Third quarter key to Monaghan success
The team were deserving winners, a superb third quarter instrumental in dumping out All-Ireland champions Tyrone in the Athletic Grounds.
It completed the ‘double’ for this set of Monaghan players, who ended the county’s 68-year wait for an Ulster title when they snatched victory over Tyrone in the 2013 Ulster minor final.
Barry McGinn was Monaghan’s star performer with 0-6, five from frees.
Tyrone led by 0-7 to 0-6 at the break but Monaghan scored five of the seven points scored in the third quarter to take complete control.
Tyrone had their noses in front at 0-7 to 0-6 at the break, with precocious talent Lee Brennan scoring five points, each one better than the last.
Monaghan owned the third quarter. Barry McGinn nailed two frees, Conor McCarthy scored a superb long-range point with the wind at his back while cornerback Barry Kerr also pointed as Monaghan led by 0-11 to 0-9 midway through the second period.
Monaghan failed to score for 14 minutes but another McGinn free settled their nerves.
Tyrone rallied but sub Adam Treanor clinched it for Monaghan with the insurance point deep in injury time.
L Brennan 0-5 (2f), C McShane 0-2 (1f), C McCann, S Hamill, M Kavanagh, D Mulgrew 0-1 each.
B McGinn 0-6 (5f), C McCarthy 0-3 (1f), B Kerr, A Lynch, F McMahon, A Treanor 0-1 each.
S Fox; C McCann, M McKernan, S Hamill; C Byrne, S Loughran, M O’Neill; C McShane, F Burns; M Flanagan, M Kavanagh, D Mulgrew; L Brennan, R Coleman, S Fox.
D Gallagher for Coleman (HT), S O’Donnell for McCann (40), R McGlone for O’Neill (47), B McDonnell for Flanagan (50).
C Forde; B Kerr, M Murnaghan, K Loughran; D Ward, J Mealiff, N Rooney; N Loughran, A Lynch; R McAnespie, B McGinn, D Meegan; M O’Dowd, C McCarthy, F McMahon.
A Curran for Loughran (BC, 29), F Maguire for O’Dowd (43), B McBennett for McMahon (48), A Treanor for Lynch (60).
Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)
