Monaghan came away from Newbridge with an emphatic opening Group 4 win over neighbours Louth, with six points between the sides at the finish.
The margin flattered the off-colour Leinster champions on a day the Farney were hell bent on taking all the local bragging rights.
While Louth were collecting silverware and the nation's hearts, Monaghan were stewing over a narrow loss to Donegal in April. With the Tir Conaill men capturing the Anglo Celt further fuelling Monghan's burning ambition to get back out on the field.
Louth would feel all that wrath as Monaghan started both halves with gusto and laid the foundations for their win as well as laying down a marker in the All-Ireland race.
Impressive Stephen O’Hanlon had the ball in the back of the net as early as the second minute and jaded Louth could never put themselves in a position to win the contest.
Despite being outplayed at times, Ger Brennan's side were never fully out of this rip-roaring contest either. His men side possess a knack of getting goals and that helpful trait had the de-facto hosts only three points down at the break, 1-11 to 2-03.
Captain Sam Mulroy found the net and then his creator ,Tommy Durnin, also raised the green flag but Monaghan’s dominance was seen in a 0-06 to 0-00 run. Farney captain Micheál Bannigan hugely imposing himself on the game.
Upon the resumption, the visitors again began like a train with four quick points that made Louth supporters' heads look towards the next round. Ballybay’s Dessie Ward curled over his third point that highlighted Monaghan’s intent.
However, the confidence that made Louth champions meant they would not go away. Despite Sam Mulroy’s waywardness from frees he dusted himself down to nail a vital penalty. A lifeline for Louth.
Such was Louth’s day, they could never quite build on their moments of class. Bannigan nailed the response and instigated a seven-point scoring run to close out the game.
With a couple of black cards to defenders Donal McKenny and Killian Lavelle, the game got ragged but Monaghan marched on in spite of Durnin’s late goal.
Louth: Niall McDonnell; Dan Corcoran, Emmett Carolan, Donal McKenny; Conall McKeever, Daire Nally, Craig Lennon; Bevan Duffy, Tommy Durnin (2-00), Ciaran Downey, Sam Mulroy (2-02, 1-00pen, 0-01f), Conor Grimes; Ciaran Keenan, Kieran McArdle, Ryan Burns (0-05, 2tp, 0-01f).
Subs: Ciaran Byrne (0-01) for Downey (ht), Dara McDonnell for McArdle (ht), Liam Jackson for Corcoran (40), Andy McDonnell for Duffy (42), Conor Branigan for A McDonnell (55).
Monaghan: Rory Beggan (0-04, 2tpf); Ryan Wylie, Killian Lavelle, Dylan Byrne; Dessie Ward (0-03), Ryan O’Toole, Kieran Duffy (0-01); Mícheál McCarville, Gary Mohan; Ryan McAnespie, Stephen O’Hanlon (1-03), Conor McCarthy (0-01); Micheál Bannigan (0-6, 1tp 1f), Andrew Woods, Stephen Mooney (0-03).
Subs: Cian Mulligan for Beggan (Blood 26-28), Jack McCarron (0-02, 0-01f), for McAnespie (45),Ciaran McNulty for Woods (49), Davy Garland for Mooney (59), Darren Hughes for McCarville (64), Karl O’Connell for Ward (69), Jason Irwin for O’Hanlon (70).
