Donegal edged out Monaghan by a single point in a thrilling Dr McKenna Cup clash in Ballybofey on Sunday afternoon, with the hosts prevailing by 1-12 to 0-14 only after goalkeeper Shaun Patton pulled off an injury-time penalty save from Shane Carey.
Monaghan made a bright start against a Donegal side making their first start in the competition and raced to a 0-06 to 0-01 lead with less than 15 minutes gone, as Jack McCarron hit a hat-trick of points.
However, Donegal rallied and scores from Jamie Brennan, Michael Langan, Conor O'Donnell and Peadar Mogan meant Monaghan's led by just 0-09 to 0-07 at the interval.
The hosts could have even led at the break, but Eoghan McGettigan palmed the ball against the crossbar with an open goal at his mercy.
Kieran Hughes restored Monaghan's lead in the second half after Donegal had forced parity after the restart, with Brendan McCole's dismissal after incurring a second yellow card putting Monaghan in the driving seat.
However, Mogan's goal in the 51st minute led to another shift in momentum, with Donegal seizing a 1-10 to 0-10 lead.
Their buffer was down to two points when the Farney's Ryan Wylie was upended late on and Noel Mooney awarded a penalty.
However, Patton proved more than equal to the spot-kick, lunging low to his right to make the initial stage before blocking Carey's rebound attempt.
Donegal can secure a semi-finals berth in the competition if they avoid defeat to Derry at Celtic Park on Wednesday.
Defending champions Tyrone cantered to a 1-16 to 0-13 win over Cavan as they opened their campaign at Healy Park.
Debutant Conn Kilpatrick made a major impression for Mickey Harte's men, combining with Darren McCurry to devastating effect.
McCurry grabbed the final two scores of the first half as Tyrone took a 0-08 to 0-06 lead into half-time.
The Red Hands went into overdrive when hostilities resumed in Omagh, with Conall McCann finding the back of the net in the 42nd minute at the second attempt after Cavan goalkeeper Raymond Galligan had blocked his first effort.
Tyrone travel to the Athletic Grounds on Wednesday to do battle with Armagh for top spot in Section C.
Paddy McBride bagged a brace in a 2-08 to 0-13 win for hosts Antrim over Fermanagh at Ahoghill.
An Eoin Donnelly-inspired Fermanagh led by 0-08 to 0-04 at the break, but McBride's second goal of the game with just seconds remaining ended Fermanagh's chances of reaching the knockout stages.
The Saffrons can secure a place in the semi-finals with victory over Down in Newry on Wednesday.
An experimental and fatigued Kerry side fell to a defeat to Tipperary in Clonmel, with the Premier County prevailing on a 1-13 to 1-11 scoreline in the McGrath Cup.
Full-Time@TipperaryGAA 1-13@Kerry_Official 1-11
— Barry Lenihan (@BarryLenihan) January 5, 2020
A Paul O'Shea wonder goal brought Kerry within one with 2 remaining
Conor Sweeney with 1-6 (1-0 pen, 0-2f) for Tipp
Limerick and Cork had already booked their places in the final of the competition and Kerry boss John Sugrue deployed a side made up predominantly of under-20 players, many of who featured in the John Kerins Cup loss to the Rebels 24 hours earlier.
Clare and Waterford played out a high-scoring encounter at Miltown-Malbay, with the home side recording a 3-14 to 3-07 win.
Roscommon defeated Sligo in the Connacht Senior Football League quarter-final as Cian McKeon's goal proved a vital score in a four-point success.
The Rossies led by 0-09 to 0-04 but, when the impressive Conor Griffin scored from a mark early in the second period, it led to a fightback in Markievicz Park.
Paddy O'Connor’s score brought Paul Taylor’s men to back within a point.
However, a blocked cross-field pass gave Roscommon a three-on-one opening and McKeon finished to the net for a decisive score with 12 minutes remaining.
The visitors emerged 1-15 to 0-14 winners.
