Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Football Championship Final

Tyrone 0-14 Monaghan 1-8                                      22/7/12

Monaghan fell just short in their attempt to end the county’s long wait for an Ulster MFC title after a valiant effort in the final against Tyrone on Sunday. Monaghan put it up to a highly-rated Tyrone side throughout, helped by a Conor McCarthy goal, but a run of five unanswered points between the 43^rd and 53^rd minutes won it for the Red Hand County. Captain Pádraic Keenan had another inspirational game for Monaghan, who also had good performances from Ryan Wylie, McCarthy, Fergal Malone and Mark Magee, but Tyrone, who were led by Kieran McGeary, Seán Hackett, Anthony Devlin, Ruairí Mullan and Caolán Harvey, had greater options up front.

Monaghan settled into the match quickly, as Conor McCarthy opened the scoring from a 20-metre free after an off-the-ball foul on David McAlister and James McElroy linked up with Barry Hanratty to add a point from play. Tyrone got off the mark on five minutes through Seán Hackett, who had been well-placed by Ruairí Sludden, but Pádraic Keenan replied from a 30-metre free after a foul on McCarthy and Monaghan went close to adding a goal when a clever pass from Ryan McAnespie just evaded Adam Treanor. Anthony Devlin got a point back for Tyrone, who drew level when Conor Mallon and Peter McKenna combined to release Kieran McGeary for a well-taken score. Hackett edged Tyrone ahead for the first time on 12 minutes and McKenna doubled their lead after a James McGahan free fell into his path, before corner-back Caolán Harvey broke forward to play a one-two with Mark Bradley and fist over. Hackett won the break from the following kick-out and launched over a fine score, before McGahan converted a 30-metre free for a foul on McGeary. Monaghan were threatening to score goals and they went very close when Mark Magee burst through only to have his shot cleared off the line by Ruairí Mullan. The Farney men didn’t have long to wait, however, until McCarthy popped up at the end of a counter-attack led by Keenan to fire a shot at goal and even though Tyrone keeper Dáire Martin parried it, McCarthy volleyed the rebound to the net. A 30-metre free by Keenan, after a foul on Ryan Wylie, left Monaghan trailing by just a point at half-time: 1-4 to 0-8.

Monaghan quickly turned that deficit into a one-point lead after the restart thanks to 30-metre frees by McCarthy and Keenan after fouls on Brian Greenan and David McAlister. Sludden set up fellow wing-forward McGeary to bring Tyrone level, but McAnespie hit a great point for Monaghan at the end of a well-worked move involving Barry Hanratty and Magee. Bradley got on the end of a dangerous ball in from Caolán Corr to bring Tyrone level, before McGahan tapped over a 13-metre free for a foul on Hackett to edge them ahead. Substitute Michael Cassidy got his name on the scoresheet after exchanging passes with McGeary, who was also the provider for the next score, which Bradley sent over with a smart finish on the turn. A foul on Bradley allowed McGahan to send another 20-metre free between the uprights and although Monaghan ended a 20-minute scoreless spell through sub Colin Hughes, after a sideline kick by Keenan, they could find no way through for the goal they needed. In fact, it was Tyrone who went closest late on when sub Ruairí McGlone was denied by Conor Forde. Monaghan still have a second shot at the All-Ireland MFC, where they will play Leinster champions Dublin on the August bank holiday weekend.

Tyrone: D Martin; R Mullan, P Hampsey (Capt.), C Harvey (0-1); C Corr, C Mallon, P McKenna; R Brennan, A Devlin (0-1); K McGeary (0-2), C O’Neill, R Sludden; M Bradley (0-2), J McGahan (0-3f), S Hackett (0-3).

Subs: M Cassidy (0-1) for O’Neill (30 mins), C McLaughlin for Mallon (H-T), D McNulty for McKenna (39), R McGlone for McGahan (53), S Molloy for Corr (55).

Monaghan: C Forde; M Magee, F Malone, R Wylie; B Hanratty, S  Buckley, S Conlon; J McElroy (0-1), B Greenan; R McAnespie (0-1), F McGeough, C McCarthy (1-2, 0-2f); P Keenan (Capt., 0-3f), A Treanor, D McAlister.

Subs: F McMahon for Treanor (39), D Ward for McGeough (44), C Hughes (0-1) for McElroy (46), D Dolan for McAlister (56).

Referee: N Mooney (Cavan).