Monaghan 1-12
Antrim 1-9

Tommy Freeman came off the bench to play a starring role for Monaghan who scored the last three points to see off Antrim's brave challenge before an 8,804 attendance at Clones.

The former All-Star - who was a late addition to the substitutes list after he had initially been ruled out with a hamstring injury - kicked two crucial second half points as the hosts battled back from 1-5 to 1-8 down after James Loughrey's stunning 45th minute goal had looked to have put Antrim in the driving seat. The experience and leadership of Dessie Mone, Owen Lennon and Dick Clerkin also proved decisive on a day when Monaghan lost their inspirational captain Paul Finlay to injury 20 minutes into the opening half.

Pre-match favourites Monaghan, who started Owen Lennon at midfield in place of Pete Dooney, made a dream start when their wing back Karl O'Connell marked his debut with a goal inside the first minute after his initial effort was blocked by Antrim 'keeper Chris Kerr.

Antrim, who switched their captain Aodhan Gallagher from midfield to full forward before the throw-in, replied with a Paddy Cunningham free. They registered four wides before Cunningham slotted over his second free in the 11th minute.

Paul Finlay got Monaghan's first point from a free before he was forced to retire with a shoulder injury. Kieran Hughes was brought on as his replacement. Cunningham and Micheal McGill brought the visitors to within a point, 0-4 to 1-2, but Hughes then marked his arrival with a point.

Owen Lennon and Michael McCann traded points as Monaghan went into the break holding a 1-4 to 0-5 lead.

Antrim resumed with a point from Gallagher in the 41st minute before attacking wing back James Loughrey - who was a regular goal-scorer during the Allianz League - fired the Saffrons into a 1-6 to 1-5 lead when he beat Mark Keogh with a powerful shot from the left wing. Monaghan's response was to throw Tommy Freeman into the fray and he would make his presence felt before the game's end.

The momentum remained with Liam Bradley's men who tagged on points from Michael McCann and Mark McAleese to open up a 1-8 to 1-5 lead. But cometh the hour, cometh the man as Freeman floated over a superb point after Conor McManus had converted a free. Dick Clerkin, who was reportedly yellow-carded by referee Maurice Deegan in the tunnel at half-time, fisted over the equaliser for the Farneymen and then Freeman gave them the lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Cunningham restored parity for Antrim, but Monaghan had the bit between their teeth and kicked three unanswered points in the closing five minutes from centre back Dessie Mone, substitute Peter Dooney and McManus (free) to qualify for a semi-final meeting with either Down or Fermanagh next month.

Scorers - Monaghan: K O'Connell 1-0, K Hughes (1f), C McManus (2f), D Clerkin, T Freeman 0-2 each, D Mone, O Lennon, P Finlay (f), P Dooney 0-1 each. Antrim: J Loughrey 1-0, P Cunningham 0-4 (2f), M McCann 0-2, A Gallagher, M Magill, M McAleese 0-1 each.

Monaghan: M Keogh, D Morgan, V Corey, C Walshe, K O'Connell, D Mone, K Duffy, O Lennon, D Clerkin, M McKenna, S Gollogly, J Turley, C McGuinness, P Finlay, C McManus. Subs: K Hughes for Finlay, T Freeman for McGuinness, P Dooney for McKenna, D Wylie for Duffy.

Antrim: C Kerr, A Healy, R Johnston, K O'Boyle, T Scullion, J Crozier, J Loughrey, M McCann, A Gallagher, C Murray, M Sweeney, M McAleese, P Cunningham, M Magill, T McCann. Subs: O Gallagher for Scullion, C Kelly for Murray, B Neeson for Magill.

Referee: M Deegan (Laois). Tweet

Most Read Stories