Nicky Rackard Cup Round Two

Tyrone 2-19 Monaghan 1-10                        11/5/13

Monaghan lost out to Tyrone in their opening game of the Nicky Rackard Cup at Killyclogher on Saturday. Tyrone went in to the game in confident form after beating Louth a week earlier and they also had a point to prove after losing to Monaghan in the NHL Division 3A relegation play-off. Conor Grogan hit 2-2 from play for Tyrone to finish joint top scorer with Damien Casey (0-8), as they dominated the second half. Deaglán Crowe and Séamus Loftus returned for Monaghan, who once again switched last month’s match-winner Seán Leonard from full-back to full-forward after the restart, but to no avail this time.

Monaghan took an early lead through a Martin Murphy point, but it proved to be a false dawn, as a Damien Casey free and a Tiernan Morgan point edged Tyrone ahead, before Conor Grogan fired home his first goal. Casey added a point from play before swapping points from frees with Mickey McHugh. Another McHugh free, a Séamus Loftus point and a goal by debutant Tadhg Campbell brought Monaghan level, only for Grogan to again rattle the net for Tyrone. Scores continued to flow in the following minutes, with McHugh (free) and Fergal Rafter on target for Monaghan and Pádraig McHugh and Seán Óg Grogan replying for the hosts. A McHugh ’65 brought Monaghan within two once again, but Tyrone finished the half with points from Tiernan Morgan, Seán Óg Grogan and Casey (free) to lead by 2-9 to 1-7.

Mickey McHugh hit the first two points of the second half, one from a free, to reduce Monaghan’s deficit to a goal, but Seán Óg Grogan, Matthew Mulgrew and a brace from Casey moved Tyrone clear. Conor Grogan added two points, either side of another Casey free, although Brian McGuigan then ended 23 scoreless minutes for Monaghan. Tyrone had the final say, however, as substitute Ciarán McCrudden scored a couple of points, before winning a free for Casey to convert. Monaghan will have a second chance to qualify for the semi-finals via the ‘back door’ next weekend.

Tyrone: J Devlin (Capt.); C Cross, C McNally, M O’Gorman; P McHugh (0-1), S Donnelly, M Grogan; G Fox, M Winters; S Óg Grogan (0-3), D Casey (0-8, 5f, 1 ’65), T Morgan (0-2); M Mulgrew (0-1), C Grogan (2-2), K Morgan.

Subs used: M McCrory, C McCrudden (0-2), D Begley.

Monaghan: G Ruddy; S McNally, S Leonard, K Crawley; P Hannon, P Treanor (Capt.), S Loftus (0-1); D Crowe, T Hilliard; B McGuigan (0-1), M Murphy (0-1), F Rafter (0-1); T Campbell (1-0), M McHugh (0-6, 4f, 1 ’65), C McKenna.

Subs used: J Lacey, H Byrne, P Finnegan, N Adair.