ELECTRIC IRELAND ULSTER MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 1 QUALIFIER.
Monaghan 3-12, Antrim 0-6.
A stronger, sharper Monaghan experienced little difficulty in getting over the challenge of Antrim in this fairly low-key and at times quite one sided encounter that was played in breezy conditions in Corrigan Park, Belfast, on Saturday. Monaghan led from gun to tape and were never really threatened at any stage despite having to play the entire 2nd half with 14 players following the dismissal of Aaron Mulligan on a straight red card just before half-time.
Monaghan led at half-time by 2-4 to 0-1, the goals by Sean Jones in the 6th minute and Loughlin Power in the 16th minute as Antrim struggled for scores. A 3rd goal within a minute of the resumption effectively killed this game off as a contest, with Antrim only registering their 2nd point of the match at the start of the final quarter. Monaghan tagged on a series of points before being forced to play out the final minutes of the game with 12 players as influential midfielder Andrew Moore had to retire injured and goalkeeper Ryan Farrelly was stretchered off after Monaghan had used all their substitutes. Monaghan now play Donegal next Sunday in Ballybofey in round 2 of the qualifiers.
Scorers: Monaghan: L Power 2-0, S Jones 1-3, A Mulligan 0-2, K Gallagher 0-2, C Flood, D Swinburne, D Dempsey, M Mooney, M Meehan 0-1 each. Antrim: F Henry 0-2, D McAteer, E Hynds (f), T Skillen and C Morris 0-1 each.
Monaghan: R Farrelly, R Grimes, J Doogan, S Hanratty, C Flood, B O’Dufaigh, J McGarrell, A Moore, J Wilson, A Mulligan, S Jones, K Gallagher, D Swinburne, L Power, J Irwin. Subs: M Meehan for J Wilson (15), J McGeown for J Doogan (35), M Mooney for J Irwin (38), o O’Hanlon for L Power (41), D Dempsey for S Jones (44), R Hanratty for K Gallagher (47).
Antrim: T O’Boyle, G Downing, E Mervyn, R Murray, D McAteer, B Rodgers, M Munce, C Fitzpatrick, E Hynds, O McGarrell, O Doherty, S McKay, F Henry, C Fogarty, D McKeogh. Subs: C O’Neill for O McGarrell, T Skillen for C Fogarty, C Morris for S McKay (All HT), C Kennedy for B Rodgers (43), A Hyndman for R Murray (49), O Graham for c Fitzpatrick (50). Referee: C Mooney (Down).
By Majella Boyd Mon 7th May
