Monaghan Win Ulster Minor League Title

Saturday 04.04.2026

Tyrone 2-14 Monaghan 2-16

Tyrone relinquished their grip on the Ulster Minor league title when they lost out narrowly to Monaghan in a superb encounter at Rock on Saturday afternoon.

 

Despite the weather conditions the St.Patricks pitch was in superb condition and both sides served up a cracker. The Red Hands led by three points at the short whistle and when they doubled their advantage within eight minutes of the restart they looked to be in control. Credit though to Monaghan who really rolled up their sleeves and in a blistering seventeen minute spell they turned a six point deficit into a four-point lead. It looked all over but a brace of two point frees from substitute Conan Canavan levelled matters and just when we looked set for extra time two late Monaghan scores settled the issue as the visitors deservedly took the silverware based on their second half display.

 

Ciarán McKeown and Noah Hughes exchanged early points before Tyrone got in for a well taken 5^th minute goal when team Captain Ciaran McCrystal took a pass from Matthew F Daly to send a daisy cutter to the bottom right hand corner of the net. Hughes responded with a fine point before Tyrone centre half back Ruairi O’Neill cancelled that out with an equal quality score after cutting in from the right wing. Monaghan then enjoyed a purple patch that yielded four points in a row from Cillian McKenna (2), Peter Gilmartin and to lead at the end of the opening quarter.

 

Tyrone though lifted their game with Lorcan Meenagh and O’Neill scoring points before Aodhan Corry confidently dispatched a 25^th minute penalty after wing half back Conor Fyffe had been fouled. The lively McGinnity scored from a free as well as from play either side of a Tyrone point from Logan O’Connor to leave it 2-5 to 0-8 at the break.

 

Matthew F Daly, Charlie Meenan and Matthew C Daly all registered points on the restart as the holders eased six clear by the 38^th minute. Six seconds later though Monaghan were right back in contention when a high ball in from the left wing from Adam Borsje saw Sean MacCionna get on the end of it to palm to the net from close range. McGinnity tagged on a point before Monaghan took the lead in the 47^th minute with an expertly taken penalty from Borsje.

 

Vincent Gormley sent over the equaliser but the momentum was now very much with Monaghan and points from McKenna, Phelim Brady, Hughes and Borsje left it 2-13 to 2-9 with seven minutes of normal time left to play. Matthew C Daly and McGinnity swapped points before Canavan landed a fine two pointer from a placed ball in the 59^th minute. Two minutes later and the sides were level when Canavan held his nerve to raise another orange flag following a breach. Extra time looked a certainty at this stage but in te 64^th minute Tyrone were punished for a breach which McGinnity converted before Hughes added the insurance score when he fisted over.

 

Tyrone scorers: Conan Canavan 0-4 (2 x tpf), Ciaran McCrystal 1-0, Aodhan Corry 1-0 (pen), Lorcan Meenagh 0-2 (2f), Matthew C Daly 0-2, Ruairi O’Neill 0-2, Logan O’Connor 0-1, Matthew F Daly 0-1, Ciarán McKeown 0-1, Vincent Gormley 0-1

 

Monaghan scorers: Alex McGinnity 0-6 (1f), Adam Borsje 1-1 (1-0 pen), Cillian McKenna 0-3, Noah Hughes 0-3, Sean McCionna 1-0, Peter Gilmartin 0-1, Phelim Brady 0-1, Conor McCloskey 0-1