhere, Truagh claimed the junior crown after scoring a 1-19 to 2-10 victory over Monaghan Harps.
Garth Moran scored Truagh’s only goal of the game while Ray Lee and Dermot McMahon found the net for Harps.
