Tyrone set for NFL semi-finals

FEARGAL Logan and Brian Dooher will mark their first season as Tyrone managers with a National League semi-final appearance after the county’s 0-14 to 0-14 draw against Monaghan.

An attendance of 500 in line with coronavirus restrictions watched in the evening sunshine as the Ulster rivals produced an intriguing tussle. But it was the Red Hands who emerged with the better outcome as score difference and the head to head saw them leapfrog Armagh into the semi-finals and Division One survival.

But such an outcome was looking uncertain for the Red Hands at a stage. Despite leading by 0-7 to 0-4 at half-time after an impressive first half display, they struggled to find their form on the resumption.

Instead, it was Monaghan who held most of the aces for long periods in that second half. First they pegged back the three point interval deficit, and then twice went ahead by three as one eye was kept on the various Division One North permutations.

However, Tyrone held their nerve to level at 0-10 each. Then well-taken points from Kieran McGeary, Darren McCurry and Conor McKenna brought them level at 0-13 each, before Mattie Donnelly edged them ahead deep into added time.

Ryan McAnespie subsequently equalised for Monaghan with the last kick, but there was satisfaction for Tyrone as they progressed instead to the last four.