Division Two A/Monaghan 0-20 Carlow 2-9: Monaghan got their league campaign off to a good start with a five-point victory over Carlow in a well-contested game in Clontibret yesterday.

Five points without reply in the final eight minutes of normal time saw Monaghan wrap up the win but it would have been a closer call had Carlow capitalised on a number of goal chances that came their way.

In the first half the woodwork denied them on one occasion while Simon Rea volleyed narrowly wide from another and he also had an injury-time penalty saved by Shane Duffy.

Dick Clerkin finished top scorer with eight points - six from frees and one from a 45 - which were vital to Monaghan's effort.

The home side led at half-time by 0-10 to 1-5, the Carlow goal coming in the 10th minute when Thomas Walsh fired under the advancing Duffy.

Within 20 seconds of the restart Patrick Hickey scored Carlow's second goal to see his side take the lead.

The game was finely balanced entering the final 10 minutes but Monaghan stepped up a gear when it mattered.

MONAGHAN: S Duffy; G McQuaid, J Coyle, C Flanagan; D Freeman (0-1), R Ronaghan, J Ward; J McElroy (0-3), D Clerkin (0-8); D McArdle (0-3), S Gollogly, S McManus; T Freeman (0-1), F Duffy (0-1), R Woods. Subs: N Corrigan for S McManus, M Daly (0-1) for R Woods, P Finlay for J McElroy, J Conlon for G McQuaid, Bernard O'Brien (0-1) for N Corrigan, JP Mone (0-1) for D Freeman.

CARLOW: J Brennan; J Kehoe, W Power, S Murphy; D Nolan, J Hayden, B Daly; D Byrne, P Nolan; R Sinnott (0-1), J Waters (0-1), T Walsh (1-1); S Rea (0-3), C Pender (0-1), P Hickey (1-1). Subs: P Cashin for Daly, M Brennan for P Nolan, M Carpenter (0-1) for Waters (yellow card), B Kelly for M Carpenter (yellow card).

YELLOW CARDS: Monaghan: J Conlon (59 mins) replaced by G McQuaid. Carlow: J Waters (48 mins) replaced by M Carpenter, M Carpenter (53 mins) replaced by B Kelly.

Referee: V Neary (Mayo).