Monaghan 0-7
Cavan 0-7

Cavan and Monaghan were too close to separate in this afternoon's low-scoring Allianz League Division 1 derby in Castleblayney.

With both teams only managing a tally of 0-14 between them over the 70 minutes, it was Gearoid McKiernan's point from long range which saved a point for Cavan before a crowd of 7.983 at St Mary's Park.

Monaghan's first point in this contest hadn't arrived until the 23rd minute via their main scoring outlet Conor McManus, but two more scores from the same man would be enough to see them take the lead before going in level at the break.

The hosts pushed on in the second-half to open up a two-point lead and looked the more likely outfit before sub Conor Madden and talisman McKiernan - making his first start of the season - ensured the Blues took a point with them on the short trip home.

It took 11 minutes for the first score in this drab derby affair to arrive via a free from the trusty boot of Seanie Johnston, after the visitors had been wasteful during the opening stages.

Sherock's Niall Clerkin - making his second league appearance for the Blues - doubled his side's advantage six minutes later as Breffni boss Mattie McGleenan made some early changes in the form of forward pairing Madden and Niall McDermott in place of Niall McKiernan and the injured Conor Moynagh, respectively.

A McManus free would get Monaghan off the mark on 23 minutes and the Clontibret sharpshooter repeated the trick a minute later before sending over one from play to undo all their opponents' work in a mere three minutes.

Amazingly, the hosts looked like bringing in the lead despite only raising the umpire's white flag three times but Ciaran Brady was able to break through for Cavan's leveller on the eve of half-time.

A third McManus free and a sweetly struck point from Kieran Hughes, partnering his brother Darren at centre-field, had Malachy O'Rourke's charges back in the driving-seat - 0-5 to 0-3 - within five minutes of the restart, with Dermot Malone and Ryan McAnespie having entered the fray for them at the break.

Johnston (free) and Conor McCarthy traded scores before the former nailed his third and final free to bring the difference back to one heading towards the closing 20 minutes.

During that time, O'Rourke would empty his bench in pursuit of the victory, with Owen Duffy and Barry McGinn coming in, while the returning Jack McCarron replaced the black-carded Shane Carey towards the finish.

Fintan Kelly weighed in with a superb point that looked to have the home side heading towards the post but they'd endure a scoreless closing quarter, which ended up costing them both points here.

Cavan looked to make the most of it through a fantastic long range score from Madden, who gave McGleenan some food for thought after being withdrawn some 10 minutes into his league debut as a substitute against Dublin last week.

With a little over 12 minutes remaining, McKiernan drew the sides level for the third and final time with a trademark left-footed effort from distance.

Both teams had their chances to take the spoils late on but it finished all square in the end, with Cavan earning themselves a point in the top flight for the first time in 13 years and their neighbours joining the Dubs and Tyrone at the top end of the table with three points from two games.

Monaghan - R Beggan; F Kelly (0-1), D Wylie, R Wylie; N McAdam, C Walshe, K O'Connell; D Hughes, K Hughes (0-1); K Duffy, S Carey, G Doogan; C McCarthy (0-1), T Kerr, C McManus (0-4, 3f). Subs: D Malone for T Kerr, R McAnespie for K O'Connell, O Duffy for G Doogan, B McGinn for C McCarthy, J McCarron for S Carey (BC).

Cavan - J Farrelly; P Faulkner, K Brady, F Reilly; C Brady (0-1), M Reilly, G Smith; K Clarke, T Corr; D McVeety, C Moynagh, N Clerkin (0-1); S Johnston (0-3f), G McKiernan (0-1), N McKiernan. Subs: C Madden (0-1) for N McKiernan, N McDermott for C Moynagh, S Murray for G Smith, P O'Connor for C Brady, R Dunne for T Corr.

Referee - D Coldrick.

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