Under-20s flatten Farney to make the semi-finals

TYRONE 5-20   MONAGHAN 0-8

FOURTEEN different scorers got on the board, including a healthy 1-7 contribution from the second half subs, as Tyrone Under-20s coasted into the semi-finals of the Ulster Championship at rain swept Coalisland last Wednesday night.

This final group game in Section A turned out to be a bit of a non-event, with the visitors Monaghan already assured of a quarter-final spot but unable to finish top. They therefore decided to rest up about half-a-dozen of their main men, with the stand-ins unable to quell the Red Hand attacking onslaught which subsequently unfolded.

Loughmacrory duo Eoin McElholm and Ruairi McCullagh (who came on after the break) each weighed in with a goal and three points but Tyrone carried a real threat across every sector, as they exploited a somewhat disjointed Farney rearguard.

The sizeable Donaghmore contingent all impressed for the home side, while Conor Owens, Callum Daly and captain Michael Rafferty also led by example, but given Monaghan’s scenario coming into the contest nobody will be getting carried away.

On a wretched evening at Fr Campbell Park (has there been any other type this particular springtime), the sparse attendance were treated to a competitive enough opening ten minutes. Half-back Nicky Sherlock fisted the opener for the visitors in the first minute, before McElholm responded, curling over a beauty on his left peg.

The Farney took the lead again courtesy of Dara McKenna, but even playing with the breeze at their backs, they began to struggle for possession.

Conor Owens swivelled and split the posts for the leveller, while Gavin Potter also found his range, after a swift exchange with Conor Devlin. That go-ahead score arrived in the eighth minute and for the remainder of the night, Tyrone gradually pulled away.

McElholm and Ronan Cassidy (free) stretched their lead to three and just at the midway stage of the half, the opening goal was put away. The lively Odhran Brolly provided the smashing finish the keeper’s near post, following a smart dummy, after latching onto Potter’s delivery.

Kian Duffy belted over a 50m free for Monaghan at the other end but as they continued to struggle to make any headway beyond the half-way line, Tyrone sensed blood.

Another quality effort from McElholm after he cut inside set the tone for a blistering two goals and three point spree without reply from Tyrone, in the five minutes before the break.

A pass inside from Shea O’Hare was retrieved along the endline by Conor O’Neill who teed up Cormac Devlin to rattle in a goal. Rafferty then barnstormed up the middle to fist over, while Ronan Fox hoisted a super effort between the sticks.

Monaghan’s cause was looking a forlorn one and right on the break, McElholm got an outstretched hand to the ball to steer it into the unguarded net, after Cormac Devlin had punctured another gaping hole in the opposition defence with a searing run to open the way. (Half-time Tyrone 3-8 Monaghan 0-3).

Tyrone rung the changes after the break with the replacements all keen to catch the eye of the management with that semi-final looming. Despite another Duffy free, Monaghan just couldn’t build up any kind of momentum or concerted spell of pressure.

It was a case of as you were with the hosts bursting through at will and capping those sweeping moves with accurate finishes.

Ronan Cassidy, Conor O’Neill and Gavin Potter casually knocked over points as the match became even more painfully one-sided, and sub McCullagh added a brace (including a ‘mark’).

A two time Hogan Cup winner with the CBS, McCullagh then hit the net in the 41st minute, gobbling up the rebound to dispatch to the goal, after Cassidy’s attempted lob came down off the bar.

Luke McManus (free) and Dara McKenna (’45’) planted dead balls for the demoralised visitors but the Red Hands scoring rampage was maintained all the way through to the final whis tle.

Beragh’s Paddy McCann produced a sprightly cameo off the bench with two neat scores, while fellow subs Noah Grimes and Ronan Donnelly also got in on the act.

There was just no let up from Tyrone and in the 55th minute captain Michael Rafferty took advantage of another Monaghan defensive error, to maraud through and stick away goal number five.So Tyrone top the group, having won three and drawn one of their four matches played. However things though won’t be quite as facile next time out!

The Scorers

Tyrone

Eoin McElholm (1-3), Ruairi McCullagh (1-3,1m), Michael Rafferty (1-1), Odhran Brolly (1-0), Cormac Devlin (1-0), Ronan Cassidy (0-3,1f), Gavin Potter (0-2), Paddy McCann (0-2) Shea O’Hare, Ronan Fox, Conor O’Neill, Conor Owens, Ronan Donnelly, Noah Grimes (0-1 each)

Monaghan

Kian Duffy (0-4,3f), Dara McKenna (0-2,1’45’), Nicky Sherlock, Luke McManus (0-1 each)

The Teams

Tyrone

>gamebody<Conor McAneny, Joey Clarke, Ben Hughes, Conor Devlin, Shea O’Hare, Michael Rafferty, Odhran Brolly, Ronan Fox, Conor O’Neill, Cormac Devlin, Eoin McElholm, Gavin Potter, Conor Owens, Ronan Cassidy, Callum Daly. Subs used: Ruairi McCullagh for E McElholm (h-time), Fiachra Donnelly for Conor Devlin (h-time), Noah Grimes for C Owens (40mins), Ronan Donnelly for G Potter (43), Paddy McCann for O Brolly (44)

Monaghan

Oran Finnegan, Paddy Farrelly, Jake McConnon, Gary Devlin, Nicky Sherlock, Thomas Hughes, Shea Casey, Joey McMahon, Matthew Ennis, Caolan Foy, Kian Duffy, Dara McKenna, James McElwaine, Oisin Byrne, Luke McManus. Subs used: Oisin McGorman for O Byrne (h-time), Packie Doogan for G Devlin (34mins)

Referee: Shane Murphy (Armagh)