Monaghan have to settle for an away preliminary quarter-final draw after a 0-19 to 0-17 defeat at the hands of Donegal at Omagh.
Donegal led for the majority of the contest. Aidan O’Rourke’s men were four points clear at half-time before holding on for a two-point win in the end.
The sides traded three points each inside the opening eight minutes; Micheal Bannigan, Gary Mohan and Conor Boyle on target for Monaghan.
60 seconds later, Darren Hughes gave Monaghan the lead for the first time. Ciaran Thompson restored parity on ten minutes.
Monaghan gained the upper hand on two subsequent occasions, Donegal drew level each time.
Donegal moved three points clear on 22 minutes. Odhran Doherty fired over a score after collecting a delightful pass from Jamie Brennan.
Jack McCarron made it a two-point game five minutes later before three successive scores pushed Donegal five points clear in first-half stoppage time.
Monaghan’s Gary Mohan replied with an advanced mark on the stroke of half-time but the Farney men still trailed 13 points to nine at half-time.
Donegal started the second half impressively. Two Oisin Gallen points saw Donegal move six points clear six minutes after the restart.
McCarron eventually opened Monaghan’s second-half account on 42 minutes. Two minutes later, Bannigan made it a four-point game.
Gallen restored Donegal’s six-point cushion on 52 minutes before three successive McCarron points saw Monaghan make it a three-point game seven minutes later.
The same margin separated the sides when Shaun Patton registered a point free two minutes into injury time.
Conor McManus replied with a free right at the death as the Farney men fell short.
Next round standings
The result sees Monaghan finish the group in third place and will be handed an away draw for the preliminary quarter-finals.
Donegal claim second place while Derry top the group. The Oak Leaf men qualified directly for the quarter-finals after beating Clare 1-19 to 1-13.
