Minors Suffer Narrow Defeat

Sunday 14.07.2019

 

Tyrone minors came up just short after a real thriller of a minor final against a very talented Monaghan side played in front of a large crowd in Armagh on Sunday afternoon.

The Farney lads came close to throwing the game away hitting twelve wides in the second half alone as Tyrone fought tooth and nail but Monaghan were not to be denied and they deservedly claimed the title on a final score of 1-13 to 1-11.

Tyrone were very impressive in the opening ten minutes as they built up a five points to two lead courtesy of scores from Luke Donnelly, Michael Mc Gleenan, Donnelly again , Daniel Fullerton and Mark Devlin. However even at that stage the lads in blue looked lively as Eoin Duffy, Karl Gallagher, Jason Irwin and Michael Hamill began to exert control.

Monaghan hit five points unanswered between the eleventh and nineteenth minutes to move two clear before Tyrone responded with scores from Donnelly and Mark Devlin (2) to go in at the break trailing 0-9 to 0-8.

The Red Hands made the perfect start to the second half as midfielder Mc Gleenan drove through the Monaghan defence straight from the restart before left footing the ball to the back of the Monaghan net.

That score put Tyrone two in front and both sides added points to leave it 1-10 to 0-11 after eight minutes of the second half.

Then came the move and the score that changed the complexion and the outcome of the game.

Tyrone lost possession deep inside the Monaghan half before Duffy and Slevin combined to send Mark Hamill in on goal and the Emyvale clubman made no mistake to put his side in front before a point from the same player extended the Monaghan lead.

In the very warm conditions Tyrone looked short on energy and ideas and ran the bench in an attempt to get something from the game. Ciaran Daly added to the Tyrone tally before Monaghan were reduced to fourteen players when substitute Tiarnan Kieran’s was red carded for an off the ball incident.

The Red Hands pushed forward in numbers and came came close to snatching a late goal but a goalmouth scramble saw Monaghan goalkeeper Joe Kirk come to his team’s rescue.

With time running out Monaghan broke up the field as Tyrone tired and left spaces at the back and the Farney lads sealed the win with a late point from the boot of the excellent Darragh Dempsey.

Next up for Tyrone will be a clash with Munster kingpins Kerry.

Tyrone: F Coney; C Cuddy, M McCann, S Sweeney; J Donaghy, N Devlin, S O’Donnell; S Donaghy, M McGleenan; R Campbell, M Devlin, S Daly; A McGrath, D Fullerton, L Donnelly. Subs: S Gallagher for Donaghy (44), R Canavan for Donnelly (48), C Daly for M Devlin (50), R McHugh for Campbell (60), E Neill for O’Donnell (60)

Monaghan: J Kirk; S Slevin, R Boyle, S Hanratty; C Maguire, E Duffy, D Treanor; C McKernan, K Gallagher; K Connolly, D Marron,  M Hamill; D Dempsey, J Irwin, L McDonald. Subs: T Kierans for Marron (41), D Kerley for McKernan (62)

 

Monaghan scorers: D Dempsey 0-5, (1 “45”), M Hamill 1-1, J Irwin 0-2, S Slevin 0-1, K Connolly 0-1, E Duffy 0-1, D Marron 0-1, K Gallagher 0-1

 

Tyrone scorers: L Donnelly 0-4 (2F), M McGleenan 1-1, M Devlin 0-3 (1 “45”), S O’Donnell 0-1, D Fullerton 0-1, C Daly 0-1