Cadbury’s Ulster Under-21 Football Championship

Cavan 1-16 Monaghan 1-12 (AET)

 Monaghan’s Ulster Under-21 dream is over for another year after a valiant effort fell short against Cavan after extra-time at Breffni Park on Wednesday evening. The teams were evenly-matched throughout, but Cavan gained the upper hand in the additional 20 minutes to maintain their bid for a third successive Ulster title.

Cavan were first off the mark when Enda O’Reilly tapped over a 20-metre free for a foul on Paul O’Connor, but a foul on Shane O’Brien allowed Shane Carey to get Monaghan off the mark from a 35-metre free. Another close-range free by O’Reilly, after a foul on Brian Sankey, was cancelled out when Keith McEnaney kicked the opening score from play following good work by Daniel McKenna and Thomas Kerr. Carey converted another 35-metre free for a foul on O’Brien and he tapped over a 13-metre effort following an off-the-ball foul on McEnaney, before Daniel McKenna curled over a nice point from play.

O’Connor replied with a well-taken effort for Cavan’s first score from play, starting a run of six in a row for the hosts. O’Reilly sent over a close-range free and a point from play after strong work by Turloch Mooney, before Jack Brady linked up with O’Connor to loft over a fine score. Cavan goalkeeper Conor Gilsenan went forward to boot over a 40-metre free, but his counterpart Rory Beggan landed a point from 45 metres after a foul on Thomas Connolly to end 12 scoreless minutes for Monaghan. That reduced the gap to two at half-time: Cavan 0-8 Monaghan 0-6.

Cavan pounced for a goal within three minutes of the restart when O’Connor caught a long ball from Dara McVitty and fired past Beggan and they created another chance when Michael Argue released his midfield partner Sankey, but the latter blasted wide. A 25-metre free by substitute Jack McCarron kept Monaghan in touch, before Thomas Connolly linked up with Pete Dooney to kick a good point with the outside of his boot. Monaghan won the next kick-out and a free, which Dooney launched on top of McEnaney, who broke it down for McCarron to power home the equalising goal.

There were only two points in a low-scoring final quarter, the first of which saw Carey tap over a 13-metre free for a foul on McEnaney. Carey was then sent off for a second booking and Cavan drew level when O’Connor dispatched a free which had been won by O’Reilly. The Breffni side had three late chances to win it, but Monaghan held on to force extra-time.

Monaghan quickly retook the lead when Dooney and McCarron combined to set up a point for Thomas Kerr, but that was as good as it got, with Andrew Graham and Joe Dillon giving Cavan the initiative. Another sub, Conor Madden, kicked a brace of excellent points from play in quick succession to leave Cavan ahead by 1-13 to 1-10 at the end of the first extra period. A good run by Aaron Watson created a point for Graham a minute into the second period and although Monaghan hit back when Christopher McKenna marked his introduction with a point from play, a Jack Brady free kept Cavan on the front foot. O’Reilly added a well-struck 40-metre free after he had been fouled and even though McCarron won and scored a free late on, the defending champions had done enough to win by four.

 

 

Cavan: C Gilsenan; J McLoughlin, K Clarke, C Brady (0-1); D McVitty, D Sexton, F Flanagan (Capt.); B Sankey, M Argue; G Smith, C Conroy, T Mooney; E O’Reilly (0-5, 4f), P O’Connor (1-2, 0-1f), J Brady (0-2, 1f).

Subs: C Madden (0-2) for Conroy (44 mins), A Watson for C Brady (inj., 45), J Dillon (0-1) for Mooney (51).

Extra-time subs: A Graham (0-2) for O’Connor, C Moynagh for Sexton (14), T Mooney for Sankey (16), P Flynn for McLoughlin (18).

 

Monaghan: R Beggan (0-1f); R Wylie, C Boyle, P McGuigan; C Cromwell, J McGuigan, P McKenna; S Sherry, P Dooney; T Connolly (0-1), S Carey (0-4f), S O’Brien; T Kerr (0-1), K McEnaney (Capt., 0-1), D McKenna (0-1).

Subs: B McQuaid for Cromwell (23), J McCarron (1-2, 0-2f) for O’Brien (26).

Extra-time subs: L Hahessy, C McKenna (0-1) for D McKenna (inj., 14)

 

Referee: E McHugh (Tyrone).