MONAGHAN CHAMPS

Monaghan 7-10
Cavan 3-12

BY JOHN GRAHAM

THE predatory instincts and clinical finishing of Tony Forde and Donal Meegan were central planks of this victory by a rampant Monaghan that saw them put Ulster minor hurling league division 2 titles back-to-back at the expense of Cavan in Kingspan Breffni Park, (3G pitch), on Friday evening last.
This was a re-run of last year’s final which Monaghan also won and in completing back to back successes they played some delightful hurling that the home side simply could not match.
While the Forde/Meegan axis up front did irreparable damage, scoring all but two points of Monaghan’s total, Meegan with 3-8 and Forde with 4-0, that twin strike force was only as good as the service they got with Aodh Curran and Cathal McAnespie orchestrating in midfield and the imperious Noel Flood along with Conor Boyle and Aidan Kerr holding firm at the back.
Played at a cracking pace throughout this was a totally riveting contest that was in the balance for quite some time before Monaghan moved up through the gears in the final quarter to blitz the home side with 3-1 as against a single point by the home side to clinch victory in emphatic fashion.
Cavan got on the score sheet with just 20 seconds on the stopwatch through Fiachra Hughes and they added a second point by Joshua Crowe in the third minute before Monaghan registered their opening score, a goal by Tony Forde in the fourth minute to take the lead for the first time.
Four minutes later Cavan were back in front thanks to a goal by Luke O’Dea but just a minute later Monaghan were back in the lead when Tony Forde came a strong run and applied a great finish to put Monaghan a point in front.
Neasan Neary converted a ‘65 for the home side to level the game after 11 minutes with Monaghan then going on to add four quick …