U14s shine brightest in the year gone by
December 31, 2009
It was to be another disappointing year on the underage scene for Monaghan ladies as they failed to land any silverware writes Alan Gunn.
A year that began with hope that the Oriel girls would again make their mark on the underage scene ended with a similar story as they failed to make a major impact. Those days of Monaghan making a clean sweep of underage titles are beginning to fade away as they now struggle to match sides like Tyrone and, in particular, Donegal.
However, the U14's offered hope as they went all the way to the Ulster decider but in the end were simply no match for Donegal. The year began with a comfortable victory over Down followed by a very impressive win in Strabane against Tyrone. Already, Seamus Murray's side were looking a force, playing some delightful football in the meantime.
Next up was a meeting with neighbours Cavan and then Armagh with both games taking place at Grattan Park, Inniskeen. Having easily won their opening games, nothing less then a further two victories were expected. They did win both but not without a scare or two as they defeated Cavan by three points and the Orchard girls by four.
With four wins from four, their final league match against Donegal was only a battle for top spot as both counties had already secured their place in the decider. A depleted Oriel girls made the trip to Convoy and it was to be one they will have few happy memories from, as they suffered a very heavy 9-21 to 2-3 defeat.
Donegal's victory meant they topped the group and had home advantage for the final on May 30. However, this time Monaghan had a full strength side but yet again they simply could not match the impressive Donegal girls. Monaghan give it their all with Carrickmacross' Ciara Larney really catching the eye scoring 3-2 for the visitors.
Despite conceding five goals 'keeper Laura Byrnes also impressed with some fine saves. At the halfway stage the home side were already well on their way to the title as they led 3-6 to 2-3. Emyvale's Allanna O'Donohoe hit two quick points after the resumption to reduce the deficit to four but this was to be as good as it got with Donegal replying with an unanswered 1-6.
Monaghan never recovered and had to settle for second best. This was not to be their final action for the year as they went onto face Mayo in the All Ireland Shield semi final. The Connacht girls proved too hot on the day recording an easy win.
Monaghan did have something to show for their hard work when they won the Ulster U-14 blitz competition by defeating Tyrone on penalties in the final.
Monaghan (v Donegal in Ulster Final): Laura Byrnes, Sinead Murray, Charlotte McKenna, Amy Murray, Demi Mohan, Jessica Drohan, Holly McKenna, Ciara McDermott, Danielle Mulligan (0-1), Ciara Larney (3-2), Alanagh McElroy, Leanne Maguire, Alanna O'Donoghue (0-2), Emma Kerr, Laura Carey. Subs: Muireann O'Rourke, Ailbhe Boyle, Michelle Kerr
U-14 results
Ulster Championship
Rd 1: Monaghan 6-11 Down 3-2
Rd 2: Monaghan 4-7 Tyrone 2-4
Rd 3: Monaghan 1-9 Cavan 3-0
Rd 4: Monaghan 5-5 Armagh 2-10
Rd 5: Monaghan 2-3 Donegal 9-21
Final: Monaghan 3-4 Donegal 5-12
All Ireland Shield semi final:
Monaghan 3-4 Mayo 8-11
U16's lose out to Tyrone
The U-6's fell at the semi-final stage of their campaign at the hands of Tyrone.
Monaghan had topped their group following the league stages with victories over Cavan and Armagh. The side kicked off their year with a comfortable outing against Cavan in Cremartin. This was followed with a high scoring clash with Armagh in Mullabrack with the Oriel girls hitting a whopping 17 points on the way to the win that saw them advance to the last four.
In the semi-final they came up against Tyrone in Cremartin back in May but it was to be a very disappointing day for the home side. The Oriel girls had had no answer to the Red Hand county girls. The home side had to start without Shauna McAnespie and Laura McKenna and both players were a huge loss.
Truagh's Caoimhe Mohan finished top scorer with 1-7 while her club mate Eileen McKenna hit 1-1 and Donaghmoyne's Sandra McConnell fired over the other point in a 5-13 to 2-9 defeat.
U-16 results
Rd 1: Monaghan 4-7 Cavan 0-4
Rd 2: Monaghan 0-17 Armagh 2-7
Semi final: Monaghan 2-9 Tyrone 5-13
Minors suffer same fate as U16's
It was to a similar story for the minors when Tyrone closed the doors on their championship hopes at the semi final stage also.
Just like the U16 side, the minors had also defeated both Cavan and Armagh in the group stages to top their group. Cavan were first up in Tyholland back in March. The home side were made work hard for the win and at the finish just five points separated the sides. The eventual winners looked to be coasting as they led at the break 2-8 to 1-1 and four minutes after the restart they had extended the lead to 13 points. However, with six minutes remaining the Breffni girls had reduced the deficit to just three points after a stunning comeback. Monaghan, though finished the stronger and with points from Natasha Mohan and Ellen McCarron they ran out five point winners at the finish.
The second match against Armagh was to be an easier outing as the Oriel girls comfortably set up a meeting with Tyrone in the last four. Both sides had the previous year with Tyrone winning that day so it offered Monaghan a chance to gain some revenge. In the end it was not to be as Tyrone once again came out on top.
For long periods Tyrone outplayed Monaghan with the home 'keeper Edel Corrigan in outstanding form pulling off a string of top class saves to keep her side in touch. Monaghan hopes were not helped as they had to field without the services of Ellen McCarron and the loss of such a talented player was a major blow.
The Red Hand girls led at the break 2-4 to 0-4 with Natasha Mohan hitting three of the Monaghan points. The home side started the second half brightly with points from Leanne Kirk and Laura McEnaney but were also guilty of missing two glorious goal chances that were to prove costly. Tyrone built up a seven point lead again but a goal from a penalty by Leanne Kirk helped Monaghan to cut the deficit to three with still 13 minutes remaining.
Tyrone finished strongly to record the win and for the second year in a succession sent Monaghan through the exit gates.
Monaghan (v Tyrone): Edel Corrigan, Orla Whelan, Eimear Salmon, Donna Morgan, Noeleen McGuirk, Hannagh Hughes, Aisling McElvaney, Eileen McElroy, Natasha Mohan (0-5), Laura McEnaney (0-2), Tessa Fleming, Fabiana O'Callaghan, Emma Byrne (0-1), Leanne Kirk (1-1), Brid McCarron
U-18 results
Ulster Championship
Rd 1: Monaghan 3-10 Cavan 3-5
Rd 2: Monaghan 4-21 Armagh 2-7
Semi Final: Monaghan 1-9 Tyrone 2-12
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