Monaghan forward Conor McCarthy said it was great to “put smiles on faces again” after the Farney men booked their place in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals on Sunday with victory over Westmeath.

Gabriel Bannigan’s side saw off the Leinster champions with an impressive second-half performance in Clones, where it finished 1-28 to 2-19, as they advanced to the last eight where they’ll now face neighbours Louth at Croke Park for a semi-final berth.

Speaking to RTE Sport after his team’s six-point victory, McCarthy said that it was “a brilliant occasion” at St Tiernach’s Park.

"It's a great win today," he said. "Another home game in front of our home fans and it's great to give them days like this and all these young boys and girls, it's great to give them a day out and just put smiles on faces again.

"Look we're going to Croke Park next week and that was the aim today. We're delighted to get there.

"It's brilliant to have these days in Clones. What a place to have a game of championship football.

"It's a brilliant venue and just to give our home fans what they want and the Westmeath crowd certainly added to the occasion as well, they travelled in numbers and it was a brilliant occasion."

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