Monaghan edge Cavan late in Dr McKenna Cup

Monaghan hit three stoppage time points to edge neighbours Cavan, opening their Dr McKenna Cup account with a 0-16 to 0-13 win at Breffni Park.

David Garland, Michael Bannigan and Eddie Walsh nailed injury-time efforts to seal the local bragging rights after Paddy Lynch had levelled the sides for an eighth time.

Dermot McCabe handed out five inter-county debuts in his first competitive game in charge of Cavan.

Monaghan were without the Scotstown contingent as they continue preparations for the All-Ireland club semi-final, but Gabriel Bannigan could still call upon a strong line-up, while handing out five debuts.

Next up in the Dr McKenna Cup, Cavan go to Fermanagh on 7 Janaury, while Monaghan host Fermanagh on 11 Janaury.

There will be a lot more on the line when the two sides meet next in the Ulster SFC quarter-final at Clones in April.

Monaghan raced into an early two-point lead after two efforts from Michael Bannigan.

Cavan got up and running on six minutes with Tristan Noack-Hoffman getting forward to point, before Paddy Lynch landed a two-point free, punishing the Farney men's failure to keep three players in defence.

A quickfire double for David Garland was matched by efforts from Emanuel Shehu and another Lynch free, with Cavan leading despite some wayward shooting that left the half-time wide count standing at five.

Kian Mulligan, the Monaghan goalkeeper in the absence of Rory Beggan, showed all the traits of the Scotstown man when nailing a 45 before Cameron Dowd marked his debut with a score from corner back.

Oisin Brady steadied the ship for the home side, but Monaghan's efficiency in front of the posts was exemplified by Karl Gallagher and another from Garland as the visitors went in leading 0-8 to 0-6 at the break.

Gallagher opened the second half as he finished the first, kicking over a point.

The five changes made at half-time by Gabriel Bannigan threatened to disrupt his team's momentum as Cormac O'Reilly and Lynch pointed before Noack-Hoffman landed a two-pointer to edge Cavan ahead.

It didn't take long for Monaghan to get to grips with the changes as they rattled off the next four scores with Dessie Ward on target before three in a row from Woods gave his county a three-point advantage entering the final 10 minutes.

Cavan would go over 12 minutes without a score before rattling off three in row with Ryan Donohue, Lynch and Darragh Lovett scoring to level the sides for an eighth time heading into three minutes of additional time.

Monaghan would dominate the closing minutes of the match to claim the local bragging rights with Garland, Bannigan and Eddie Walsh sealing a three-point win.

Cavan: Liam Brady; Paddy Meade, Brian O'Connell, Favor Shehu; Emanuel Shehu (0-1), Ryan Tobin, Tristian Noack-Hoffman (0-3, 1x2p); Ryan Donohue (0-1), Evan Crowe; Ciaran Brady, Paddy Lynch (0-5, 1x2pf) , Tiarnan Madden; Peter Corrigan, Oisin Brady (0-1), Cian Shekleton.

Subs: Cormac O'Reilly (0-1) for F Shehu (HT), Jason McLoughlin for E Crowe (44), Conor Brady for E Shehu (44), Gearoid McKiernan for C Shekleton (52), Darragh Lovett (0-1) for P Lynch (52), Eoin Clarke for B O'Connell (58), Caoimhin McGovern for T Noack-Hoffman (58)

Monaghan: Kian Mulligan (0-1, 1x45) ; Cameron Dowd (0-1), Darragh Treanor, Ronan Boyle; Ryan Duffy, Dessie Ward (0-1), Thomas Hughes; Karl Gallagher (0-2), Gary Mohan; Jason Irwin, Michael Bannigan (0-3, 2f), Oisin McGorman; David Garland (0-4), Andrew Woods (0-3, 1f), Stephen Mooney.

Subs: Stephen O'Hanlon for S Mooney, Ryan Mohan for R Duffy, Darragh McElearney for R Boyle, Alistair Stewart for G Mohan, Liam McDonald for O McGorman (all HT), Fionan Carolan for J Irwin (37), Shane Hanratty for D Ward (52), Oisin Monaghan for D Treanor (59), Eddie Walsh (0-1) for A Woods (59)

Referee: Neil McGeown (Armagh)