Ulster SFC: Monaghan 1-17 Cavan 2-15

Cavan's Gearoid McKiernan holds off Kieran Hughes of Monaghan in the Ulster Championship thriller at Clones

Cavan keeper Raymond Galligan landed a 55-metre free to snatch a remarkable 2-15 to 1-17 win over Monaghan in the Ulster Championship opener at Clones.

A topsy-turvy match was seconds away from a historic penalty shootout when Galligan stepped up to win it.

Backed by a strong breeze, Monaghan led by seven points at half-time but Cavan fought back to level.

Monaghan's Christopher McGuinness was shown a straight red card in extra-time for an off-the-ball incident.

Cavan, relegated to Division Three just a week earlier, will play Antrim in the quarter-finals on 7 November.

• Relive all the drama from Cavan's win over Monaghan

For Monaghan, this represents a massive blow to a county which has not made an Ulster final since 2015.

Buoyed by retaining their Division One status just six earlier, they held a 1-11 to 1-04 lead at half-time.

Gearoid McKiernan and Cormac O’Reilly celebrate Cavan's victory

Granted, they had the effects of Storm Aiden in their favour, but the telling fact was that they scored just two points in the second half - and both came from defenders.

Cavan, finalists in 2019, were boosted by a beautifully-struck left-foot goal by Oisin Pierson inside eight minutes.

But, Monaghan recovered and were leading by the time Conor McManus found the net and Fintan Kelly added a free just before the break to establish that seven-point interval advantage.

Cavan clipped away at their deficit, although points from right corner-back Kieran Duffy and half-back Dessie Ward should have steadied Monaghan.

But Seamus McEnaney's side did not score for for the rest of the half, seemingly prepared to attempt to defend their lead.

They failed to do so as Luke Fortune, Gearoid McKiernan (2), Martin Reilly, Niall Murray and Gerard Smith produced six without reply for an increasingly confident Cavan.

McManus had a chance to send Monaghan through, but sent a late free wide.

Cavan goalkeeper Raymond Galligan was the matchwinner at Clones

In extra-time Monaghan replacement McGuinness got that straight red for an off-the-ball incident which the television cameras did not pick up.

Points by Colin Walshe and Andrew Woods put Monaghan two up but Cavan surged ahead with a goal by Martin Reilly.

Shane Carey levelled before a Chris Conroy 45 edged Cavan in front again.

In additional time at the end of extra-time, Monaghan keeper Rory Beggan held his nerve to land a long-range free which tied the game once more.

Penalties beckoned, but Beggan's opposite number Raymond Galligan won it for Cavan with that final free.