Monaghan had to dig in their heels to eke out a battling 0-16 to 0-15 derby victory over Cavan at Breffni Park today.

The defining phase in this closely-contested match arrived between the 51st and 61st minutes when Malachy O'Rourke's men thumped over five unanswered points to overturn a four-point deficit. With 18,540 watching on, old reliables Conor McManus, Darren Hughes, Dick Clerkin, Dessie Mone and Kieran Hughes turned the tide in the Farney County's favour with those scores.

The winners will now face either Fermanagh or Antrim in four weeks' time for a place in this year's provincial decider.

With Monaghan mustering just a single point from play during the opening period, Cavan had the better of the first half and carried a 0-9 to 0-7 advantage into the break.

The quest to gain an edge commenced prior to throw-in as both camps effected late changes to their starting XVs: Monaghan introduced Shane Carey and Ryan McAnsepie in place of Dick Clerkin and Owen Duffy, while the hosts brought in goalkeeper Raymond Galligan and Niall Murray for Conor Gilsenan and Martin Dunne respectively.

Conor McManus and Cian Mackey swapped early frees before the Breffni County moved ahead with scores from targetman Michael Argue and Niall McDermott (free). With the Farney County at sixes and sevens, another McDermott free soared between the uprights on 14 minutes to make it four points without reply for Terry Hyland's fine-tuned charges.

Paul Finlay arrowed over a routine free from in front of the posts a couple of minutes later to reduce their arrears. At the midway stage in the first half, Monaghan struck their first point from play when McManus elegantly glided around his man to slot a beautiful left-footed point and leave the minimum between the sides: 0-4 to 0-3.

When McManus knocked over a simple free in the 21st minute, the sides were level again. After their nervy opening, the visitors had settled and most of the action was now taking place inside the crowded Cavan half. McAnespie drew another foul and McManus obliged from the free to claim his fourth point of the day.

Goalkeeper Galligan curled over a free from distance from in front of the posts to tie the scores up again; Finlay retorted instantly with a simple free at the other end; McDermott did likewise - 0-6 apiece with eight minutes left before the break.

Cavan's next two points came from play via Mackey and Ronan Flanagan, with Finlay floating over another free in between. On the stroke of half time, captain Gearoid McKiernan took advantage of a Monaghan mistake to give his side a two-point interval cushion.

It took the victors 15 seconds to register the first score of the second half: Neil McAdam won the throw-in and laid the ball off to wing back Karl O'Connell, who ran half the length of the field before fisting over. Cavan's response was rapid - a brilliant McKiernan strike followed by a McDermott free, which went over via the top of the crossbar: 0-11 to 0-8.

Four minutes into the second half, Monaghan lost Dermot Malone to a black card, with the experienced Stephen Gollogly replacing him. Man of the Match McManus won and pinged over a free from the wing but Monaghan - now with wind advantage - missed their next two scoring chances, with McAnespie and goalkeeper Rory Beggan culpable before substitute Ciaran Brady restored Cavan's three-point lead.

Argue spun to make it a four-point match 13 minutes after the restart and McManus responded from a free. In between, Monaghan could have had a penalty when Dessie Mone went down as he was about to shoot for goal but the match officials weren't sufficiently convinced.

An inspirational Darren Hughes point had the favourites back within two points at the three-quarters stage and substitute Dick Clerkin spooned over a trademark point with his left peg in the 55th minute to bring his side within one, 0-13 to 0-12.

After Cavan freetaker Martin Reilly was black-carded for a rugby tackle on substitute Colin Walshe - making his first appearance of the year - Mone levelled the scores with a monster point 13 minutes from time. On the hour, Kieran Hughes speared over a fantastic free from an acute angle and Monaghan led again thanks to their fifth successive score!

Monaghan were punished for a couple of disappointing wides when substitute Martin Dunne swivelled to point off his left, but the superb McManus surged through to restore his side's lead with a great point in the 67th minute. Galligan smashed a long-distance Cavan free into the wind to the right of the posts and wide, and he also missed a '45' on the stroke of 70 minutes.

Three minutes of injury time were added at the end and in the second added minute former All Star defender Walsh registered the insurance point with a sweet strike. Dunne's free flew between the posts with 15 second of injury time remaining and there was no more time for the underdogs as the final sounded as soon as Beggan hit the subsequent kick-out.

It was more about character than quality for Monaghan today but they are still in the hunt for the Anglo-Celt Cup and that's all that counts.

Monaghan - R Beggan; D Mone (0-1), D Wylie, R Wylie; F Kelly, V Corey, K O'Connell (0-1); N McAdam, D Hughes (0-1); P Finlay (0-3f), D Malone, S Carey; R McAnespie, K Hughes (0-1f), C McManus (0-7, 5f). Subs: S Gollogly for D Malone (BC), C Walshe (0-1) for S Carey, D Clerkin (0-1) for P Finlay, C McGuinness for R McAnespie.

Cavan - R Galligan (0-1f); J McLoughlin, R Dunne, R Flanagan (0-1); J McEnroe, F Flanagan, D O'Reilly; T Corr, G McKiernan (0-2); D McVeety, M Argue (0-2), M Reilly; C Mackey (0-2, 1f), N Murray, N McDermott (0-4f). Subs: C Brady (0-1) for J McEnroe, M Dunne (0-2, 1f) for D O'Reilly, M Lyng for M Reilly (BC), T Hayes for C Mackey.

Referee - P Hughes.

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