Monaghan 2-16
Meath 3-8

Monaghan got a perfect pre-championship boost when they beat Meath by five points to lift the Allianz Football League Division 3 title this evening.

Just 7,742 spectators were present at Croke Park to witness a thrilling contest which the Farney County dominated for long stages, yet needed a late goal from Kieran Hughes to settle.

Malachy O'Rourke's men made an explosive start to lead by 1-5 to 0-1 after just 11 minutes, but Meath fought back to trail by only four points at the interval and it looked as though the winners would pay for their failure to turn possession into scores when the Royals briefly hit the front early in the second half.

But Monaghan quickly regained their composure to re-establish a four-point lead before a Stephen Bray goal with three minutes to go set the scene for a grandstand finish. However, Hughes' late major ensured the Farney men weren't to be denied a victory, which they were full value for.

Inspired by outstanding performances from the Hughes brothers, Kieran and Darren, Owen Lennon, Ciaran McManus, Paul Finlay and man of the match Eoin Duffy, Monaghan have now beaten the Royals by a combined total of 17 points in their two Allianz League meetings this spring. But Meath boss Mick O'Dowd won't be too disappointed, especially after many of his younger players got valuable Croke Park experience ahead of the championship and promotion had already been achieved.

While Meath lined out as selected, Monaghan made one change to their full back line which saw Fintan Kelly take the place of Ronan McNally. The Ulster side signalled their intent with a Conor McManus point after just 45 seconds. Christopher McGuinness quickly doubled their lead after Peadar Byrne's shot had dropped short at the other end.

Kieran Hughes, who was named at centre forward but started in the corner, extended the winners' advantage with a left-footed effort following another counterattack. The Farney County's dream start continued when Eoin Duffy landed their fourth point.

Dazzled by their opponents' blistering opening, Meath finally got on the scoreboard in the eighth minute when Paddy Gilsenan fisted over after a great surge forward by Davy Dalton. But there was no respite for Mick O'Dowd's charges as Paul Finlay opened his account from a free before combining with Darren Hughes to set up Eoin Duffy for an 11th minute goal, which he took with some aplomb.

Now trailing by seven points, the Royals mustered an immediate response when Eamonn Wallace picked out another Croke Park senior debutant, Mickey Newman, for a well-taken Meath goal. But back came Monaghan with two points in as many minutes from the impressive McManus.

That the tempo dropped thereafter was probably a relief to Meath who had been totally outplayed in that opening quarter. Full back Bryan Menton got forward to raise their second white flag after being put through by Newman, and they made further inroads into the Monaghan lead through scores from Wallace and Stephen Bray.

Conor McManus was surprisingly off target from a free at the other end, but the full forward made amends from another placed ball a short time later after Conor Gillespie was yellow-carded for a foul on Neil McAdam.

Owen Lennon kicked a simple point after intercepting Graham Reilly's pass, but Meath had the final say of the half when Ciaran Lenehan pointed in the 33rd minute to leave just four between the sides at the break, 1-9 to 1-5.

Wing back Lenehan picked up from where he left off with the Royal County's sixth point just 20 seconds after the restart. Incredibly, Meath were back on level terms a minute later when their other wing back, Davy Dalton, crashed the ball to the back of Rory Beggan's net after soloing half the length of the pitch.

Monaghan received another sucker punch when Mickey Newman's free, which was earned by Graham Reilly, gave the Leinster men the lead for the first time.

Meath couldn't keep the momentum going, however, and were lucky not to concede a penalty in the 41st minute when Eoin Duffy was fouled inches from the 13-metre line. Paul Finlay equalised from the resultant free before Duffy restored Monaghan's lead, despite the close attention of Eoghan Harrington.

Finlay's trusty left boot produced the Farney County's 12th point and they had pushed out their lead to four points, 1-14 to 2-8, with eight minutes remaining thanks to further scores from Duffy and team captain Owen Lennon.

Mickey Newman and Conor McManus traded points before a third Meath goal with three minutes to go set the cat among the pigeons again. A long ball out of defence by Seamus Kenny - who was on as a substitute for his first appearance in 10 months - was collected by Stephen Bray, and the Navan O'Mahony's man found the net to leave just a point between the sides, 3-8 to 1-15.

But just as Meath had done to them in the first half, Monaghan hit back with a goal of their own within 60 seconds when the rampaging Kieran Hughes finished at the second attempt after Paddy O'Rourke had saved his initial shot.

With their four-point lead restored, Monaghan were home and hosed, but there was still enough time for the goal-scorer's brother, Darren Hughes, to tag on another point before the end.

Monaghan - R Beggan; K Duffy, D Wylie, F Kelly; D Hughes (0-1), N McAdam, C Walshe; O Lennon (0-2), D Clerkin; P Finlay (0-3, 2f), K Hughes (1-1), E Duffy (1-3); C McGuinness (0-1), C McManus (0-5, 1f), D Malone. Subs: S Gollogly for Malone, D Mone for Clerkin, P Donaghy for McGuinness, V Corey for Wylie.

Meath - P O'Rourke; E Harrington, B Menton (0-1), C Young; C Lenehan (0-2), K Reilly, D Dalton (1-0); B Meade, C Gillespie; P Gilsenan (0-1), G Reilly, P Byrne; E Wallace (0-1), S Bray (1-1), M Newman (1-2, 1f). Subs: D Larkin for Gilsenan, A Tormey for G Reilly, S Kenny for Byrne, B Dillon for Dalton, B Farrell for Bray.

Referee - P O'Sullivan. Tweet

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