McManus Magic Topples Castleblayney

Man-of-the-match Conor McManus hit 1-5 as Clontibret defended their Monaghan SFC title with a meritorious 1-10 to 0-10 win over Castleblayney Faughs in Clones.

McManus struck early with his goal after just two minutes giving the O’Neills the perfect start in what was an absorbing final in front of over 4,000 fans.

The sides were level three times during a very closely-contested first half with ’blayney playing catch-up twice.

The town side did actually lead for the only time in the game when Ciaran Tavey pointed a free three minutes into added-on time during the first half.

After the sides were deadlocked at 1-4 to 0-7 at the interval, Clontibret upped the tempo in the third quarter with a point apiece by Vincent Corey and McManus inside a minute which ultimately gave the champions a cushioned lead they never subsequently relinquished.

The Faughs never gave up the chase though and twice got their deficit down to two points in the final quarter.

However the goal that the challengers needed to get them out of jail was to elude them.