Dazzling Donegal simply pulverised mediocre Monaghan who finished with 13 men in a one-sided affair at breezy Ballyshannon yesterday.
Clinically executed goals just before half-time and at the end of the third quarter, pushed Tir Conail to a valuable victory over off colour Monaghan who lost team captain Ryan Wylie to a red card and keeper Rory Beggan to a black card in the dying moments.
Caolan Ward hit the first goal from close range for the winners in the 30 minute which pushed Donegal to a 1-5 to 0-2 in a wind assisted first half in a half where Monaghan lost their captain Ryan Wylie to a black card for a silly foul on Ciaran Thompson.
But the expected Farney revival in the second half,never happened as Donegal roared out of the blocks in the third quarter.
And, this mismatch was effectively over in the 55 minute when impressive substitute Conor O’Donnell and a rampant Paddy McBrearty put Hugh McFadden through for a simple tap in for McFadden to put the winners into a 2-9 to 0-6 lead.
They also lost talismanic keeper Rory Beggan who hauled McBrearty down in the move that led to the clinching goal.
Shell shocked Monaghan could only register two more points for the losers as man of the match Langan led the victory charge.
The opening quarter was tense as both sides circled each other like boxing heavyweights.
Donegal’s Paddy McBrearty celebrated his first piece of action since last year by hitting the opening two points.
The first point came from a free in the 9 minute and this was followed by a well struck effort from long range two minutes later.
Monaghan were keen to contain Donegal playing into a big breeze-but lost team captain Ryan Wylie to a black card.
However, the home side failed to take advantage of the extra man tacking on only one further point from Thompson in the 20ht minute.
But, they also hit six very scorable wides in the opening half as Monaghan got off the mark with a fisted point from full back Conor Boyle.
It looked grim for the home side until a scoring spurt of 1-2 gave them a slightly flattering six points interval lead.
Corner back Caolan Ward found himself in space deep inside the Farney defence from a Michael Langan pass and he rifled the ball low to the Monaghan net in the 30 minute.
Ward’s clinical strike put Donegal into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead as Monaghan hit back with a pointed free from Conor McManus.
But, two well struck points from elegant midfielder Michael Langan put Donegal into a 1-5 to 0-2 and put them in a much healthier position at the break.
And the second half was a canter in the park for the impressive winners.
Donegal: S Patton; C Ward, N McGee, E Ban Gallagher; P Brennan, D O’Baoill, O McFadden/Ferry; H McFadden, M Langan (0-5); R McHugh, C Thompson (0-1) C McGonagle; P McBrearty (0-32f) M Murphy,P Mogan (0-1).
Subs N O’Donnell (0-2),for P Brennan (32) E McHugh for O McFadden/Ferry (inj 41), A McClean for C McGonagle (54) J MacCeallbhui for P Mogan (67), E Doherty for P McBrearty (70)
Monaghan: R Beggan; D Wylie, C Boyle (0-1) K Duffy; K O’Connell, R Wylie, M Bannigan; D Hughes, N Kearns; R McAnespie, C McCarthy (0-2) D Ward; D Malone, K Hughes (0-1), C McManus (0-2f)
Subs; J McCarron (0-32f) for M Bannigan (h-time), S Carey for D Malone, C McGuinness for D Hughes (50),
Red card R Wylie (47),
Black Card; R Beggan (55)
Referee D Coldrick (Meath)
