Football League Division 3: Monaghan 1-18 2-03 Meath

Monaghan earned a surprisingly facile opening Division 3 Football League win as they brushed aside a woeful Meath.

Jamie Queeney's 11th-minute goal helped Meath lead 1-0 to 0-1 but Monaghan hit six of the remaining seven first-half scores to lead 0-7 to 1-2 at Clones.

A rampant Monaghan hit 1-10 without reply after the break with Darren Hughes slamming in a superb goal.

Sean Tobin's 68th-minute point was Meath's first score of the second half before Conor Gillespie hit a late goal.

The match was billed as a meeting of likely promotion candidates but while Monaghan, under new manager Malachy O'Rourke, matched that status, Meath delivered a dreadful display.

After Conor McManus's opening point, Monaghan almost notched a goal with Kieran Hughes seeing his fierce shot blocked and Paul Finlay's follow-up hitting the woodwork.

Queeney's goal put Meath two points ahead but Gavin Dougan, Kieran Hughes and McManus pointed to nudge Monaghan ahead.

Dessie Mone, Dick Clerkin and Kieran Hughes hit further Monaghan scores but they should have been further ahead at the break than 0-7 to 1-2 after missing several other good chances.

Owen Lennon's added to his fine midfield display by getting on the score-sheet after the resumption and Hughes hammered in his goal in the 47th minute after a couple of exchanges of passes with Neil McAdam.

McManus brought up his afternoon tally to eight in the closing stages before Meath finally ended their scoring drought in injury-time.

Football League results

Saturday, 2 February

Division One

Kildare 2-14 1-13 Donegal

Down 1-08 1-11 Tyrone

Dublin 1-18 2-09 Cork

Division Two

Laois 0-20 1-10 Armagh

Sunday, 3 February

Division One

Mayo 0-15 1-06 Kerry

Division Two

Galway 1-15 0-15 Derry

Westmeath 0-16 2-09 Louth

Wexford 2-08 1-10 Longford

Division Three

Antrim 1-14 2-09 Cavan

Monaghan 1-18 2-03 Meath

Wicklow 0-09 1-16 Fermanagh

Roscommon 1-11 1-08 Sligo

Division Four

Tipperary 0-16 1-14 Carlow

Limerick 0-11 0-09 Leitrim

Clare 0-11 1-09 Waterford

London 1-05 1-13 Offaly