ULSTER MINOR HURLING LEAGUE

Tyrone 3-16
Monaghan 1-12

A sharper, slicker Tyrone proved too strong for Monaghan in this entertaining opening minor hurling league game that was played in chilly and somewhat blustering conditions in Cloghan on Saturday last.
Tyrone laid the foundations for victory with a sizzling third quarter performance that saw them rack up an unanswered two goals and five points to open a nine points lead at that stage with Monaghan thereafter chasing the game. Monaghan had excellent performances from Owen Leonard Jack Deasy and Gavin Baxter in defence. Fergal Greenan worked hard in midfield but up front they relied almost exclusively on the accuracy of Fergalk Rafter who finished with seven points.
Tyrone had started the better with centre forward Damien Casey posing a real threat and getting his side off to the perfect start with a goal and a point in the opening three minutes and that goal still separated the sides at the end of the opening quarter. Casey was in a class of his own and was the best hurler on view. He got good support from Brendan Begley at full back, Tiarnach Morgan in midfield and Mark Mullen at full forward.
Monaghan fared much better in the second quarter with Fergal Rafter finding the range and strong play from Fergal Greenan in midfield and by the 25th minute they had drawn level. The crucial score was a goal by Ciaran McBride in the 25th minute when he was on hand to lash home from close range after the ball broke kindly from a centre by Fergal Greenan.
In the closing minutes of the half Monaghan took the lead for the first and only time in the game with a point by Fergal Rafter from a free and he was on target again in stoppage time to leave Monaghan enjoying a two points lead at the break on a half time score of Monaghan 1-8, Tyrone 1-6.
Within a minute of the resumption, Tyrone who were now enjoying the benefit of the strong breeze had reduced the deficit to the minimum with a point from a free by Damien Casey and the same player was on target again in the 7th minute to tie the game up for the second time. Tyrone were now dominating in practically every sector and they went on to add a further two goals and three points without reply to effectively seal the issue at that stage. Damien Casey netted the first from a free in the 8th minute and after Tiarnan Morgan had added a point Mark Mullen found the Monaghan net again to put Tyrone seven points in front. Damien Casey and Morgan added points apiece in quick succession to put Tyrone firmly in control. Monaghan who had been pinned in their own half or most of the third quarter did break out for a point by Fergal Rafter but Tyrone continued to rack up the points as they outscored Monaghan five points to two in the final ten minutes to run out comfortable winners with ten points to spare.
Teams and Scorers: Tyrone: Conor Coyle, Aidan O'Neill, Brendan Begley, Hugh O'Neill, Tommy Fox, Sean Kelly, Dermot Begley, Tiarnan Morgan 0-3, Tommy Lowe 0-1, Colm Connolly, Damien Casey 2-8 (1-6f), Kevin Barry Corrigan 0-3 (3f), Liam Armstrong 0-2, Mark Mullen 1-0, Dylan Cushley 0-1. Subs: Shay McGlinchey for H O'Neill, Shane Quinn for A O'Neill, Steven Fox 0-1 for M Mullen, Ryan Owens for KB Corrigan.
Monaghan: Ronan McAteer, Fergal O'Dowd, Owen Leonard, Jarlath Treanor, Finatn Finnegan, Jack Deasy, Gavin Baxter, Fergal Greenan 0-4, Conor Cahill, Brian Greenan, Ciaran McBride 1-1, Fergal Rafter 0-7 (5f), Micheal O'Mordha, Christopher Morgan, Conor Curley. Subs: Colm McKeever for M O'Mordha, Thomas Greenan for J Treanor, Ruairi McCann for C Morgan, Lorcan Murphy for F Finnegan, Aidan Boyle for C McBride.
Referee: Niall Clifford (Armagh). Tweet

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