Under-21 Shamrock Cup Final

Tyrone 0-16 Monaghan 0-10                                    21/2/16

Tyrone retained the Shamrock Cup with an impressive second-half performance in the final against Monaghan, which was played in difficult conditions at Cremartin on Sunday. After an evenly-matched opening 20 minutes, Monaghan eventually put the wind advantage to good use by kicking six unanswered points before half-time to change ends leading by 0-8 to 0-4. Tyrone dominated the second half, however, with their accurate finishing seeing them hit 11 of the game’s last 12 scores to run out winners with six to spare.

Senior panellists Conor McCarthy and Barry McGinn, who came into the team as part of eight changes from the last group game against Antrim, combined to land all but a point of Monaghan’s total. Monaghan now focus their preparations on their Ulster U-21 Championship quarter-final against Fermanagh on Wednesday, March 16.

Tyrone: S Fox; C McCann, P Teague, S Hamill; C Byrne, S Loughran, M Flanagan; C McShane (0-5, 2f), B McDonnell; P McGirr, M Kavanagh (0-2), D Mulgrew (0-4); D Gallagher, L Brennan (0-4, 3f), S E Fox.

Subs: J Harkin for McGirr (inj., 15 mins), F McClure (0-1) for Gallagher (H-T), E Murray for Flanagan (38), P McAnenly for Kavanagh (55), N Kelly for Hamill (59).

Monaghan J Morrow; R Berg, K Loughran (Capt.), N Rooney; D Ward, J Mealiff, D McAlister; N Loughman, M Murnaghan; R McAnespie, B McGinn (0-4, 2f), A Lynch; D Meegan, C McCarthy (0-5), A Treanor (0-1).

Subs: F Maguire for Meegan (H-T), C Rice for Ward (38 mins), C Vernon for McAlister (43), B McBennett for McCarthy (45), A McCahey for Treanor, A Kieran for Berg (both 47).

Referee: C Mooney (Down).