SHAMROCK CUP U21 TOURNAMENT. .
Tyrone 1-14, Monaghan 0-11.
A sharper, more incisive Tyrone proved too strong in most departments for Monaghan in this tough, hard-hitting and at times niggly contest in Cloghan on Friday evening last the 5th of February, the game switched to the Monaghan venue as Garvaghey was unavailable. Tyrone’s ability to defend in numbers, break quickly and recycle the ball effectively left them always holding an edge with Pat Clarke the referee kept on his toes throughout.
Things did boil over somewhat towards the end of the first half at which stage both sides were reduced to 14 players when the referee, after consulting with his umpires, dismissed Monaghan’s Michael Murnaghan and Tyrone’s Fintan McClure on straight red cards following an incident in the Monaghan goalmouth. Tyrone led at half-time by 0-9 to 0-4, Mark Kavanagh and Padraig McAnenley accounting for the bulk of those scores.
In the second-half Monaghan continued to strive for openings and did put some good moves together but they found scores hard to come by against a massed Tyrone defence and at times too, the final ball in was not of the quality required. Just three points separated the sides going into the final 10 minutes but a goal by Sean Fox with four minutes of normal time remaining and a further two points from frees by Mark Kavanagh wrapped it up for the holders. Monaghan finished the game with 13 players following the dismissal of James Mealiff on a second yellow card midway through the second half.
Teams and Scorers:
Tyrone: Sean Fox, Michael McKernan, Peter Teague, Cillian McCann, Michael Flanagan, Sean Loughran 0-1, Owen Murray 0-1, Ben McDonald, Ryan Loughran 0-2, Johnny Harkin, Michael O’Neill, Mark Kavanagh 0-6 (5f), Paraic McAnenley 0- (1f), Fintan McClure 0-1 (f|), Sean E Fox 1-0. Subs: Frank Burns for M O’Neill, Colm Byrne for B McDonald, Ruairi McGlone for P McAnenley, Dan Lowe for M Flanagan, Ryan Coleman 0-1 for R Loughran, Shea Hamill for E Murray.
Monaghan: Conor Forde, Adam Kieran, Michael Murnaghan, Kevin Loughran, Barry Kerr, Dessie Ward 0-1, Aodh Curran, James Mealiff, Niall Loughman, Donal Meegan, Niall Rooney, Aaron Jones 0-1, Adam Treanor 0-7 (6f), Jamie Walshe, Michael O’Dowd. Subs: David McAlister 0-1 for D Meegan, Christopher Rice for A Jones, James Morrow for C Forde, Barry McBennett 0-1 for J Walshe, Alan McCaughey for A Curran, Francis Maguire for M O’Dowd, Micheal McCarville for D Ward, Christopher McAnenley for C Rice (Black Card). Referee: Pat Clarke (Cavan).
By Majella Boyd Tue 9th Feb
