U16 Buncrana Cup Semi – Final v Donegal on Saturday 11^th August in Burt

Having beating Armagh and Down to Qualify for the Semi – Final of the Buncrana Cup Monaghan set up a meeting with Donegal in Burt Co. Donegal. Monaghan lost the toss and had to play against the breeze in the first half. Donegal started the game very well with 4 points on the trot. It took Monaghan 12 minutes to register their first score with a well taking point by Barry McGinn Donegal immediately came down the field and won a penalty.  Caolain McGee made a fine save and from that Monaghan worked the ball up the field to get a well worked point by Mickey Murnaghan. That would be the last score from Monaghan in the first half Donegal kicked a further 4 points to end the half 8points to 2 points in favour of Donegal. Monaghan started the second half much better aided by a breeze, Barry McGinn opened the scoring with a point from a free. The next 10 minutes saw Monaghan kick 6 wides which would prove vital. Donegal within 2 minutes scored 1 goal and 1 point Monaghan had all the work to do now but responded well. Mickey Murnaghan scored and excellent point and that was followed by a goal as Monaghan were awarded a penalty for a foul on Dermot Gleeson, which Barry Mc Ginn executed perfectly. Conor McKenna added to this with a point. Donegal hit back with a further 2 points from play to leave the Final Score Monaghan 1 – 05 Donegal 1 – 11

U16 Buncrana Cup Play Off against Derry on Saturday 11^th August in Buncrana

After being defeated by Donegal Monaghan then travelled to Buncrana to play against Derry in the play off. Monaghan started brightly with points from Thomas Lynch who had a very good game against Derry. Derry pulled a point back Mickey Murnaghan ran through the Derry defence to rival home Monaghan’s first goal of the game. And that was quickly succeeded with another well taken point by Thomas Lynch. Derry finished the half with a goal to leave the half time score Monaghan 1 – 03 Derry 1 – 01. Derry started the second half in fine style with 2 quick goals which left Monaghan with all to do. Monaghan then made a rally and within 10 minutes they scored 1 – 03 the goal coming from Thomas Lynch and points from Conor McKenna, Niall Duffy and Thomas Lynch to set for an exciting finish. Derry then hit Monaghan with a killer blow when they scored their 4^th goal and followed that up with a quick point. Monaghan did manage to get another point, again coming from Thomas Lynch. Derry had the final say in what was an exciting encounter with 2 points to leave the final score Monaghan 2 – 07 Derry 4 – 04

Panel; James McElwaine, Eugene McGeough, Kevin McVicar, Daragh McKenna, Daniel McDonald, James McKenna, Mickey Murnaghan, Caolain McElwaine, Robert Berg, Barry McGinn, Thomas Lynch, Stephen Cunningham, Mustafia Gamal, Damien Ward, Brendan Boylan, Daithi Colton, Dermot Gleeson, Shane Treanor, Niall Duffy, Caolain McGee, James Deery, Thomas Finnegan, John Beattie, Jack Turley, Conor McKenna.

U16 Football Development Squad who competed in Buncrana Cup at the weekend