COLM SHALVEY
A storming start set Monaghan up for a high-scoring win over Antrim in the Ulster MFC qualifiers in Clones on Saturday. Kevin Nolan’s side raced out of the blocks, racking up 2-8 (plus another disallowed goal) by the time Antrim even managed a shot at the posts. Antrim went on to kick six two-pointers from the superb Odhrán Doherty to put a better look on the scoreboard, but Tristan Nugent netted a hat- trick in a rampant Monaghan attack, where James Ennis and Harry McQuillan hit 13 points between them. Monaghan penned Antrim into their own half during most of the opening quarter, winning nine of the first 11 kick-outs and reeling off points from Oliver Kelly, Tiernan McGeough and two long-range scores from well outside the arc by James Ennis. Even when Antrim did manage to get a short kick-out away, Shane Byrne turned them over high up the pitch to win a penalty that Harry Hamill tucked home for the first of five goals for the hosts. An outside-of-the-boot effort by Mochara Lynch and a Harry McQuillan point kept…
