Monaghan pick up first win in five months to book All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final place

Vinny Corey’s side will be on the road for their last 12 clash having finally gotten the victory they so badly craved but it should have been much easier than enduring a nervy final few minutes.

Barry McBennett’s goal just before the hour mark had Vinny Corey’s men nine points to the good, 1-16 to 1-7, but they wouldn’t score for another 16 minutes as Meath reeled off seven points in a row.

It was not enough for Colm O’Rourke’s Royals, however, as their season comes to an end while Monaghan deservedly booked their place in knock-out stages and will hope to gain momentum from a much-needed win.

There was a deluge of rain before throw-in and that made conditions tricky for both sides but it was Monaghan, backed by their typically strong support base, that started much the brighter.

Defenders Killian Lavelle and Jason Irwin both ventured forward to win frees, which were converted by Jack McCarron, before temporary substitute McBennett also got in on the scoring act, 0-3 to nil.

It took until the tenth minute for Meath to get on the board with Cillian O’Sullivan hand passing over from close-range and they had the gap back to one by the end of the first quarter with Matthew Costello twice on target, 0-4 to 0-3.

The Royals left plenty of scores behind them in the opening half, though, with Eoghan Frayne’s goal chance cleared off the line by Gary Mohan in the 14th minute.

Monaghan, without a win since their opening Division 1 League game against Dublin in late January with nine losses and a draw since then, were unusually wasteful in possession with a series of turnovers allowing Meath to break at pace.

Meath got the goal they deserved in the 21st minute with Cathal Hickey finishing to the net after Irwin needlessly kicked the ball away in an attacking position and O’Rourke’s side quickly extended the gap to two through a Costello free, 1-4 to 0-5.

They were left to rue a lack of a killer instinct, however, as Monaghan reeled off three points in succession (two from Micheál Bannigan and one from Lavelle) to head down the tunnel one to the good, 0-8 to 1-4.

The Farney men continued where they left off on the resumption with seven of the next nine scores to see them in a commanding position heading into the final quarter with Stephen O’Hanlon pulling the strings up front, 0-15 to 1-6.

Meath were struggling for oxygen all over the pitch as Monaghan upped it a gear everywhere and it looked like Meath’s goose was completely cooked when McBennett rattled the net in the 59th minute, 1-16 to 1-7.

Corey’s side wouldn’t score again until the final play of the game, though, as Meath clawed their way back into it with substitute James Conlon to the fore but Monaghan held on and will be out again next week.

Scorers – Monaghan: B McBennett 1-2, J McCarron 0-4f, M Bannigan 0-3 (2f), S O’Hanlon, C McCarthy 0-2 each, K Lavelle 0-1, A Woods (mark), J Irwin, C McManus (f) 0-1 each. Meath: M Costello (2f), E Frayne (2f) 0-4 each, C Hickey 1-0, J Conlon, R Jones 0-2 each, C O’Sullivan, B Hogan (’45) 0-1 each.

Monaghan: R Beggan; J Irwin, K Lavelle, R Wylie; R McAnespie, R O’Toole, C McCarthy; G Mohan, J Wilson; M Hamill, M Bannigan, S O’Hanlon; A Woods, J McCarron, C McNulty. Subs: B McBennett for Wilson blood (2-6), McBennett for Wilson (29), T McPhilips for O’Toole temp (51), D Garland for McNulty (55), C McManus for McCarron (59), M McCarville for Hamill (67), S Mooney for Woods (71).

Meath: B Hogan; D Keogan, R Ryan, A O’Neill; C Caulfield, D Campion, S Coffey; C Hickey, C Gray; S Ryan, C O’Sullivan, B O’Halloran; J Morris, M Costello, E Frayne. Subs: R Kinsella for O’Sullivan and C McBride for Ryan (both half-time), R Jones for Gray (49), J Conlon for O’Halloran (55), D McGowan for Hickey (62).

Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan).