Monaghan 2-12 Donegal 1-07

Vincent Corey turned from defender to target man at Healy Park as Monaghan brilliantly ended the Championship campaign of NFL champions Donegal.

Corey was a threat from as early as the third minute when he fisted home Monaghan's first goal.

Points from Brendan Devenney, Rory Kavanagh and Colm McFadden kept Donegal in the hunt as they trailed by 1-05 to 0-05 at half-time.

Rory Kavanagh and Tommy Freeman, who finished with 1-05, then swapped goals as Monaghan continued to lead and Seamus McEnaney's men ran out comfortable winners.

This was an Ulster derby that you could not take your eyes off. While the quality may have been lacking at times, the sides' first Championship meeting for 12 years was an engrossing game.

15,639 spectators crammed into the sunkissed Omagh venue and they were treated to a stunning start as makeshift full-forward Corey punched a ball in from Freeman to the net after Donegal goalkeeper Paul Durcan had been slow off his line.

There were barely 20 seconds on the clock when Rory Kavanagh pointed for Donegal but Corey's strike was followed by a Paul Finlay point and the Farney County, who revelled in their direct style, were 1-01 to 0-01 ahead.

The scores soon dried up as both defences got on top and midfield possession was at a premium. Devenney sent over a 19th-minute free to keep Donegal ticking but two Freeman scores and an excellent effort from Finlay moved Monaghan 1-04 to 0-03 clear.

Donegal's short passing carved out some decent late chances for as the first half came to a close. Midfielder Kevin Cassidy shot over from distance before the returning McFadden converted a free from 13 metres out.

Monaghan should have stretched their goal lead by the break but Freeman and Finlay both missed from tight angles, and, three minutes into the second half, Donegal managed to level the tie.

A rifled finish from Kavanagh, after a brilliant cross-field pass from substitute Christy Toye, left Monaghan goalkeeper Shane Duffy with little chance as the ball soared into the roof of the net.

However, seven minutes later, Monaghan struck back with their second major. Rory Woods skied the ball forward, Corey broke the ball down and Freeman latched onto it to crack past Paul Durcan.

Points from Finlay and substitute Ciaran Hanratty pushed Monaghan 2-08 to 1-05 clear by the 50 minute mark. Donegal were completely off the boil by this stage, with Devenney largely anonymous.

Further white flags from Corey and Freeman made it to 2-10 to 1-05 before Donegal replied through substitute Kevin McMenamin. There was to be no sting in the tail, though, as Monaghan cantered home to mark themselves out as genuine All-Ireland title contenders.

Monaghan: S Duffy; D Mone, C Flanagan, D McArdle; D Freeman, G McQuaid, JP Mone; E Lennon, D Clerkin; P Finlay (0-04, 2f), R Woods, C McManus; S Gollogly, V Corey (1-01), T Freeman (1-05, 2f).

Subs used: C Hanratty (0-01) for Gollogly (half-time), D Hughes for JP Mone (45 mins), P Meegan for McManus (47), H McElroy for D Freeman (66), S Smith (0-01) for Woods (70)

Donegal: P Durcan; N McGee, P Campbell, K Lacey; N McCready, B Monaghan, F McGlynn; K Cassidy (0-01), N Gallagher; R Kavanagh (1-02), C Bonner, R Bradley; C McFadden (0-01, 1f), M Murphy, B Devenney (0-01, 1f).

Subs used: B Dunnion for Campbell (24 mins), C Toye for Bradley (26), M Hegarty for Murphy (51), E McGee (0-01) for McGlynn (59), K McMenamin (0-01) for Devenney (59).

Referee: Jimmy McKee (Armagh).