Monaghan 1-10 Donegal 1-09

An injury-time point from corner-back Colin Walshe saved Monaghan’s Division One status in a competitive game in Castleblaney.

Monaghan looked all at sea in the first half but they found their way in the final quarter to get the much-needed victory.

There was plenty of tension at the end of the game as the sides were level with time up but the Farney men showed the greater will to win. The result also means that Donegal have qualified for the semi-final where they will meet Dublin.

In an open first half, Donegal were on top early on and by the 19th minute led by 1-4 to 0-0.

Michael Murphy had Donegal on the board inside a minute and the McHugh cousins added two more as Monaghan were really struggling.

When Donegal opened up the Monaghan defence for Martin McElhinney to fire Donegal seven points clear, it looked really bad for the home side.

But they suddenly found their shooting boots and Dermot Malone found a gap in the Donegal defence to set up Daniel McKenna. His first effort was stopped but he picked up the rebound to fire to the net.

McKenna added a point immediately and even though Michael Murphy found the range from a free, Darren Hughes and Conor McManus with two, cut the gap to two points as half-time approached.

Donegal finished the half with a well-worked point, Patrick McBrearty at the end of the move to leave Donegal 1-7 to 1-4 in front at the break.

The second half was more open as both sides found the going difficult. Once again it was Conor McManus who got Monaghan back in the game with four wonderful place kicks.

But then at the end they needed a great overlap by Walshe to finally get the win and survival.

Monaghan: R Beggan; C Walshe (0-01), D Wylie, R Wylie; D Mone, F Kelly, K O’Connell; N McAdam, D Hughes (0-01); V Corey, D Malone, K Hughes; R McAnespie (0-01), D McKenna (1-01), C McManus (0-06, 5f).

Subs: T Kerr for Mone (47), O Duffy for Malone (53), C McCarthy for McKenna (59)

Donegal: M A McGinley; P McGrath, N McGee, F McGlynn; R McHugh (0-01), A Thompson (0-01), E McHugh (0-01); M Murphy (0-3,2f,45), O MacNiallais (0-01); R Kavanagh, L McLoone, M McElhinney (1-00), H McFadden, P McBrearty (0-02,1f), M O'Reilly.

Subs: C McFadden for E McHugh (53); E McGee for O’Reilly (59); C Toye for McLoone (64); S McBrearty for McElhinney (65); E Doherty for N McGee, bcard (70); M McHugh for H McFadden bcard (74)

Referee: R Hickey (Clare)