ULSTER MINOR CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF

TYRONE 2-16 MONAGHAN 0-14

A stunning five minute second half spell by Tyrone minors turned an enthralling Ulster playoff on Tuesday night very much in their favour after Monaghan had led by six points at half time at Killeshill. A game very much of two halves was deservedly won by a hungry Tyrone who played some outstanding football especially in the second half when they outscored the Farney girls 2-11 to 0-3, in the end claiming a semi-final berth against Donegal on the score of 2-16 to 0-14.

Individual displays of quality all over the park but manager Martina Dillon would not single any one player out,

“I felt that we performed so well against Monaghan, every girl worked tremendously hard and fully deserved the victory, we showed courage and determination to come back and we got the best possible start to the second half, its great to be in the last four, but there were no cups handed out at Killeshill on Tuesday night and its Donegal next”

Tyrone will need little motivation against their next opponents, the bulk of this squad were involved last year when a big lead was overturned by the Tir Connell side and Tyrone lost in extra time.

There was certainly no need for extra time on Tuesday night as the Niamh Woods led Tyrone cruised….in the end to and eight point win.

The opening thirteen minutes was score for score between the two sides, Clodagh Poyntz (0-2) and Ashling O’Kane trading points with Catriona McConnell 0-3 and McAnespie, while Omaghs   Christiane Hunter made a superb block from Ciara McAnespie to prevent a goal on four minutes and Sarah Connollys combination pass with McLaughlin almost raised a green flag at the other end.

The Monaghan girls came more and more into the game in the second quarter and they racked up the points with Fahy, McAnespie   Boyle   0-2 and full forward McConnell 0-3 putting them in command at the break. O’Kanes goalbound effort that bobbled wide and points from Sarah Connolly ( who also hit three wides) and Poyntz were all that Dillons side could muster and the signs were ominous as they trailed by six.

A stunning, quite unbelievable spell of Tyrone dominance in the opening minutes of the second half signalled the comeback that the large home support craved

Ellen McMeels dangerous foul on Shannon Quinn who was sent through on goal by Sarah Connolly gave Tyrone their first lifeline, a penalty, that was duly drilled home by Cappaghs Clodagh Poyntz   and within minutes the sides were level when Connollys inch perfect pass was collected by midfielder Emma Conlon who beat keeper Edel Corrigan from ten yards.the comeback completed when captain Woods lashed over a point to regain the lead, all that in five thrilling minutes….remarkable!

Fleming pulled the sides level again but the hero for the visitors proved to be goalkeeper, seventeen year old Corrigan, she stopped two certain goals in the space of five minutes to keep Monaghans hand in, first from senior star Connolly and then from Ashling O’Kane. Conlon in between the goal chances scoring a cracking point.

Monaghan could not break the Tyrone resolve in defence and with Quinn and Conlon assured at midfield and the forwards running the show, the heads dropped. McConnell hit point thirteen for them on twelve minutes but by now it was all Tyrone. O’Kane, Kellie Grimes and Poyntz hit scores and Connolly saw another goal bound effort saved once more. The bustling forward though had the last word as she hit 0-4 in the final ten minutes to ease the tension. Her opposite number Catriona McConnell unable to get clear of McGillion only managing a pointed free on twenty seven minutes to end a dismal half for Monaghan. In injury time Grimes and Conlon scored a point apiece to leave Tyrone in the comfort zone and of course in the last four.

A comfortable display by Tyrone, probably unfair to single out any players but the contribution and work rate of Connolly and O’Kane up front , the midfield display of Quinn and Conlon, and the overall defensive dominance of Hunter, McGillion and Skipper Woods certainly merits a mention on what was described as a great night for Tyrone ladies football.

The final score once again Tyrone 2-16 Monaghan 0-14 and the ghosts of many Monaghan defeats in the past firmly laid to rest.

TYRONE AND SCORERS:

Sinead McVeigh, Britta Quinn, Laura McGillion, Christiane Hunter, Rachel Molloy, Niamh Woods 0-1, Roisin Rafferty, Emma Conlon 1-2, Shannon Quinn, Rebecca McCrory, Ashling O’Kane 0-2, Kerrie Grimes 0-2, Clodagh Poyntz 1-4, Sarah Connolly 0-5 Sarah Louise McLaughlin.

SUBS Claire Scullion for O’Kane, Ashling O’Kane for McLaughlin, Naiome McAnulla for Molloy

MONAGHAN SCORERS

Catriona McConnell 0-8, Laura Boyle 0-2. Ciara McAnespie 0-2 Nicky Fahy 0-1 Tessa Fleming 0-1

REF Barney Henry Armagh