A late rally saw Cavan score a 3-12 to 1-12 victory over Monaghan in their Ulster SFC opener at Clones.
The sides were level three minutes from time before injury-time goals from Gerard Smith and Paddy Lynch helped Cavan seal a six-point victory.
The opening stages were evenly contested with the sides trading four points each inside the opening 18 minutes.
Conor McManus, Rory Beggan, David Garland and Karl O’Connell were on target for the hosts. Paddy Lynch chipped in with four points for Cavan.
Suddenly a slight gap opened up on the scoreboard.Jack McCarron gave Monaghan a three-point cushion on 29 minutes.
Lynch replied for Cavan on the stroke of half-time where Monaghan led 0-7 to 0-5. The Crosserlough man produced a man-of-the match display scoring 1-9 overall.
Cavan’s Gerard Smith levelled the game five minutes into the second half. Subsequently there was an extensive stoppage. Monaghan’s Darren Hughes was forced off injured on 50 minutes following a clash of bodies.
Sean Jones pushed Monaghan two points clear on 56 minutes. Cavan moved into a three point lead three minutes later when Padraig Faulkner found the net.
Michael Hamill’s goal saw Monaghan draw level three minutes from time. Rory Beggan followed up with a fine effort from play two minutes into injury time giving the hosts a two-point lead.
Cavan responded impressively. Late goals from Smith and Lynch saw the visitors come from behind to score a six-point victory.
Cavan will now face Tyrone in the Ulster quarter-final on April 21st.
