Monaghan got their Dr McKenna Cup campaign off to a winning start against neighbours Cavan (0-16 to 0-13) at Kingspan Breffni this evening.

 A late flurry of scores from Gabriel Bannigan’s men in the closing quarter saw them come away from Cavan Town with both points as they earned their first victory of 2026.

With both sides experimenting in their selections upon their return to this pre-season competition, which didn’t go ahead last year, it was Cavan that edged a 0-5 to 0-4 lead after the opening quarter of an hour thanks to Paddy Lynch’s free.

Kian Mulligan’s free drew the teams level two minutes later and the scores of David Garland and Karl Gallagher had the visitors up by 0-8 to 0-6 come half-time.

Lynch and captain Oisin Brady (two-pointer) fired Dermot McCabe’s side back in front within eight minutes of the resumption, but their Farney counterparts got motoring again as a string of Andrew Woods scores made it 0-13 to 0-10 with 10 minutes remaining.

The Breffni men battled back and scores from Ryan Donohoe and Oisin Brady helped bring them level prior to Garland, Bannigan (free) and Eddie Walsh knocking over the last three scores for Monaghan at the other end.

FULL-TIME RESULT: 2026 @BankofIrelandUK Dr McKenna Cup Round One 🏆🏐@CavanCoBoardGaa🟦⬜️ 0-13@monaghangaa⬜️🟦 0-16

A late flurry of scores sees Monaghan claim an away win in Cavan#BOIMcKennaCup26#Ulster2026 pic.twitter.com/15RvzDsGsn

— Ulster GAA (@UlsterGAA) January 3, 2026

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