All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final

Tyrone 0-18 Monaghan 0-14                                    8/8/15

Monaghan were knocked out of the All-Ireland race by Tyrone at Croke Park on Saturday. Like at this stage in 2013, Ulster champions Monaghan were unable to get past Tyrone, who led from the ninth minute right through to the finish. Monaghan got off to a bright start with excellent points from play by Dessie Mone and Kieran Hughes, but thereafter, they struggled to break down the Tyrone defence. Tyrone corner-forwards Darren McCurry and Connor McAliskey hit 0-11 between them, while Mattie Donnelly. Peter Harte and Ronan McNabb were central to several incisive attacks. Substitute Owen Duffy led the charge for Monaghan in the second half as they sporadically threatened a comeback. Conor McManus finished with 0-7, but he saw a late shot at goal saved and with it went any hopes of a dramatic finish. There were three sendings-off in the closing stages, when Monaghan lost Darren Hughes and sub Paul Finlay, while Tyrone’s Ronan McNamee also got a second booking.

Tyrone: N Morgan; R McNamee (0-1), A McCrory, C McCarron; T McCann, Joe McMahon (0-1), R McNabb (0-1); C Cavanagh, M Donnelly (0-2); M Bradley, P Harte (0-1), C Meyler; D McCurry (0-6, 3f, 1 ’45), S Cavanagh (Capt., 0-1), C McAliskey (0-5, 4f).

Subs: Justin McMahon for Joe McMahon (inj., 7), C McCann for Meyler (black card, 22), P McNulty for C McCann (45), R O’Neill for McAliskey (58), R Donnelly for Bradley (67), C Clarke for R Donnelly (inj., 72).

Monaghan: R Beggan; C Walshe, V Corey, R Wylie; K O’Connell, F Kelly (0-1), D Mone (0-1); O Lennon, N McAdam; K Duffy, D Hughes, R McAnespie; S Gollogly, K Hughes (0-1), C McManus (Capt., 0-7, 5f).

Subs: D Wylie for Corey, D Clerkin (0-1) for Lennon, O Duffy (0-2) for McAnespie (all H-T), D Malone for McAdam (48), P Finlay (0-1f) for Gollogly (52), C McGuinness for K Duffy (60).

Referee: Marty Duffy (Sligo).