Donegal and Monaghan pick up All-Ireland group stage wins
Ulster champions Donegal got back to winning ways after defeat by Tyrone last time out [Getty Images]
Ulster champions Donegal picked up their first win of the All-Ireland round-robin series as they beat Cavan 3-26 to 1-13 at Breffni Park.
After a shock defeat by Tyrone last time out, Jim McGuinness' side bounced back in style, scoring an unanswered 1-5 either side of the break which proved crucial.
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A late Finbarr Roarty fisted goal after the hooter gave Donegal a comfortable seven-point half-time lead after a physical first half in which there seemed little to separate the sides.
But McGuinness' side pulled away in the second period as Cavan began to tire in the last 20 minutes.
Conor O'Donnell fired home a second goal, with Caolan McColgan adding a third with the final play of the game.
Donegal will now look to book their place in the next round with a win against Mayo in their last Group One game.
Monaghan made it back-to-back wins in Group Three with two-pointers key to their 1-25 to 1-16 victory against Clare at Clones.
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It was Clare who led 0-14 to 0-7 at half-time, using the wind to their advantage to kick a flurry of two-pointers of their own.
Monaghan roared back in the second half and Conor McCarthy's calm finish soon after the restart gave them the lead and they kicked on from there to win by nine points.
Monaghan now face Down in their final game with the winner set to top the group and progress straight to the quarter-finals.
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