Ladies National Football League Division One

Monaghan Ladies Senior Panel v Tyrone NFL 07-04-2013

Monaghan 6-16 Tyrone 1-4                          7/4/13

Monaghan made it seven wins from seven in the Ladies NFL when they crushed Tyrone in Clones on Sunday. Monaghan started slowly, but they gradually got going before turning on the style in the second half, which they won by 4-10 to 0-2. Monaghan’s six goals came via a Ciara McAnespie hat-trick, a Caoimhe Mohan brace and one by Therese McNally as they cruised to a another high-scoring victory in their bid to retain the league title.

It took ten minutes for either team to score, as Nicola Rafferty scored a goal for Tyrone, but that was as good as it got for the visitors. Monaghan took the lead for the first time through a goal by Ciara McAnespie and a point by Niamh Kindlon, before Caoimhe Mohan netted her first goal. Joline Donnelly hit a brace of points for Tyrone, but two each by Mohan, Ciara McAnespie and McCarron left Monaghan ahead by 2-7 to 1-2 at half-time.

Monaghan resumed from where they had left off with points by Kindlon and McCarron and a brace of left-footed efforts by Mohan, before McCarron crashed a shot off the crossbar at the end of a move involving Laura McEnaney and Cora Courtney. Ciara McAnespie added a point and she then scored Monaghan’s third goal to finish off a length-of-the-pitch counter-attack involving her sister Aoife as well as Sharon and Cora Courtney and Therese McNally. Mohan clipped over another point after good work by Therese McNally and Christina Reilly, before McCarron linked up with Ciara McAnespie to fire in a shot which Tyrone keeper Shannon Lynch tipped over the bar.

Monaghan missed another goal chance when Therese McNally shot wide, but they continued to open the Tyrone defence up at will, with Aoife McAnespie landing a good point and Mohan and Therese McNally both finding the net. Ciara McAnespie kicked another point late on and there was still time for Monaghan to create another couple of opportunities, with the first seeing McCarron again denied by Lynch and the second tucked away by Ciara McAnespie after McCarron had broken a high ball from Cora Courtney into her path. Monaghan now advance to the semi-finals full of confidence after protecting their unblemished record in the league.

Monaghan: L Martin; G McNally, Y Connell, C Reilly; E McElroy, S Courtney, A McAnespie (0-1); E McKenna, C Courtney; T McNally (Capt., 1-0), C Mohan (2-5), L McEnaney; E McCarron (0-4, 1f), N Kindlon (0-2, 1f), C McAnespie (3-4).

Subs: C McConnell for McEnaney (45 mins), L Boylan for Kindlon (52), A Newell for McElroy (57).

Tyrone: S Lynch; T McLaughlin, L McGillion, P O’Neill; M Donnelly, O Mallon, M McMenamin; M Cassidy, G Begley (Capt.); A McShane, C Donnelly, A O’Kane (0-1); J Donnelly (0-2), S Quinn, N Rafferty (1-0).

Subs used: O O’Neill, C McGahan, N Donnelly, M Conwell (0-1).

Referee: T McShea (Donegal).