Donegal defeats Monaghan, reaches Ulster SFC semi-finals

Donegal secured a 0-23 to 0-21 victory over Monaghan in the Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final after surviving a spirited comeback from their opponents. Donegal led by six points at halftime but Monaghan, fueled by strong performances from Dessie Ward and others, closed the gap to just one point in the second half and had opportunities to level the score. Key moments included a tense finish where Monaghan's Dessie Ward narrowly missed a two-pointer that could have forced extra time. Donegal, who previously defeated Derry, managed to maintain their composure late in the match and advanced to face Down in the semi-finals. The match was marked by slippery conditions and standout contributions from Donegal's Michael Murphy, Ciaran Thompson, and Peadar Mogan. Despite the loss, Monaghan showed resilience and will look to build on their Division 2 success in upcoming fixtures.