Played in sunny conditions in Greencastle, this entertaining tussle was always going to be tough for Tyrone. Monaghan were desperate for a win to stay in the Championship, and they gave their all in this tie as Tyrone struggled to cope with their all-action performance.
Tyrone got off to the best possible start, with Sarah Connolly firing home a goal in the first few minutes. Monaghan were not to be outdone, and the inspirational Ciara Mc Anespie shot on goal drawing a good save from Caoimhe Quinn. Unfortunately for the keeper, the rebound fell to Rachel Mc Kenna who fired home to level matters. Monaghan, and Mc Anespie, were rampant, and she fed last seasons Ulster Young Player of the Year Catriona Mc Connell to point. The same two players combined once more and worked a short free-kick to allow Mc Connell to register her second point of the day
Tyrone responded as Maeve Cobane and Kerri Grimes combined from a ‘45’ for the Loughmacrory player to fire over, and Rebecca Mc Crory pointed to level matters. Good interplay between the Tyrone attacking unit presented a good chance for Claire Scullion, and the Kileeshil attacker made no mistake as she pointed. Mc Anespie was the provider once again as she combined with Mc Connell who pointed, and Catriona Treanor fired over from the resulting kickout.
The turning point in the game came soon after as Monaghan goalkeeper Edel Corrigan pulled off a fantastic save to deny Aisling O’Kane, a save which not only kept the scores level but also seemed to inspire her team mates. Scullion pointed again, before a good score from Connolly wide on the left gave her side a 1-6 to 1-4 lead. Monaghan spurned three late chances late in the half, and they trailed by two points at the break.
Monaghan started the second period brightly, with points from Rachel Mc Kenna and Mc Connell drawing them level. Tyrone then missed two good scoring chances, as they were dealt a hammer blow as Mc Connell ghosted in behind the Tyrone defence to fire a fierce shot to the back of the net.
Claire Scullion pointed for Tyrone in response, but Monaghan were celebrating again soon after. Caoimhe Quinn saved to deny Mc Anespie, but the referee deemed that she had used her feet and awarded a penalty. Up stepped Laura Boylan who placed the ball low to the keepers right with a fantastic shot to open up a 3-6 to 1-7 lead.
Laura Mc Creesh was Tyrone’s first victim of the new ‘sin bin’ rules as she picked up a yellow card with five minutes to play, but there was still time for Connolly to point but the writing was on the wall as Monaghan secured a deserved four-point win.

Tyrone Team & Scorers

Tyrone: Caoimhe Quinn, Britta Quinn, Laura Mc Gillion, Rachel Molloy, Naimh Mullin, Michaela Richie, Maria Donnelly, Maeve Cobane, Neamh Woods, Aisling O’Kane, Laura Mc Creesh, Kerri Grimes (0-1), Claire Scullion (0-3), Sarah Connolly (1-2), Rebecca Mc Crory (0-2)
Subs Used: Emma Conlon, Sarah-Louise Mc Laughlin, Kirsty Mc Veigh