Antrim 2-6
Monaghan 2-12

A goal in each half proved the difference for Monaghan last night as they made their way into the semi-finals of the Cadbury's Ulster U21FC by seeing off Antrim with six points to spare in Belfast.

A determined Antrim side had made a promising start when Colm Fleming added to his opening free by dispatching a penalty to the Monaghan net for his team after he had been dragged down in the square by goalkeeper Emmet McArdle and the referee gave horizontal arms.

The visitors responded after Donal Hahessy was put through for a point by Dermot Malone and then took the lead when the impressive Kieran Hughes broke forward from centre-field and lashed the ball into the bottom corner of Paul Graham's net.

Fleming levelled soon after, but it was Monaghan that would boast a 1-7 to 1-3 lead when the teams went into the dressing room thanks to the points of David Miller, Hahessy (3) and Patrick Tavey.

Crucially, Monaghan struck the first three scores of the restart which buried their opponents and killed off any chance of a comeback as Christopher McGuiness and David Hughes both breached Antrim's rearguard for points and Miller ran into acres of space to blast in his team's second goal.

To their credit, the hosts never threw in the towel as a late goal from Martin Kane brought some respectability to the score-line, but the issue was settled well before that and it is Monaghan that will meet Cavan in the provincial semi-final next Wednesday night. Tweet

Most Read Stories