Monaghan 1-18
Meath 2-3
Monaghan made an excellent start as the two teams relegated from Division Two collided at Clones.
Monaghan were rampant throughout the contest and were worthy 12 point victors.
Meath landed an early goal when Jamie Queeney rattled the Monaghan net, but the home side recovered.
Conor McManus, who finished the match with an eight point haul, was immense as Monaghan built up a 0-7 to 1-2 lead.
In the second half Monaghan were in cruise control though with Darren Hughes registering a vital goal.
In the closing stages Conor Gillespie netted a last gasp consolation goal for the Royals, who had been blitzed by Monaghan.
Scorers for Monaghan: Conor McManus (0-8, 2fs), Darren Hughes (1-1, 0-1 45), Kieran Hughes (0-2), Dick Clerkin (0-2), Jack McCarron (0-2, 1f), Owen Lennon (0-1), Gavin Doogan, (0-1), Dessie Mone (0-1).
Scorers for Meath: Jamie Queeney (1-0), Conor Gillespie (1-0), Damien Carroll (0-1), Brian Farrell (0-1, f), Sean Tobin (0-1, f).
MONAGHAN: Mark Keogh; Kieran Duffy, Fintan Kelly, Colin Walshe; Dessie Mone, Darren Hughes, Neil McAdam; Owen Lennon, Dick Clerkin; Gavin Doogan, Padraig Donaghy, Owen Duffy; Paul Finlay, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus. Subs: Jack McCarron for Finlay (47 mins), Pete Dooney for K Hughes (55 mins), Peter O’Hanlon for Doogan (61 mins).
MEATH: Paddy O’Rourke; Donal Keoghan, Bryan Menton, Davy Dalton; Ciaran Lenihan, Eoghan Harrington, Stephen Crosby; Joe Sheridan, Conor Gillespie; Brian Meade, Damien Carroll, Jamie Queeney; Paddy Gilsenan, Peadar Byrne, Brian Farrell. Subs: Graham Reilly for Byrne (43 mins), Mark Collins for Queeney (43 mins), Sean Tobin for Gilsenan (52 mins).
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Antrim 1-14
Cavan 2-9
Casement Park provided the ideal backdrop for a thrilling all Ulster Division Three clash with Antrim claiming a gutsy win.
Early on Cavan shaded the first half departing at the break armed with a 1-5 to 0-7 advantage.
Mark McKeever’s goal was a fine score in the opening period, but there was controversy when Antrim’s Sean McVeigh was given a straight red card.
Despite the numerical disadvantage Antrim responded after the restart with Michael Pillock grabbing a goal.
Martin Dunne converted a penalty for Cavan, who piled on the pressure in the closing stages, but Antrim held out.
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Fermanagh 1-16
Wicklow 0-9
Peter Canavan’s Fermanagh cruised to a win that was as convincing as the scoreline suggests against Wicklow at Aughrim.
Fermanagh were excellent in the first half and led at the break by 0-11 to 0-3.
Wicklow couldn’t contain Fermanagh’s sharp attack and Shane McCabe goaled in the third quarter.
From then on Wicklow were in damage limitation mode and Fermanagh emerged as comfortable victors.
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Roscommon 1-11
Sligo 1-8
At Dr Hyde Park Roscommon and Sligo produced a hard fought clash that went the way of John Evans’ team.
Stephen Coen manufactured a first half goal chance for Adrian Marren, who duly obliged rifling a goal for Sligo.
Roscommon, though, responded and a Donie Smith penalty on the stroke of half-time had them 1-8 to 1-4 ahead.
It was well contested after the restart with Cathal Cregg kicking a crucial free as Roscommon prevailed.
ROSCOMMON: Geoffrey Claffey; Seanie McDermott, Niall Carty, Cathal Daly; Donal Ward, Niall Daly, Neil Collins; Michael Finneran, Kevin Higgins; David Keenan, Fintan Cregg, David O’Gara; Donie Smith, Donie Shine, Cathal Cregg.
SLIGO: Philip Greene; Ross Donovan, Johnny Martyn, Brian Kennedy; Neil Ewing, Mark Quinn, Brian Curran; Stephen Gilmartin, Adrian McIntyre; Brendan Egan, Pat Hughes, Shane McManus; Mark Breheny, Adrian Marren, Stephen Coen.
