Tyrone Defeat Monaghan in Allianz League

Sunday 19.03.2023

County

Allianz Football League Division 1 Rd 6
Monaghan 0-13 Tyrone 2-15

Tyrone took a giant step towards ensuring their division one status when for the first time this season they secured back to back wins when overcoming Monaghan by eight points at Clones on Sunday afternoon.

It was a game that the Red Hands always looked to be in control off but its fair to say they should have been more than three points in front at half time. A crucial turning point came in the first attack of the second half when outstanding Captain Padraig Hampsey was once again clearing his lines only to be tripped by Jack McCarron who received a black card to go with the yellow one that he got in first half injury time and that meant his afternoon was over.

Things went from bad to worse for Monaghan when midfielder Killian Lavelle was straight red carded in the 46th minute for a foul on Conor Meyler and from there until the end Tyrone controlled things. Monaghan full back Kieran Duffy had his side’s first point in response to early efforts from Conn Kilpatrick and Darren McCurry but amazingly that proved to be the only score that they would get from play in the contest. This win sets Tyrone up for blockbuster derby encounter at home to Armagh next weekend when there will still be plenty at stake for both sides.

For the second game running the tactic of moving midfielders Conn Kilpatrick and Brian Kennedy into the edge of the square at different times in the game worked a treat. After those early two points Darragh Canavan registered as well but two frees from Micheal Bannigan left it all square. In the 12th minute Tyrone were awarded a penalty after a foul on Kennedy and Peter Harte stepped up to make no mistake.

Tyrone now had the bit between their teeth and an outstanding Canavan pass sent fellow Errigal Ciaran man Cormac Quinn through for a well taken 27thminute goal. That left five between the sides but Monaghan rallied approaching halftime with Bannigan knocking over another free either side of marks from Dessie Ward and Shane Carey before Canavan had the final say for a 2-5 to 0-8 advantage.

Kennedy boomed one over from distance on the restart before a superb long ball from Canavan saw Kilpatrick take a brilliant mark which he duly converted. Substitute Conor McManus and Darren McCurry exchanged points from frees before the Donnelly brothers Richard and Mattie both registered within sixty seconds of each other. Tyrone were in complete control with the extra two men and while McManus converted another brace of frees McCurry hit a superb two from play. Niall Morgan then knocked over a free before Niall Devlin fisted a point to become Tyrone’s tenth scorer on the day as they collected a vital win.

Monaghan: R Beggan (0-1, 45), T McPhillips, K Duffy (0-1), F Hughes, J Irwin, D Ward (0-1, M), R O’Toole, D Hughes, K Lavelle, S Carey (0-1, 1M), M Bannigan (0-4, 4F), C McCarthy, S Jones, K Gallagher (0-1, 1M), J McCarron. Subs: S O’Hanlon for Irwin, D McElearney for Ward, K O’Connell for Jones, C McManus (0-4, 4F) for Gallagher, A Mulligan for Carey

Tyrone: N Morgan (0-1, 45), M McKernan, P Hampsey, C Quinn (1-0), C Meyler, N McCarron, P Harte (1-1, 1-0Pen), B Kennedy (0-1), C Kilpatrick (0-2, 1M), F Burns, K McGeary, J Oguz, D McCurry (0-4, 2F), M Donnelly (0-1), D Canavan (0-3). Subs: N Devlin (0-1) for McCarron, R Canavan for McGeary, L Rafferty for Oguz, R Donnelly (0-1) for Meyler, M O’Neill for D Canavan

Referee: J McQuillan, Cavan