Monaghan cruise as Slowey stars

Scoreline:

Monaghan 4-11

Rockland 1-5

By Peter Nolan

Monaghan overwhelmed a weak Rockland side in a disappointing finale to Sunday’s schedule at Gaelic Park, winning this senior B football matchup 4-11 to 1-5. The Ulster men had the edge in virtually every sector of the pitch and ran out easy winners.

Monaghan had dangermen throughout the forwards, particularly Down recruits Mark Dobbin and Darren Quinn. Niall Coogan provided a strong presence in the center forward slot, but the man who makes it all work is Michael Slowey. The New York county man has all the tools and was clearly the class of this match.

Monaghan opened slowly, falling behind on an early Gerry O’Riordan point that nearly snuck under the bar for Rockland. Dobbin and Slowey then pointed to put Monaghan in front. Darren Quinn then got behind the Rockland backline and raised Monaghan’s first green flag.

The overmatched Rocks hung tough, and were it not for a good save from Joseph Sullivan, the upstaters would have been within a point. Jimmy O’Dwyer and Paul Rowley pointed to keep Rockland close, 1-2 to 0-3. Then their luck ran out.

Tommy Furlong pulled off a great save, but Slowey was fouled in the ensuing scramble, resulting in a Monaghan penalty. Slowey placed the penalty perfectly. Furlong never had a chance and realistically neither did Rockland.

Hughie Sullivan and Slowey added points and Dobbin, off a great side step, sent Monaghan to the half in complete command, 3-4 to 0-3.

Rowley tried to light a fire under Rockland with some halftime fire and brimstone, but the truth was that Rockland simply didn’t have the horses. Monaghan opened the second half in the same fashion as they had closed out the first — impressively. Four points on the trot from Quinn, Dobbin, Coogan and Slowey were countered by a lone Rowley point. Monaghan just kept coming in wave after wave, battering the Rockland defense. Rouri O’Neill and Hughie O’Sullivan kept the ball pumped in to their eager forwards, leading to Sean Convie’s point. A fourth Monaghan goal, this one a rasper from Quinn, stretched the lead, 4-9 to 0-4.

To their credit, Rockland continued to fight the good fight and eventually they were rewarded with a Billy Horan point and a hard-earned goal from Jimy O’Dwyer. This was a very solid start to the season for Monaghan. Although the backline was never tested, the front eight certainly looked formidable. With Slowey providing the impetus, Monaghan will likely be serious contenders for the Senior B crown.

For Rockland the signs are ominous. After stepping down from Senior A for this season, they seem to be entering a rebuilding stage.

Man of the match: Michael Slowey.

Monaghan: Joseph Sulivan, Paul Rushe, Dermot McArdle, Gary Birdey, Brian McKenna, Bernard Trainor, Martin Slowey, Rouri O’Neill, Hughie O’Sullivan (0-2), Darren Quinn (2-1), Nial Coogan (0-1), Sean Convie (0-1), Mark Dobbin (1-2), Michael Slowey (1-4), Declan McEntee.

Rockland: Tom Furlong, Sean Sorahan, Ray Lennon, James Walsh, John McGuiness, Shay Forbes, Sean Roche, Tom McHugh, Tom O’Riordan, Jim O’Dwyer (1-1), Gerry O’Riordan (0-1), Tommy Farrell, Billy Horan (0-1), Paul Rowley (0-2), Emmett Woods.