ULSTER MINOR (U17) FOOTBALL LEAGUE CUP SEMI FINAL

Monaghan 3-11

Tyrone 1-9

A more resilient Monaghan booked their place in the final of the Ulster minor (U17) football league when they proved too strong for Tyrone in this entertaining contest that was played in good conditions in Inniskeen on Saturday afternoon last.

It was a game though that ended on something of a sour note as an unseemly melee involving a number of players from both sides erupted in stoppage time at the end of the contest that resulted in Down whistler, Darren O'Hare dismissing 5 players on straight red cards, 2 from Monaghan, goalkeeper Ryan Farrelly and cornerback Ronan Grimes and 3 from Tyrone, Cormac Quinn, substitute Stephen Grogan and Daniel Fullerton.

Monaghan also finished the game with 12 players when Andrew Moore was dismissed on a 2nd yellow card in the final minute of normal time.

Monaghan led at half-time by 1-5 to 0-4, the goal by Loughlin Power in the 22nd minute when he got a touch to a centre by Aaron Mulligan who was probably Monaghan's top forward on the day. Within 2 minutes of the resumption Monaghan rammed in a 2nd goal, Sean Jones, rifling home at the end of a good counter attack, to give them a strong foothold in the game.

Tyrone rallied strongly though in the 3rd quarter and had Monaghan under pressure but thanks to some good defensive work and a couple of excellent saves by Ryan Farrelly kept Tyrone at bay. Monaghan then struck for a 3rd goal with 4 minutes of normal time remaining, Aaron Mulligan with a sublime finish to put Monaghan in front.

From there it all ended rather untidily but following both teams being reduced numerically to 12 players each.

Tyrone got a late consolation goal through Mark Hayes, to leave 8 points between them at the finish. Monaghan now play Donegal in the final on this Saturday April 14th, venue and time to be confirmed.

Monaghan: R Farrelly 0-1 ('45), R Grimes, J Doogan, S Hanratty, C Flood, B O'Dufaigh, J McGarrell, A Moore, J Wilson, A Mulligan 1-5 (0 2f), S Jones 1-2 (0-2f), K Gallaher, D Swinburne 0-2 (1f), L Power, 1-0, J Irwin 0-1. Subs: J McGeown for J Wilson, R Hanratty for S Jones, O O'Hanlon for J Doogan, E Duffy for J McGarrell, R McKeown for A Mulligan.

Tyrone: O Grimes, C Quinn, R Donnelly, C McBride, T Donaghy, L McBride, C Devlin, K Barker 0-1, O McHugh, R Duffin 0-1, M McGleenan 0-1 (f), P McCallan, D Fullarton 0-1, C Hughes, M Hayes 1-4. Subs: S Daly for T Donaghy, S Grogan 0-1 for C Hughes, S Garrity for C Devlin, A McConnell for P McCallan, B Grogan for L McBride, B Conway for O McHugh.

Referee: D O'Hare (Down).

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