Paul Finlay inspired Monaghan to victory over Westmeath

Monaghan 0-14 1-9 Westmeath

Monaghan bounced back from their Ulster Championship defeat by Down last week to edge out Westmeath in Saturday's All-Ireland Qualifier at Clones.

Colm Coyle's side looked to be on their way to a comfortable victory when they led 0-9 to 0-2 after a superb first half display.

However Westmeath chipped away at Monaghan's lead in the third quarter and substitute Gary Dolan's goal six minutes from time left only two points between the teams.

A point from Joe Fallon then left the minimum between the teams as the match entered injury only for the outstanding Paul Finlay to edge Monaghan two clear with another superb score.

In injury-time, Fallon strained Monaghan nerves with another excellent point but Finlay's magnificent point from the sideline made the game safe for Monaghan.

Westmeath will rue several missed goal chances in the second half including one dreadful miss by Dessie Dolan.

Colm Coyle's side hit a remarkable five unanswered points in the opening nine minutes with Thomas Freeman on target three times.

Martin Flanagan opened Westmeath's account in the ninth minute but with Freeman (four points) and Finlay showing tremendous accuracy Monaghan extended their lead 0-9 to 0-2 at half-time.

Early in the second half, Flanagan pulled a point back for Westmeath but Nicholas Corrigan struck his second point of the day to leave Monaghan 0-11 to 0-3 ahead.

Westmeath hit four of the next five scores to cut Monaghan's lead to five points with eight minutes left but that was before the real drama started.

All-Ireland Hurling qualifier: Clare 2-11 1-15 Galway
Leinster SFC semi-final: Kildare 0-15 1-11 Meath

Meath, helped by an early Trevor Giles penalty, looked in control early on but Kildare produced an amazing fightback to lead 0-10 to 1-3 at half-time.

Kildare maintained a four-point advantage in the third quarter but doubts began to creep into the Lilywhites after a succession of bad misses including a Stuart McKenzie-Smith goal chance.

Meath then hit a series of unanswered points to lead the contest only for a John Doyle free to put Kildare ahead with six minutes of normal time left.

Daithi Regan had an injury-time chance to level the match but he hit the effort agonisingly wide.

In Saturday's All-Ireland Hurling qualifiers, Galway claimed a nail-biting 1-15 to 2-11 win over last year's finalists Clare while Tipperary hammered Laois 3-28 to 0-13.

The Galway-Clare game was a thrilling contest and Niall Gilligan missed an injury-time scores which would have levelled the scores.

Kerry class

In Sunday's other Leinster semi-final, Dublin face Laois at Croke Park (1615).

Jonathan Magee and Alan Brogan have been passed fit for Dublin and will start.

Mick O'Dwyer's young Laois side are capable of playing some tremendous football but Dublin may prove too strong.

Both Munster football semi-finals take place on Sunday.

Kerry will have too much class for Tipperary at Tralee (1530) while Limerick, surprise winners over Cork, should account for Clare at Ennis (1530).

On Sunday, Dublin may fancy their prospects of defeating an ageing Offaly outfit at Croke Park (1400).

Saturday results

Bank of Ireland Football Qualifier
Monaghan 0-14 1-9 Westmeath
Guinness Ulster Hurling Final
Antrim 3-21 1-12 Derry
Leinster SFC semi-final
Meath 1-11 0-15 Kildare
All-Ireland Hurling Qualifiers
Clare 2-11 1-15 Galway
Tipperary 3-28 0-13 Laois

Sunday