Monaghan come out on top in shoot out against Clare

Monaghan have three points from two games in the All-Ireland SFC Group 4 after they won a shoot-out against Clare in sweltering conditions in Clones.

Restored to the starting line-up, Jack McCarron gave an exhibition of point-scoring as he racked up 0-09 (just one from a free) to help Monaghan shake off the stubborn resistance of a Clare side who had led for much of the first half.

A Darragh Bohannon goal had the visitors a point up 10 minutes into the second half, but Monaghan rallied and they eventually sealed the win when Conor McCarthy rattled the net in some style late on. Monaghan had ten players on the scoresheet as they hit 1-19 from open play.

A high-octane start produced six points from six shots in as many minutes, with Clare getting four of those through Darragh Bohannon, Cathal O'Connor, Keelan Sexton and Mark McInerney, while Monaghan’s replies came via wing-backs Karl O’Connell and Conor McCarthy.

Clare continued their clinical finishing through Emmet McMahon, Sexton and Daniel Walsh as they built up a three-point lead, not registering their first wide until the 25th minute. Monaghan needed some fine scores from Jack McCarron to stay in touch, while Ryan O’Toole and Mícheál Bannigan were also on target for the hosts, who edged ahead for the first time when Karl Gallagher kicked their ninth point on the half-hour mark.

McMahon and Sexton regained the lead for Clare, but a Rory Beggan ’45 sent Monaghan in on level terms at 0-10 apiece.

Another sublime score from McCarron got Monaghan up and running in the second half, while McCarthy chipped one over, as well as providing a couple of assists for carbon-copy efforts by Bannigan. Clare got a lifeline in the 45th minute, however, when Aaron Griffin’s close-range shot