Tyrone outsmart Monaghan to book All-Ireland semi-final spot
Wednesday 12 August 2015 11:11, UK
Tyrone’s championship pedigree once more came to the fore at Croke Park as they booked an All-Ireland SFC semi-final date with champions Kerry with a deserved 0-18 to 0-14 win over Monaghan.
It was another hugely disappointing Croke Park performance from the Ulster champions, who were chasing the game from an early stage when it became apparent that they were struggling to break down Tyrone’s crowded defence.
Their day of woe was completed when they finished with 13 men when Darren Hughes and Paul Finlay were sent off in the closing minutes, with Tyrone’s Ronan McNamee also being dismissed during a rowdy conclusion.
But while Monaghan reduced the margin to a goal in the closing minutes, Tyrone wrapped up the issue when Mattie Donnelly soloed forward and put four between them to seal their semi-final spot.
Monaghan had plenty to be optimistic about early on as Kieran Hughes and Dessie Mone hit good points.
But Tyrone, despite losing Joe McMahon to injury, closed down their defence with McMahon’s brother Justin doing well after being drafted in.
A couple of points from Darren McCurry saw Tyrone open up a 0-4 to 0-2 after 10 minutes but while Fintan Kelly went forward to kick a good point for Monaghan, they did not score again for the next 16 minutes despite enjoying 59 per cent possession in the opening half.
Conor McAliskey put two between them with another free but then Tyrone lost Conor Meyler to a black card after referee Marty Duffy adjudged he brought down Kieran Hughes after clearing the ball after 22 minutes.
Peter Harte extended Tyrone’s lead before Conor McManus finally ended Monaghan’s barren spell five minutes from the break, but the Monaghan danger man was starved of possession.
Sean Cavanagh would have been relieved to receive only a yellow card for a high tackle on Neil McAdam, while Tyrone goalkeeper Neil Morgan was also booked just before the break after tangling with Kieran Hughes as Tyrone led by 0-7 to 0-5 at the break.
Monaghan manager Malachy O’Rourke clearly felt they were in trouble despite being only two points down as he brought on Dick Clerkin, Drew Wylie and Owen Duffy at the interval.
However, it was Tyrone who dominated after the restart and a couple of points from McCurry and another from McAliskey saw Tyrone lead by double scores - 0-10 to 0-5 - after 41 minutes.
McManus did his best to haul Monaghan back into contention with a couple of frees but Tyrone again pulled clear with points from McAliskey and the superb Cavanagh putting them 0-12 to 0-7 after 48 minutes.
Sub Duffy brought Monaghan back into contention with a couple of good points from the right but in between Ronan McNabb went forward to score for Tyrone.
McCurry extended Tyrone’s lead to five with 19 minutes left and McManus gave Monaghan hope with a point from play, McAliskey and Ronan McNamee pointed for Tyrone.
Monaghan never gave up and got the deficit down to a goal during a fiery conclusion managed to get the gap back to a goal but Mattie Donnelly sealed the win for Tyrone when he soloed through to shoot his second point of the game.
Tyrone: N Morgan; A McCrory, R McNamee (0-1), C McCarron; R McNabb (0-1), Joe McMahon (0-1), P Harte (0-1); C Cavanagh, M Donnelly (0-2); T McCann, M Bradley, C Meyler; D McCurry (0-4, 2f), S Cavanagh (0-1), C McAliskey (0-7, 5f, 1 ’45).
Subs: Subs: Justin McMahon for Joe McMahon (9 mins), C McCann for Meyler (23 mins), P McNulty for McCann (46 mins), R O’Neill for McAliskey (59), R Donnelly for Bradley (67 mins).
Monaghan: R Beggan; V Corey, V Walshe, D Mone (0-1); R Wylie, N McAdam, K O'Connell; F Kelly (0-1), O Lennon; D Hughes, S Gollogly, K Duffy; C McManus (0-7, 5f), K Hughes (0-1), R McAnespie.
Subs: D Clerkin (0-1) for Lennon (35), D Wylie for Corey (35), O Duffy (0-2) for McAnespie (35), D Malone for McAdam (49), P Finlay (0-1f) for Gollogly (52), C McGuinness for Duffy (61).
Ref: M Duffy (Sligo).
