Monaghan 1-12
Donegal 1-10
Monaghan finished strongly at Ballybofey to end Donegal's interests in this year's Ulster MFC.
Sean Jones (free) and Jason Irwin scored late points as the Farney County repeated their recent Ulster MFL victory over the hosts. Donegal, who leaked five goals in a heavy first round loss to Tyrone, led by 1-10 to 1-7 after 37 minutes, but failed to score thereafter as 'Banty' McEnaney's charges produced a late surge to edge it.
The winners came flying out of the traps to lead by 1-2 to 0-0 inside four minutes thanks to a goal from full forward Loughlin Power and points either side of it from Michael Meehan and Irwin.
But Donegal hit back with points from Shane O'Donnell (free) and Jonathan Toye before Padraig McGettigan netted a penalty. Toye, O'Donnell and Josh Conlon tagged on points to help Donegal to a 1-7 to 1-4 lead at the interval, with Monaghan's only two scores in the last 26 minutes of the half coming from Jones frees.
Donegal were still three up seven minutes after the restart thanks to points from O'Donnell, Karl Gallagher and Aaron Gilhooley, but they lost their way after that as Monaghan regained parity through Sean Irwin (free), Andrew Moore and Jason Irwin before injury-time efforts from Jones and Jason Irwin gave them the win.
Monaghan - R Farrelly; R Grimes, J Doogan, S Hanratty; C Flood, B Og O Dufaigh, J McGarrell; A Moore (0-1), J Wilson; M Meehan (0-1), S Jones (0-6f), K Gallagher (0-1); D Swinburne, L Power (1-0), J Irwin (0-3). Subs: O O'Hanlon for J Wilson, D Dempsey for L Power, R Hanratty for K Gallagher (BC), C Smith for D Swinburne.
Donegal - C Byrne; A Gilhooley (0-1), C Gildea, A Doherty; M Mulholland, C Gallagher, M Coughlan; P McGettigan (1-0pen), S Gillespie (0-1); J Conlon (0-3, 1f), S O'Donnell (0-2, 1f), D Doogan (0-1); E Carr, R O'Donnell, J Toye (0-2f). Subs: J Grant for C Gallagher, C Breslin for D Doogan, L Dunphy for J Conlon.
Referee - C Dourneen.
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