Sport

Monaghan blaze their way to final decider

NFL DIVISION TWO: Laois 0-8 Monaghan 4-16

Mon Apr 13 2009 - 01:00

NFL DIVISION TWO:Laois 0-8 Monaghan 4-16

A PLACE in the league final was Monaghan’s incentive provided they could produce the right result at Portlaoise yesterday. Laois had little to play for having made sure of their status last time out.

Before the throw-in Monaghan were eight points adrift of leaders Kildare and one less adrift of Cork in terms of scoring difference. By the end of the first quarter they had wiped out the eight-point deficit.

Their opening goal came in the fourth minute when Paul Finlay raced unheeded into position to slam the ball to the net. By the time Tom Freeman rocketed home goal number two in the 28th minute Monaghan were rampant and they ran up a 3-12 to 0-2 half-time lead, with Freeman’s brother Damien netting goal number three.

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With news reaching Portlaoise that neither of their two closest rivals were nearly as comfortable, Monaghan eased up although in the second-half their cause was greatly helped by the red card issued to Laois’s Michael J Tierney early in the third quarter.

The rout was complete when Mark Downey beat the defence midway through the second half for the visitors’ fourth goal.

Tom Freeman was the most exciting player on view as Monaghan’s comprehensive victory ensured a tilt against Cork this year’s Division Two final, possibly at the same venue.

MONAGHAN:S Duffy; D Mone (0-1), D McArdle, V Corey; D Freeman (1-1), G McQuaid, D Hughes; D Clerkin (0-1), O Lennon; C McManus (0-1), P Finlay (1-0), S Gollogly (0-2); M Downey (1-2), R Ronaghan (0-1), T Freeman (1-7). Subs: R Woods for Ronaghan (34 mins), C Hanratty for McManus (40 mins), G McEnaney for Hughes (50 (mins), D Morgan for D Freeman (65 mins), K Hughes for Gollogly, S McAleer for Clerkin (67).

LAOIS:C Gorman; A Fennelly, C Ryan, R Stapleton; D Rooney, G Reddin, P McMahon; P Clancy, K Meaney; P McNulty, B Quigley, B Sheehan; MJ Tierney 0-2, R Munnelly 0-2, D Kingston 0-4; Subs. J O'Loughlin for Reddin (23 mins), MB McCormack for McNulty, P O'Leary for Rooney (both ht), C Bergin for Quigley (45 mins), C Rogers for Sheehan.

Referee:Aiden Mangan (Kerry).