Ulster Minor Football League Group A
Armagh 0-6 Monaghan 1-9 31/3/12
Monaghan are through to the Ulster Minor Football League semi-finals after they pulled away late on to beat Armagh at Abbey Park on Saturday. A cracking goal by Adam Treanor was the key score for Colin McAree’s side, who were worthy winners after a hard-working performance over the hour. James McElroy and Shane Conlon were on top at midfield for Monaghan, while Treanor, Fergal McGeough and Ryan McAnespie showed well up front and Barry Hanratty and Mark Magee anchored the defence well. Ryan McShane, Donal O’Neill and Michael Finnegan led the way for Armagh, who can still join Monaghan in the semis if they beat Down next weekend.
Armagh were first off the mark through Brendan Boylan, but Monaghan drew level when a Ryan McAnespie shot crashed off the crossbar and went over and they edged ahead on 15 minutes through Fergal McGeough. A free by Caolán Comiskey and a long-range effort from play by Michael Casson left Armagh leading by 0-3 to 0-2 at half-time, however.
Monaghan had a purple patch between the ninth and eleventh minutes of the second half, as Pádraic Keenan converted a free, Adam Treanor kicked a good point from play and McGeough curled a sideline kick over, but Ryan McShane and Comiskey (free) brought Armagh back onto level terms. Another Treanor point was cancelled out by a Eunan Rafferty free as the scores remained deadlocked into the last five minutes, but Monaghan made a decisive break when Treanor fired home the game’s only goal at the end of a quick counter-attack. McAnespie, McGeough and Conor McCarthy added points in the closing minutes to seal a second win from two for Monaghan, who are now top of Group A ahead of next Saturday’s game at home to Cavan.
Monaghan: D Kirk; J Rehill, M Magee, R Wylie; P Keenan (0-1f), B Hanratty, S Buckley; S Conlon, J McElroy; K Rudden, C McCarthy (0-1), R McAnespie (0-2); L Smyth, F McGeough (0-3, 1 s-l), A Treanor (1-2).
Subs: S Mohan for Smyth (38 mins), A Kieran for Rehill (46), D Ward for McGeough (59).
Armagh: M Treanor; Renaghan, Conlon, M Finnegan; S Lennon, D O’Neill, C Hoey; B Boylan (0-1), E Rafferty (0-1f); N Grimley, M Casson (0-1), C Martin; R McShane (0-1), C Comiskey (Capt., 0-2f), D McCreesh.
Subs: O Mc for McCreesh (35), C McKenna for Grimley (40)
Referee: B Rice (Down).
By michael Sun 1st Apr
