Bank of Ireland Ulster Senior Football Championship: Monaghan 0-13 Armagh (Holders) 0-9
Upsets for a young, lively and steel-nerved set of players, are not rivalled by anything more dramatic than to beat the All-Ireland champions.
But Armagh were brought back to terra ferma with a thud yesterday via a dazzling display by one 20-year-old Ballybay student named Paul Finlay.
Sam Maguire resides in Armagh still, at least for another day.
But Finlay’s eight points, all from frees, applied the glistening, glittering gloss to a superb win by an inspired Monaghan.
His two 55 metre strikes, splitting the posts in the last nine minutes, were the magnificent pressure picks from his baptismal fire.
Awesome finishes, the points were brilliantly made.
All Monaghan's last five were his.
As the second half progressed, the sense of an upset was growing and Armagh’s game plan was increasingly ragged, punting high in hope or taking to seek a goal when points might have asked Monaghan questions.
The All-Ireland title is still theirs, and that is a story that should run for a time. Just how long remains to be seen.
Monaghan: Glen Murphy; Vincent Corey, Damien McKenna, Pauric McKenna; Dermot Duffy (capt.), James Coyle, John Paul Mone; Eoin Lennon, Jason Hughes; Nicholas Corrigan (0-1), Thomas Freeman (0-1), Paul Finlay (0-8, all frees); Michael Slowey (0-1), Raymond Ronaghan (0-2), Damien Freeman
Subs: Anthony Rooney for Corrigan (61), Rory Woods for Slowey (66).
Blood Replacements: Anthony Rooney for Lennon (58).
Yellow Card: Damien Freeman (35, 46)
Red Card: Damien Freeman (46)
Armagh: Paul Hearty; Andy Mallon, Justin McNulty, Francie Bellew; Aidan O’Rourke, Paul McCormack, Andrew McCann; John Toal, Paul McGrane (capt.); Paddy McKeever (0-2), John McEntee, Tony McEntee (0-1); Steven McDonnell (0-2), Barry O’Hagan, Diarmuid Marsden(0-2)
Subs: Oisin McConville for O’Hagan (34), Ronan Clarke for McKeever (47), Philip Loughran (0-2) for Toal (56).
Blood Replacements: John Toal for McGrane (65).
Yellow Card: John Toal (19), Paddy McKeever (44), Andrew McCann (53, 67), Oisin McConville (58), Philip Loughran (61).
Red Card: Andrew McCann (67).
Referee: Mick Curley, Galway
Attendance: 18,629.
MATCH WATCH
Turning Points
20mins: Armagh miss open goal chance. McKeever pass helped on by O’Hagan and McDonnell in the clear, rounds ‘keeper only to fire left foot shot against the post. Mone clears.
40mins: Fine approach work by Monaghan’s forwards ends with Ronaghan rifling over a terrific point for an 0-8 to 0-5 lead.
42mins: McDonnell replies in kind, circling wide to unleash a super finish (0- 8 to 0-6).
61mins: Finlay shows great confidence to send a brilliant 55 metre free over and put Monaghan four points clear at 0-11 to 0-7.
68mins: Another stunning effort by inspired Finlay, again from a 55 metre free, raises the roof to virtually seal victory (0-12 to 0-9).
Key Moment
Stephen McDonnell’s goal chance that crashed back off the post after 20 minutes may be looked back at by Armagh as a potentially inspirational score that got away, but with Monaghan 0-10 to 0-7 up perhaps the brave and brilliant save by Glen Murphy at the feet of Tony McEntee in the 58th minute stands out as a decisive turning point.
Top Score
With Armagh just reduced to 14 men after McCann’s red card, just two points separated the sides entering the final three minutes but Paul Finley showed character, cool nerve and confidence to go for a second 55 metre free.
The score was as stunning as it was crucial, and from there Monaghan finished out the game in style.
Star Man
Paul Finlay
The U21 star lived up to his pre-match billing. Missed a few first half frees, but showed tremendous temperament in the second half to effectively sink Armagh. Also made some bright runs and won frees for his side. Rating: 9
Ref Watch
Mick Curley (Galway)
An inconsistent performance.
His decision to send Damien Freeman off looked very harsh. Freeman was deservedly booked in the first half, but the challenge that resulted in a red card was tame enough.
Gave a run of five softish frees in a row for Monaghan. Two resulted in Finlay points.
Otherwise, he was always up with the play. Blew a lot of frees, roughly 44 in all.
