This was an unbelievable final, as Tyrone looked certain winners leading by eight points and only five minutes remaining. Through this fascinating decider the visitors were much the better but credit Monaghan as they got their reward for their determination to succeed.
Tyrone were left gutted after leading from the fifth minute until the final minute when Boylan coolly slotted home the spot kick. Playing with a strong wind advantage Tyrone deservedly led at the break eight points. They were still clear by the same margin up until a final five minutes to remember from the home side as they struck 2-03 to snatch the title from the grasp of Tyrone.
The home side came out of the blocks in lightening fashion and tested the Tyrone woodwork after just twenty nine seconds from Tessa Fleming. The early pressure was rewarded on two minutes with top scorer Ciara McAnespie firing over the opening point. Yet within a minute and from their first attack Tyrone levelled with the lively Kerrie Grimes pointing.
The visitors went onto dominate the opening quarter as they tore Monaghan apart with some delightful football and their dominance at midfield with Maeve Cobane and Niamh Woods. The opening goal came on five minutes as Woods played the excellent Sara Connolly through to fire to the net. Emma Conlon and Connolly added points as they pinned the home side back on their heels.
On thirteen minutes they notched their second major as Aisling O’Kane just beat Edel Corrigan to the ball and toe poke it into the back of the net. Connolly added a free before Monaghan hit back with a Ciara McAnespie point on a rare home side attack. As we entered the final quarter came a very important point of the game. Tyrone powered forward again only to be denied by the crossbar as O’Keane fired goal wards. Michaela Newell was their to clear the danger and suddenly Monaghan raced forward to fire to the Tyrone net as Ciara McAnespie left the Tyrone defence trailing behind with a great run before hammering to the net.
Catriona McConnell added a converted free as the home side give a glimmer of what they were capable of. It was short lived as a more dominant Tyrone side took control again with the wind on their backs. Full forward Connolly was causing Monaghan serious trouble and she riffled over a fine point. Laura McCreesh and Kerrie Grimes added points and Corrigan pulled off a fine stop to deny Connolly a certain goal three minutes from half time.
For long periods Monaghan were finding it difficult to get the ball forward but when they did they looked like causing problems to the Tyrone defence. It was again evident on twenty nine minutes as once again McAnespie was the provider. However it was somewhat fortunate goal as her free looked to be sailing over the bar only for the wind to catch it and the ball dropped under the crossbar for a much needed Monaghan goal. The response was immediate at the other end with the ball suddenly in the Monaghan net after Emma Conlon expertly flicked a long ball from Woods home in injury time.
In the six minutes of injury time that were added Tyrone fired over a further point from Aisling O’Keane and once again Corrigan denied Conlon a certain goal with another top class save. Tyrone led at the break by 3-08 to 2-03 and deservedly so.
After the resumption the lead was soon up to nine as O’Keane fired over a quick point. Both sides made two changes a piece at the break and with the wind now on their backs Monaghan were soon reducing the deficit. Donaghmoyne’s Catriona McConnell fired over five unanswered points inside six minutes to suddenly leave just four between them.
Any thoughts of an easy turn around to this game were soon dashed as Tyrone soon got back on top. Grimes slotted over a point to settle the Red Hand county on nine minutes. Eleven minutes into the half and they struck for goal number four with O’Kane again the scorer after cutting along the end line. Tessa Fleming hit a point for Monaghan before points from Connolly and Grimes left Tyrone leading by 4-12 to 2-09 with just under thirteen minutes remaining.
McAnespie reduced that to eight with just under ten minutes remaining. As we entered the final five minutes the game suddenly swung as Monaghan laid siege on the Tyrone goal. Points from McAnespie and substitute Allanna Hacket reduced it to six. A minute later and a great ball in from McConnell found McAnespie and she fired to the Tyrone net.
With just two minutes remaining McAnespie was again the move only this time her darting run was cut short resulting in Tyrone’s Claire Scullion being sin binned. McAnespie slotted over the resulting free and now we had a two-point game. With Charlotte Brady now winning all at the middle Monaghan were camped in the Tyrone half and first time ball into McAnespie was working a treat. The little jinking forward was set free again and as she lined to fire to the net she was pushed to the ground and the referee had no option but to award a spot kick. The clock showed almost thirty minutes had elapsed as Laura Boylan placed the ball on the spot before calmly slotting the pressure kick into the corner of the net and Monaghan were a point clear.
Three minutes of injury time were played but Monaghan held firm as Tyrone pressed for an equaliser. An enthralling decider but heartache for a Tyrone side who led throughout, played the better football for long spells, but somehow ended up on the losing side despite such a gallant and spirited performance.

Final Teams & Scorers

Tyrone: Caomhe Quinn, Brita Quinn, Laura McGillion, Niamh Mullin, Rachel Molloy, Micheala Richie, Maria Donnelly, Maeve Cobane, Niamh Woods, Laura McCreesh (0-01), Sara Connolly (1-04,1f), Claire Scullion, Emma Conlon (1-01), Kerrie Grimes (0-04), Aisling O’Keane (2-02)
Subs: Sara Louise McLaughlin, Louise McDermott, Kirsty McViegh, Rebecca McCrory

Monaghan: Edel Corrigan, Cora Courtney, Grainne McKenna, Aoife McAnespie, Rebecca McKenna, Michaela Newell, Tara McElvaney, Charlotte Brady (Capt), Nicola Fahy, Laura Boylan (1-00,1pen), Tessa Fleming (0-01,), Lisa McConnon, Ciara McAnespie (3-05,1-02f), Catriona McConnell (0-06,2f), Rachel McKenna
Subs: Allanna Hacket (0-01), Sarah Cuddy, Linda Callan, Siobhan McCarra