Monaghan produced a top class performance to defeat Cavan NFL at Breffni Park yesterday. Monaghan's recently-appointed manager Jack McCarville was delighted with the commitment of his team and will be hoping for the same in the remainder of the campaign.

Both sides experimented. However, Monaghan, with six players new to senior inter-county football and four of these under-19, deservedly gained their rewards for their well-constructed football and the accuracy of Declan Smyth. Smyth finished with nine points and a great goal from youthful midfielder Raymond Ronaghan completed a magnificent day for Monaghan.

Monaghan, who played with the benefit of a strong breeze in the first half, led by 0-9 to 0-5 at the interval. But when Bernard Morris converted a penalty four minutes into the second-half to reduce the arrears to two points, it should have inspired Cavan.

However, Monaghan used the short passing game to great advantage and more importantly found scoring just as easy against the wind. Raymond Ronaghan made sure there was no way back for Cavan when he rattled the net 10 minutes from time. Referee Michael Hughes of Tyrone issued seven yellow cards, five of them to Monaghan players.

MONAGHAN: D McCarville; J McQuaid, D McDermott, C Flanagan; P Coyle, R Treacy, D McArdle; C McCaul, R Ronaghan (1-0); D Smyth (0-9), D Freeman (0-4), D Clerkin; P Rice (0-2), P O'Connor (0-1), D Swift. Subs: D Duffy for C Flanagan; C Ronaghan for D Clerkin.

CAVAN: J Reilly; P Kermath, R Cole, F Reilly (0-1); A Forde, P Shields, B Lynch; T Farrelly, P Smyth; E Reilly, B Morris (1-0), P Reilly (0-1); L Reilly (0-3), D McCabe (0-3), M Graham (0-1). Subs: F Cahill for P Smith; A Curran for R Cole; J Coffey for B Morris; R Rodgers for E Reilly.

Referee: M Hughes (Tyrone).