Cavan 1-13 Monaghan 0-12: Breffni stun Farney County in Ulster quarter-final

Cavan secured an upset victory over Monaghan in the Ulster Football Championship, winning 1-13 0-12.

Mickey Graham told Sky Sports before the game he had experienced a "baptism of fire" to life as Cavan boss, but that's exactly what his Breffni side handed out to their visitors on Saturday evening.

Cavan, fresh from relegation from Division 1, showed no signs of sluggishness as they tore into the favourites right from the off. Bursting into a two-point lead, they were then awarded a penalty when Martin Reilly played a sweet ball into Conor Madden, who was dragged down by Rory Beggan.

Reilly stood up and calmly slotted it into the net.

Monaghan looked shell-shocked, but had little answer as their hosts kicked on with points from Niall Murray, Conor Madden and Conor Rehill. Cavan were feeding off the home crowd, as they continued to grow into the game.

Indeed, the Farney County failed to register a single score from play in the first half, as Cavan went in 1-8 to 0-4 to the good at the break.

Malachy O'Rourke cut a frustrated figure on the line throughout the opening half, and he clearly let them be known to his players. Monaghan came out rejuvenated in the second half.

Points from McManus and two from Shane Carey dragged them back into contention. When Ryan Wylie stole up the left wing to tap over and bring it back to just a three-point margin, there was a real worry around Kingspan Breffni Cavan would be reeled in.

Cavan lacked the energy levels from the first half, but nonetheless they stood firm. Having suffered so many painful losses in the province in recent years, they weren't going to let this one slip.

Powerful scores from Padraig Faulkner, and a monstrous point from Gearoid McKiernan kept the Farney at bay and ensured Cavan held out for a famous victory.

Referee: Conor Lane

Attendance: 13,496

Scorers for Cavan: Gearoid McKiernan 0-4 (0-2 frees), Martin Reilly 1-00, Niall Murray 0-2, Conor Rehill 0-1, Conor Madden 0-2, Padraig Faulkner 0-1, Dara McVeety 0-1, Christopher Conroy 0-1 (0-1 free), Conor Brady 0-1.

Scorers for Monaghan: Conor McManus 0-4 (0-3 frees), Rory Beggan 0-2 (0-1 free, 0-1 45), Shane Carey 0-2, Ryan Wylie 0-1, Conor Boyle 0-1, Conor McCarthy 0-1, Kieran Hughes 0-1.

Cavan

1. Raymond Galligan

2. Jason McLoughlin

3. Padraig Faulkner

4. Conor Moynagh

5. Gerard Smith

6. Killian Clarke

7. Conor Rehill

8. Conor Brady

9. Gearoid McKiernan

10. Martin Reilly

11. Dara McVeety

12. Niall Murray

13. Oisin Kiernan

14. Thomas Galligan

15. Conor Madden

Subs:

Ciaran Brady for Oisin Kiernan (46th minute)

Christopher Conroy for Gerard Smith (54th minute)

Cian Mackey for Conor Madden (56th minute)

Jack Brady for Conor Moynagh (black card, 59th minute)

Stephen Smith for Thomas Galligan (65th minute)

Killian Brady for Jason McLoughlin (73rd minute)

Monaghan

1. Rory Beggan

2. Drew Wylie

3. Conor Boyle

4. Ryan Wylie

5. Karl O'Connell

6. Colin Walshe

22. Paudie McKenna

8. Fintan Kelly

9. Kieran Hughes

10. Dessie Ward

11. Dermot Malone

12. Shane Carey

13. Ryan McAnespie

14. Conor McManus

15. Stephen O'Hanlon

Subs:

Conor McCarthy for Paudie McKenna (30th minute)

Kieran Duffy for Dermot Malone (half-time)

Micheál Bannigan for Stephen O'Hanlon (54th minute)

Owen Duffy for Dessie Ward (64th minute)

Niall Kearns for Shane Carey (66th minute)

Dessie Mone for Karl O'Connell (black card, 70th minute)