Monaghan 0-9
Donegal 1-4

Two late points from Rory Beggan and Fintan Kelly handed Monaghan a surprise victory over Ulster rivals Donegal in Letterkenny.

The win eases the Farney County's relegation worries after back-to-back defeats to Cork and Mayo, and was all the more noteworthy after they played three-quarters of the game without their talisman Conor McManus, who was black-carded in the 22nd minute on his return from injury.

In what was a poor game, a desperately disappointing Donegal could only manage one score from play and that was a Michael Murphy goal 10 minutes into the second half. The goal gave the reigning Ulster champions a 1-4 to 0-5 lead, but they wouldn't score again as Malachy O'Rourke's charges came away with the spoils.

The home side made most of the early running to lead by 0-3 to 0-0 after 10 minutes thanks to a brace of Michael Murphy frees and another placed ball from Paddy McBrearty.

Kieran Hughes eventually opened the Farney County's account with what proved to be the only score from play in the opening half. As Donegal failed to make their dominance count, Conor McManus narrowed the gap from a free before being sent for an early shower (Thomas Kerr replaced him) following an off-the-ball incident.

Paul Finlay took over the free-taking duties and nailed two, while Murphy slotted over his third at the other end to leave it all-square at the break.

Dermot Malone had edged Monaghan ahead for the first time before Murphy rose highest to fist Neil Gallagher's delivery to the net and seemingly put Rory Gallagher's men in the driving seat. But Finlay's third and fourth frees brought the visitors level and they won it in the final two minutes plus stoppage time with a tremendous Beggan free into the wind and a Kelly effort from play.

Before Kelly's insurance point, half-time substitute Anthony Thompson missed a chance to draw the game.

Monaghan - R Beggan (0-1f); C Boyle, D Wylie, V Corey; D Mone, F Kelly (0-1), K O'Connell; D Hughes, P Finlay (0-4f); N McAdam, D Malone (0-1), R McAnespie; C McManus (0-1f), K Hughes (0-1), D McKenna. Subs: T Kerr for C McManus (BC), O Duffy for D McKenna, D Clerkin for N McAdam.

Donegal - P Durcan; P McGrath, N McGee, E Doherty; E McGee, K Lacey, F McGlynn; N Gallagher, C Toye; M O'Reilly, O MacNiallais, R McHugh; P McBrearty (0-1f), M Murphy (1-3, 0-3f), M McHugh. Subs: M McElhinney for C Toye, A Thompson for E Doherty, C McFadden for K Lacey, D McLaughlin for P McBrearty, E McHugh for E McGee.

Referee - P Hughes.

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