Monaghan keeper Rory Beggan nails key scores as Cork suffer promotion setback

Monaghan: 3-16 (3-4-8) Cork: 1-15 (1-2-11)

A big setback in Cork's promotion hopes after losing to Monaghan in the Allianz Division 2 football league at Grattan Park in Inniskeen on Saturday afternoon.

The Rebels have four points from four games with three hugely important matches remaining including a now massive home game against Roscommon next weekend.

Similar to losing to Louth in the championship at the same venue last summer, it was self-inflicted to a certain degree. In saying that, Monaghan's extra quality and composure was hugely important in them getting over the line.

The heavy lifting was done in the first 35 minutes by Monaghan when they hit three goals albeit aided by a strong wind. Cork did improve on the resumption after a sluggish first half, but it was the concession of three avoidable goals that they will be disappointed with.

Colm O’Callaghan did pick up a second yellow card in injury time, but the game was all but over. Mark Cronin was the pick of the bunch for Cork. He finished up with 1-8

There was one change on the Rebels team that was announced on Friday with Cathail O’Mahony replacing Eoghan McSweeney.

With a strong wind blowing down the pitch, it was favouring Monaghan in the first half, but Cork made a positive start. They hit the first point through O’Mahony and also totted up two wides in the opening three minutes.

Monaghan did have the ball in the back of the net three minutes later, but it was disallowed after Ciarán McNulty was adjudged to have fouled Cork goalkeeper Patrick Doyle.

Monaghan were getting on top, not before the away side had another wide. Doyle saved well from Stephen O’Hanlon before the Farney men were awarded a penalty after eight minutes after David Garland was pulled down by a couple of Cork defenders.

Jack McCarron stepped up to send Doyle the wrong way. The scores weren’t free-flowing early on, with both defences firmly on top. The teams traded points with Monaghan holding a slender 1-1 to 0-2 advantage after 16 minutes.

A second Monaghan goal arrived two minutes later when McCarron set up O’Hanlon, who finished low into the net. That was followed by a Seán Jones two-pointer as the home side opened up a seven-point lead.

David Garland pointed for his side before Cork responded with a fine point through Seán McDonnell. It didn’t spur on the Leesiders, instead Monaghan scored a third goal. Cork opened up far too easily as Ryan Wylie billowed the net after 26 minutes, 3-4 to 0-3.

The teams swapped white flags until a Cronin free cut the gap to nine points, as they struggled to get any momentum going in that half, 3-5 to 0-5 at half-time.

Cork had wind advantage for the second half, but Monaghan showed composure and cuteness to keep John Cleary's team at bay. A two-pointer from a free by Monaghan goalkeeper Rory Beggan was the perfect start for the Ulster team.

McCarron added a free before a Cronin two-pointer from a free was badly needed for Cork, 3-8 to 0-7 after 46 minutes. O’Mahony then got his second point, but it could and maybe should have been a goal.

Another Beegan two-pointer from a free maintained Monaghan’s advantage with 20 minutes to go followed by a free by the big goalkeeper, 3-11 to 0-8.

Cork did land two of the next three points before they got a penalty after 60 minutes after Matty Taylor was pulled down. Cronin dispatched his kick to the net, 3-12 to 1-10, followed by a Conor Cahalane point with the Castlehaven player just on the pitch for his debut.

A Cronin free left six points in it after 63 minutes. There would be no grandstand finish. O’Callaghan received a second yellow card late on as Monaghan kicked two unanswered points, 3-14 to 1-12.

Chris Óg Jones landed a free for Cork before another two-pointer from Cronin as the game ticked deep into injury time.

Another Beggan two-pointer from a placed ball made sure of victory. Hugely disappointing result for Cork.

Scorers for Monaghan: R Beggan 0-7 (3 2pt f, 0-1 f), J McCarron 1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-2 f), R Wylie, S O’Hanlon 1-0 each, S Jones (1 2pt), C McNulty, D Garland 0-2 each, C McCarthy 0-1.

Cork: M Cronin 1-8 (0-4 f, 1 2pt, 1 2pt f, 1-0 pen), C O’Mahony, C Óg Jones (0-1 f) 0-2 each, S McDonnell, P Walsh, C Cahalane 0-1 each.

MONAGHAN: R Beggan; R Wylie, K Lavelle, D Byrne; R O’Toole, L Kelly, S O’Hanlon; G McPhillips, M McCarville; C McCarthy, M Bannigan, C McNulty; D Garland, J McCarron, S Jones.

Subs: A Woods for S Jones (52), K Duffy for R Wylie (55), J Irwin for S O’Hanlon (58), B McCaul for J McCarron (62), K Loughran for L Kelly (70).

CORK: P Doyle; S Brady, D O’Mahony (capt), N Lordan; T Walsh, R Maguire, M Taylor; S Walsh, C O’Callaghan; P Walsh, B O’Driscoll, C O’Mahony; M Cronin, C Óg Jones, S McDonnell.

Subs: B Murphy for N Lordan (28, head inj), R Deane for B O’Driscoll (38), I Maguire for P Walsh (42), E McSweeney for C O’Mahony (53), C Cahalane for T Walsh (60), L Murphy for S McDonnell (66).

Referee: F Kelly (Longford).

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