Ulster champions Monaghan advanced to the semi-final of the TG4 Ladies All-Ireland senior football championship with a comfortable 0-19 to 0-10 victory against beaten Connacht finalists Sligo at Croke Park.
This quarter-final tie was played in miserable conditions at GAA HQ but Monaghan captain Niamh Kindlon made light of that and produced a superb individual performance that yielded eight points, six of those from frees.
Kindlon was aided by attacking colleagues Therese McNally and Edel Byrne, who both scored three points from play, while four of Catriona McConnell's five points were frees.
Monaghan, aided by the wind, roared into a 0-07 to 0-00 advantage after 14 minutes as Byrne kicked two carbon-copy points in the eighth minute, both created by the hard-working Ciara McAnespie.
Sligo's first score arrived in the 16th minute, a free converted by Louise Brett, but just four minutes before half-time they found themsleves 0-10 to 0-02 in arrears as the Westerners paid the price for conceding frees close to goal, with seven of Monaghan's first half points coming from placed balls.
A pair of Noelle Gormley frees for Sligo cut the half-time deficit to 0-10 to 0-04 but Monaghan could have been further ahead having twice come close to an elusive goal in the opening half.
In the ninth minute, Amanda Casey saw her effort well saved by Sligo goalkeeper Katrina Connolly and in first half stoppage-time, Therese McNally found the side-netting at the Canal End with only Connolly to beat.
Sligo needed a good start to the second half to have any chance but instead, two-time winners Monaghan roared away with five unanswered points to open up a 0-15 to 0-04 advantage.
The Yeats County fought hard to the finish and were twice denied goals by the crossbar as Therese Marren's shot cannoned over seven minutes after half-time before Stephanie O'Reilly was denied in similar fashion in the 44th minute.
Having twice trailed by 11 points in the second half, Sligo cut the gap back to seven with six minutes remaining but late scores from McConnell and McNally eased the Farney girls into the last four and a step closer to a third All-Ireland senior crown, and first since 1997.
This was a hugely impressive display from a ferociously hungry and physical Monaghan, who managed to hold Sligo's main attacking threat Noelle Gormley scoreless from play.
Scorers for Monaghan: Niamh Kindlon 0-08 (6f), Catriona McConnell 0-05f, Therese McNally & and Edel Byrne 0-03 each.
Scorers for Sligo: Therese Marren 0-03, Noelle Gormley 0-03f, Stephanie O'Reilly and Louise Brett 0-02 each.
