The Ulster title was won for a fifth time but it is bigger prizes that the ladies aspire to at the moment. It was a year that began with plenty of promise with a good start to the NFL but one that ended with a disappointing exit from the championship race writes Alan Gunn.

National Football League

The Oriel girls got off to a rip roaring start in the league when they blew away the challenge of Tyrone in the opening game of the season at Cardinal MacRory Park, Ballygawley. The visitors were rampant from start to finish and went in at the break leading by six points but after creating at least eight goal chances they had just one to show for it, that coming from Cathriona McConnell. They held their opponents to just two points in the second thirty and added a further 2-4 to their own tally, Magheracloone's Niamh Kindlon and Edel Byrne raising the green flags. Their second game saw them host Laois at Grattan Park for a game that was even throughout with the sides level on no less than six occasions in the game. Locked together at the break thanks to a late major from Byrne, Monaghan got the perfect start to the second period when Therese McNally found the net after a wonderful run that saw her jink her way past four defenders.  Laois responded with a goal to level and both sides continued to trade scores and in the end they had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Next up was the visit of Mayo to Emyvale and in the end Monaghan had their second victory under their belts with an impressive five point victory, a late goal from the visitors leaving the final score line a little more respectable. Just two points separated the sides at the interval with the home side in front but after the break Monaghan really took control and began the half with four unanswered points to pull clear. They never let the advantage slip and at the end all six forwards had their name on the score sheet. In round four, Barry McLaughlin's side made the trip to Dublin and to Naomh Mearnog. The Metropolitans led at the break by two points but a super second half performance saw Monaghan run out five point winners. The introduction of Laura McEnaney on the stroke of half time was a key move by the Monaghan management as the Corduff girl was instrumental in Monaghan's second half fight back. That second period saw the visitors hit eight points to the home side's one. 
Monaghan headed to play bottom of the table Kerry for their next outing knowing a victory would seal a place in the last four. Due to a number of circumstances, the Oriel girls went with a depleted squad and in the end were very lucky to come away with a two point victory. With just seven minutes on the clock the home side were already six clear but yet again McEnaney was introduced from the bench and this turned the game as she rattled the net with almost her first touch and with it Monaghan took a 1-10 to 1-6 lead into the dressing rooms at the break. Kerry hit the visitors with another scoring spree after the resumption with 1-3 to move two clear but Monaghan were level with seven minutes to go and two late points from Niamh Kindlon grabbed the all important win.
With a place in the semi finals secured Monaghan welcomed Galway to Emyvale for their next game. Victory for either side would secure top spot in the league and in the end this went to the girls from the West when they took a fully deserved three point victory home with them thanks to three first half goals. Although the home side outscored their opponents in the second half they failed to recover from those all important majors and in a high scoring game Galway ran out winners 3-10 to 0-16. With positions all ready confirmed for the semi finals both Monaghan and Cork did not fulfil their final league game as both were set to meet in the semi final.
And so it was Monaghan against Cork for a right to make the league decider. The game took place in Banagher but it was to be a day to forget for the Oriel girls as they came out on the wrong side of a heavy defeat as Cork won with 13 points to spare in a one sided encounter.
Donaghmoyne's Sharon Courtney was named on the Bord Gais Division One team of the year for the league.  

NFL results
Rd 1: Monaghan 3-13 Tyrone 1-5
Rd 2: Monaghan 2-6 Laois 1-9
Rd 3: Monaghan 0-17 Mayo 1-9
Rd 4: Monaghan 0-13 Dublin 0-8
Rd 5: Monaghan 1-16 Kerry 2-11
Rd 6: Galway 3-10 Monaghan 0-19
Semi-final: Cork 1-21 Monaghan 0-11 
 
Ulster Senior Championship
After their poor finish to the league and a two month break Monaghan then turned their attentions to the championship. Monaghan were dealt a blow before the championship began with team captain Edel Byrne electing to step down and leave the panel.
This year's Ulster championship was played on a round robin basis between Monaghan, Tyrone, Armagh and Down with the top two sides then battling it out in the final. For the Oriel girls first up were reigning champions Tyrone in Casement Park on June 6, a game that acted as a curtain raiser to Monaghan and Armagh in the Ulster Senior Championship.  It was to be a game that never rose to any great heights and only came to life in the final ten minutes. Monaghan led at the break by three points but Tyrone were much the better side in the second period and hit the front for the first time with ten minutes to go. It seemed to wake up the Monaghan team though and they responded with four unanswered points but Tyrone never give up and entering injury time the sides were level again but the final say went to Cathriona McConnell to rescue Monaghan with her seventh point of the day to edge them to a one point victory.
The second match of the campaign was a trip to Breffni Park to face Armagh, with the winner of this one knowing a place in the final awaited them. Yet again it was not to be the best display from Monaghan but they hung on win by three points. With nine minutes of the second period elapsed Monaghan led by six points but they failed to score again as Armagh pinned them back. The Orchard County took complete control but luckily for Monaghan they failed to turn their possession into scores and shot some poor wides and also dropped a number of efforts short into Linda Martin's hands. The victory did come at a cost though with Niamh Kindlon picking up a knee injury that was to rule her out for the rest of the year.
Those two hard fought victories were enough to book a place in the final and with Down forfeiting their game it meant all eyes were now on the decider which was to be against Armagh.
Monaghan suffered another blow with both Amanda Casey and Michelle Grimes leaving the panel. Despite these setbacks, Monaghan were the better side on the day and deservedly lifted their fifth Ulster title with a five point victory. The eventual winners led from start to finish with all six forwards getting their name on the score sheet. McConnell found the net in the opening period to help her side lead at the interval 1-8 to 1-3, the Armagh goal coming on the stroke of half time. The closest Armagh were to get in the second period was back to within three points as Monaghan continued to keep them at bay and take the title.
Monaghan (Ulster final v Armagh): Linda Martin, Margaret Treanor, Yvonne Connell, Christina Reilly, Anita Newell, Isobel Kieran, Lavina Connolly (0-1), Nicola Fahy, Sharon Courtney, Laura McEnaney (0-3), Ellen McCarron (0-1) Ciara McAnespie (0-3), Therese McNally (0-1), Cathriona McConnell (1-3), Aoife McAnespie. Subs: Rachel McKenna (0-1) for M Treanor, Hannah Bowe for N Fahy, Sinead McCooey for E McCarron.
 
All Ireland Championship
In the All Ireland Championship Monaghan were drawn against Leinster beaten finalists Laois in the quarter-final. Banagher was the venue for the clash and again it was not to be a good day at the office as the Ulster champions left their best form behind them. Monaghan had started the brighter but failed to make it count and once Laois got the upper hand before half time there was only going to be one winner. The O'Moore County led at the break by three points and during the second period stretched the lead to five. Monaghan did cut it back to three late on but Laois easily and deservedly marched on to the last four.  
Championship results
Rd 1: Monaghan 0-14 Tyrone 1-11
Rd 2: Monaghan 0-11 Armagh 0-8
Rd 3: Monaghan w/o Down scr
Final: Monaghan 1-13 Armagh 1-8
All-Ireland quarter-final: Laois 0-12 Monaghan 0-9 
 
Interprovincials
Eight Monaghan girls played their part in guiding Ulster to their fourth ever Interprovincial title at a sun drenched Kinnegan on Saturday, May 22. Flying the flag for the Oriel girls were Ciara and Aoife McAnespie, Therese McNally, Nicola Fahy, Sharon Courtney, Linda Martin, Catriona McConnell and Christina Reilly with each playing a key role in taking the Mick Talbot Cup to the province. Unfortunately Monaghan's other representative Amanda Casey was ruled out through injury.
Ulster began the day with a 2-9 to 0-8 victory over a Connacht side that were represented by Galway. This was followed with a stunning display to blow away the challenge of Munster 2-12 to 1-3. The eventual winners turned in a superb second half performance after leading at the break by four points, Catriona McConnell netting one of the Ulster majors.
In their third game Ulster failed to follow up on their victory over Munster when they were beaten by Leinster after a lack lustre performance 1-6 to 2-10. However, with Connacht defeating Munster it meant both Ulster and Leinster advanced to the decider. The first period was close and exciting but at the break Ulster had the advantage 1-6 to 1-4. After the resumption Ulster pulled away and at the end had eight points to spare when they came out on top 1-14 to 1-6. In the final Ciara McAnespie, Therese McNally and Sharon Courtney all played a major part and all three got their name on the score sheet.
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