All-Ireland Football Qualifiers

Monaghan Take Control To Defeat Donegal
Monaghan 2-12
Donegal 1-7

By Dermot Kavanagh

Monaghan followed up their creditable performance of the Ulster Final with a commendable win over Donegal in this highly entertaining qualifier at a packed Omagh on Saturday.

They were first to settle and by the 25th minute led by 1-4 to 0-2, the goal coming from converted full back, Vincent Corey.

Donegal finished stronger in the closing stages of the first half and went to the break only a goal behind (1-5 to 0-5). Within three minutes of the restart, Kavanagh,

Donegal's best forward levelled matters with a well worked goal. However, Donegal were unable to keep up the challenge and went the next 28 minutes without scoring.

Monaghan then proved their mettle with some fine unanswered points to take a grip on the game that would not relinquish. Tommy Freeman's goal in the 56th minute settled the issue as Donegal were unable to stage any worthwhile recovery.

Derry In Final Eight
Derry 1-18
Laois 2-11

By Dermot Kavanagh

Following their tame exit from the Ulster championship Derry continue to improve. They have now made it to the last eight and following this win none of the remaining contenders will look forward to meeting them in the quarterfinals.

A much lighter Laois team deserve great credit for more than making a match of it despite not really ever looking like likely winners. Derry swept into an early lead (0-6 to 0-1) after 15 minutes of play and Laois' challenge looked doomed. They kept plugging away though and found themselves only a point in arrears at half-time (0-9 to 0-8).

Mainly through the clever forward play of Muldoon and Bradley, Derry increased their lead to five points as the game entered the final ten minutes. Laois then had their second goal from Sheehan to cut the deficit to two points with time ebbing away, 1-15 to 2-10.

Bradley then added a brace of points to more or less close out the game in Derry's favour. O Kane and Tierney then exchanged points but Derry's lead was maintained. This was a highly entertaining game where both sides demonstrated their ability to play good quality football in a sporting manner.