GOALS at the end of each half made sure of victory for Monaghan, who racked up a big score against a stubborn Westmeath side at St Tiernach’s Park.
Ryan O’Toole netted on the stroke of half-time to give the Farney men a comfortable 1-15 to 1-9 interval lead.
Conor McCarthy was the standout player for Gabriel Bannigan’s team, while substitute Jack McCarron finished with 1-2 as the Ulster side made it two wins from two.
And Bannigan heaped praise on his attackers, saying: “Conor McCarthy was unplayable, absolutely outstanding. So was Mike Hamill, and Ryan McAnespie. We’ll keep working with them, keep building.”
Westmeath have lost their first two Divison 2 games despite goals yesterday from Ronan Wallace and Robbie Forde and a ten-point haul from Luke Loughlin.
MONAGHAN: R Beggan 0-4, 2tpf; R Wylie, K Lavelle 0-1, D Byrne; R O’Toole 1-0, G McPhillips, C McCarthy 0-7; B McBennett, M McCarville; R McAnes- pie 0-2, M Hamill 0-1, C McNul- ty 0-1; D Garland 0-5, 2f, 1tp, S Mooney 0-6, 3f, 1tp, S Jones. Subs: B McCaul for McPhillips 48mins; J McCarron 1-2 for Jones 50; J Irwin for McBennett 50; K Loughran for McAnespie 56; D McDonnell for McCarthy 68.
WESTMEATH: C McCormack; J Gonoud, C Drumm, D Giles; K O’Sullivan, R Wallace 1-0, S McCartan 0-3, 1tp; E McCabe 0-1, B Cooney 0-1; M Whittaker 0-2, D McCartan, C Dillon 0-1; S Smith, L Loughlin 0-10, 1f, 3tpf, R Forde 1-2, 1f. Subs: R Connellan 0-1 for Smith h-t; B Cooney for O’Hara 53 mins; K Martin for McCartan 58; J Geoghean for Forde 68.
REFEREE: K Eannetta (Tyrone).