Allianz National Football League Division Three Final

Monaghan 2-16 Meath 3-8                           27/4/13

 

Monaghan ended an eight-year wait for senior silverware in a thrilling NFL Division Three Final against Meath at Croke Park on Saturday evening. An Owen Duffy goal helped Monaghan get off to a great start and although Meath gradually got back into contention, Malachy O’Rourke’s side led for almost the entire 70-plus minutes. Meath’s third goal, scored by Stephen Bray, left just a point between the teams inside the last five minutes, but the Hughes brothers intervened, with a goal by Kieran and a point by Darren sealing victory for Monaghan. Both players were central to Monaghan’s win, along with the likes of Owen Duffy, Conor McManus and Owen Lennon, while Mickey Newman, Stephen Bray, Bryan Menton and Ciarán Lenehan led Meath’s challenge.

Monaghan started in style, as Conor McManus swung over a fine point after Kieran Hughes had made a good catch from an early ball in by Owen Duffy. Christopher McGuinness linked up with Dermot Malone to double Monaghan’s lead, before Kieran Hughes took a pass from Paul Finlay and swung the ball over on the turn. A fisted point from Paddy Gilsenan got Meath off the mark, but Owen Duffy replied with a good score and he then crashed a superb shot to the net on ten minutes at the end of a move involving Owen Lennon and Finlay.

Finlay converted a 30-metre free for a foul on Darren Hughes, but Meath hit back when a clever pass from Eamonn Wallace released Mickey Newman to slide a low shot into the net. Good work by Fintan Kelly set up McManus to split the posts and the Clontibret man quickly added his third of the opening 13 minutes, before Newman set up Bryan Menton to fist over. Well-taken points from Wallace and Stephen Bray brought Meath to within three, but McManus, who had earlier missed a scoreable free, found his range from a 25-metre effort, following a late tackle on Neil McAdam. Lennon then started and finished a Monaghan counter-attack, taking his point after being released by Finlay, although Ciarán Lenehan kicked a point to leave four between them at half-time: Monaghan 1-9 Meath 1-5.

Lenehan hit a nice point to get Meath up and running in the second half and they drew level when Davy Dalton sent an emphatic finish to the net. A foul on Graham Reilly allowed Newman to convert a 30-metre free and edge the Royals ahead for the first – and ultimately the only – time, but Monaghan quickly drew level when Finlay tapped over a close-range free for a foul on Duffy, who added a superb left-footed point from way out on the left wing. A terrific catch by Lennon and a strong run by Colin Walshe created a point from play for Finlay, before Duffy raced onto a long ball from Kieran Hughes to fist over.

Lennon landed a fine point off his left foot and although Newman replied, a good pass from substitute Vincent Corey set up McManus to weave his way through and fire a shot just over the bar. Meath set up a grandstand finish when a long ball from Séamus Kenny evaded the Monaghan full-back line and fell for Bray to round Beggan and tap home, but Monaghan re-opened a four-point gap when Kieran Hughes cut through and shot at goal and even when Paddy O’Rourke saved, the rebound fell for the Scotstown forward to blast a right-footed shot beyond the Meath keeper. Darren Hughes rounded off the scoring with a point after a smart pass from Corey at the end of a long, patient build-up.

Two Latton men took home the silverware, as Owen Lennon lifted the trophy and Owen Duffy accepted the Man-of-the-Match award to complete a memorable day for Monaghan GAA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monaghan: R Beggan; D Wylie, F Kelly, C Walshe; D Hughes (0-1), N McAdam, K Duffy; O Lennon (Capt., 0-2), D Clerkin; P Finlay (0-3, 2f), D Malone, O Duffy (1-3); C McGuinness (0-1), C McManus (0-5, 1f), K Hughes (1-1).

Subs: S Gollogly for Malone (29 mins), D Mone for Clerkin (42), P Donaghy for McGuinness (51), V Corey for Wylie (55).                 

 

Meath: P O’Rourke; E Harrington, K Reilly, C Young; C Lenehan (0-2), B Menton (0-1), D Dalton (1-0); B Meade, C Gillespie; P Gilsenan (0-1), G Reilly, P Byrne; E Wallace (0-1), S Bray (1-1), M Newman (1-2, 0-1f).

Subs: D Larkin for Gilsenan (27), S Kenny for Byrne, A Tormey for G Reilly (both 53), B Dillon for Dalton (inj., 55), B Farrell for Bray (66).

 

Referee: P O’Sullivan (Kerry).