Ulster U21 FC semi-final: Monaghan 2-16 Armagh 0-9
MONAGHAN will contest their first Ulster U21 Championship final since 2007 after overcoming Armagh in Newry’s Páirc Esler on Wednesday.
They were deserved victors who won every sector of the pitch. Armagh failed to reach the heights of their 22-point win over Down and never really recovered after Shea Heffron’s black card. Monaghan finished the opening half in convincing fashion following a first quarter which was played at an unusual pedestrian pace. But the Farney men stormed into the changing rooms at the break having struck five impressive and unanswered points.
Monaghan’s towering midfielder Aaron Lynch, playmaker Barry McGinn and forward Conor McCarthy offered a strong presence and they cut through an Armagh defence with ease. Two converted frees, from McCarthy and McGinn, gave Monaghan an early lead but Armagh turned it around with three points in as many minutes from Cathal McKenna (0-2) and Conor Martin.
Armagh substitute James Freeman tapped over a point with his first touch and a converted free from Oisin O’Neill stretched the lead but Monaghan, who were quick on the counter-attack looked dangerous going forward as McCarthy proved when he pointed despite having his back turned to goal.
Armagh’s Caolan McConville and Monaghan’s Mikey Murnaghan traded scores and McGinn’s point levelled the score at 0-6 each. However, senior player Shea Heffron was harshly black carded by referee Ronan Barry and Armagh missed his presence as they failed to score for last 10 minutes of the half, but more alarmingly conceded three points as Lynch (0-2) and McCarthy (free) finished the half with conviction to give Monaghan a 0-9 to 0-6 interval lead.
Monaghan carried that momentum into the second half with McCarthy finding the target and even though Martin and McKenna replied with two quick points it was the Farneymen in the driving seat. Monaghan were awarded a penalty, which substitute Fergal McMahon coolly slotted into the net, with his first touch, to give his side a commanding 1-10 to 0-8 lead with 36 minutes played.
McGinn, McMahon and goalkeeper Conor Forde (two 45s) extended Monaghan’s lead as they dictated the tempo with a steady defence and speedy attack and while O’Neill did deliver a point, there was to be no comeback for the Orchardmen , instead substitute Francis Maguire took advantage of sloppy defending to bag Monaghan’s second goal.
Another substitute Barry McBennett finished the rout and Monaghan can be confident of winning their first U21 title since 1999.
MATCH STATS
Monaghan: C Forde (0-2 45s); B Kerr, M Murnaghan (0-1), K Loughran; D Ward (0-1), J Mealiff, N Rooney; N Loughman, A Lynch (0-1); R McAnespie, B McGinn (0-4, 0-2 frees) D Meegan; M O’Dowd, C McCarthy (0-4, 0-2 frees), A Treanor; Subs: F McMahon (1-2, 1-0 pen) for A Treanor (33), F Maguire (1-0) for O’Dowd (41), C Rice for Ward (54), B McBennett (0-1) for Meegan (58), M McCarville for Lynch (58); Yellow cards: Mealiff (17), N Rooney (45).
Armagh: B Hughes; G McCabe, A Rushe, J Cosgrove; C McConville (0-1), S Heffron, J McElroy; D McKenna, O O’Neill (0-2, 0-1 free); P Quinn, J Rafferty, C Boylan (0-3); C McKenna, S McPartlan, C Martin (0-2); Subs: J Freeman (0-1) for Quinn (12), J Burns for Rafferty (27), P Savage for D McKenna (50); Black card: S Heffron (22) replaced by R Finn; Yellow cards: D McKenna (49).
Referee: R Barry (Down).
