Tyrone 0-11

Monaghan 1-5

Tyrone won the McKenna Cup for the 12th time under Mickey Harte and a 17th time in all after seeing off Monaghan in a disappointing final at a freezing Athletic Grounds tonight.

A late Barry McBennett goal put on a better complexion on the scoreboard for the losers who had played second fiddle throughout and trailed by 0-3 to 0-8 at the interval. Ronan O'Neill and substitute Darren McCurry combined for 0-7 as the Red Hands comfortably retained their crown.

Monaghan, who had received a walkover from Donegal in the semi-final, suffered an early setback when Colin Walshe was forced to retire with an ankle injury. Despite making 10 changes from the side that accounted for Down in their semi-final six days ago, the Red Hands opened up an early 0-3 to 0-1 lead before a Conor McCarthy brace brought Seamus McEnaney's men level.

But it was all Tyrone from there until half-time with three McCurry points helping them to a five-point lead at the change of ends.

O'Neill shot three points after the restart as the holders extended their advantage before McBennett grabbed a consolation goal for the Farneymen in the third minute of injury-time after Dessie Ward's attempt for a point had come back off the upright.

Tyrone - N Morgan; C Quinn, R McNamee, HP McGeary; M Cassidy, M O'Neill (0-1), T McCann; C Cavanagh, C Grugan; C Meyler, D Mulgrew, K McGeary (0-1); R O'Neill (0-4, 1f), F Burns (0-1), D Kerr (0-1). Subs: D McCurry (0-3) for D Mulgrew, B McDonnell for C Cavanagh, N Sludden for M O'Neill, N Kelly for R McNamee.

Monaghan - C Forde; C Walshe, D Wylie, C Boyle; S Carey (0-2, 1f), R Wylie, P Keenan; N Kearns, B McBennett (1-0); MP O’Dowd, R McAllister, D Ward; C McCarthy (0-3), K McEnaney, P Donnelly. Subs: K Duffy for C Walshe, D Malone for P Donnelly, K O'Connell for C Boyle, R McAnespie for MP O’Dowd, K Hughes for K McEnaney.

Referee - C Branagan.

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