The U14 side returned to the winners' honours list when they surprised hot favourites Donegal to lift the Ulster title back in May. It was the first U14 Provincial title since 2001 and the counties first underage title since 2007 writes Alan Gunn

U14 Ulster Championship
Seamus Murray's young side went all the way to be crowned champions and a first U14 title in Nine years. The campaign began with a trip to Teconnaught, Co Down to take on the Mourne County in a tricky test at the beginning of March. In the end it to be the perfect start for the visitors as they rattled the home sides net on five occasions to run out 5-10 to 2-8 winners.
Seven days later and next up was a home tie against neighbours and rivals Cavan at Grattan Park, Inniskeen. Again, Monaghan were in goal scoring form, this time raising the flag times to edge past the Breffni girls 4-7 to 3-7 in a tight and tough contest.
After a short break they returned to action in April and once again it was to call on all their battling qualities in another close encounter against Tyrone in Truagh. This time just two points separated the sides 3-7 to 3-5 but it was a victory that insured Monaghan would be contesting the final.
In their final round robin game a depleted Monaghan side made the trip to face Donegal in a game that the result had no bearing as both sides had already safely advanced to the final. At the finish it was the home side that ran out winners in a match that produced 11 goals as Donegal came out on top 6-10 to 5-5.
The sides came face to face on the first day of May at Gavan Duffy Park to battle it out for title. For long periods it looked like the honours was heading back to Donegal but with the visitors missing a number of scoreable chances in the opening period the door was always left open for Monaghan. Conditions deteriorated during the second period with a heavy downpour and the home side showed their fighting spirit to turn the game around with a late rally to come out victorious with four points to spare on a scoreline of 3-6 to 2-5.
With the Provincial crown claimed their attentions turned to the All-Ireland series but their dream was to be quickly shattered when Dublin defeated them 6-12 to 0-2 at the semi-final stage at the end of May in Donaghmore/Ashbourne. 
U14 Panel: Aoife Duffy (Aughnamullen): Eva Woods (Corduff): Aine McElroy, Roisin Finnegan, Niamh Callan (Donaghmoyne): Grainne McCluskey (Eire Òg), Aoife Treanor, Emily O'Donoghue, Holly McKenna (Emyvale): Eadaoin O'Callaghan, Lauren Quigley (Inniskeen): Lisa Lennon (Latton): Leanne Maguire, Michelle Quirk, Rebecca Ahearn, Tori Carolan (Magheracloone): Aoife Finnegan, Catherine Finn, Eimear O'Rourke, Maria Ferguson, Tara Reilly (Monaghan Harps): Blaíthín Bishop, Muireann Atkinson (O'Neill Shamrocks): Casey Treanor, Derbhla Sherry, Laura Brady, Laura Carey, Elanna McCarey (Scotstown): Anita McMahon, Brianán McAleer (Sean McDermott's): Eadaoin Treanor (Truagh)
 
Ulster U14 Championship
Rd 1: Down 2-8 Monaghan 5-10
Rd 2: Monaghan 3-7 Cavan 2-7
Rd 3: Monaghan 3-7 Tyrone 3-5
Rd 4: Donegal 6-10 Monaghan 5-5
Final: Monaghan 3-6 Donegal 2-5
All Ireland semi-final: Dublin 6-12 Monaghan 0-2
 
 U16 Ulster Championship
For the U16 side it was to be a very disappointing year as they suffered defeat in all three of their outings. The campaign opened with a tough assignment against reigning champions Donegal in Emyvale on March 27. At half time it was looking good for the home side as they held a six point advantage but had the aid of a strong wind. During that opening 30 minutes Monaghan brought the game to the visitors and fully deserved their lead thanks to majors from Alanna O'Donoghue and Amy Murray. Despite facing the wind after the resumption, Monaghan continued to hold the advantage until the final quarter. However, the visitors soon took control and were back on level terms entering the final four minutes. Monaghan fought hard to get back in front but it was not to be their day and two late points sealed a narrow win for Donegal.
Despite defeat, the side gained confidence and hope that they could still be in the shake up at the end of the championship. That hope was soon dashed as they lost heavily to Down in April and in their final game they suffered another heavy defeat in Tyrone against the eventual champions, shipping 16 goals between both games.
 
Ulster U16 Championship
Rd 1: Donegal 2-8 Monaghan 2-6
Rd 2: Down 9-15 Monaghan 1-4
Rd 3: Tyrone 7-15 Monaghan 0-4
 
Ulster Minor Championship
It was also to be disappointment for the Minor side as they also failed to make the decider. Their campaign got off to a winning start with victory over Cavan. For long periods the side struggled and looked in real trouble until the last ten minutes. The introduction of Laura McEnaney at half time was the telling factor.
The second game was a home match in Rooskey against Donegal and it turned out to be a high scoring affair but the Oriel girls were on the wrong side of the result. It was the concession of goals on the day that was to be the home sides down fall with Donegal finding the net on five occasions.  There was no doubt Monaghan had their chances but were made pay for giving away possession at vital stages.
Following that defeat Tommy Kieran and his side now knew that a win was a must in their next game against Down in Carrickmacross. Unfortunately the home side were forced to start without the injured Laura McEnaney. The game turned out to be an eight goal thriller but it was the Mourne girls that were the happier at the final whistle with five points to spare and Monaghan's dream was over for another year.
In their final match the side travelled to play Tyrone with nothing at stake. The girls really wanted to go out on a high and this showed with an impressive display well from start to finish and they came away with a deserved victory. Despite the disappointment of not making it to the final Monaghan can look back on a year that showed plenty of promise and in their four games they found the net 13 times as well as hitting 47 points. There were many impressive displays with players such as Caoimhe Mohan, Laura McEnaney, Ciara Duffy and Naomi Cogan to name only a few catching the eye.
 
Ulster Minor Championship
Rd 1: Monaghan 4-12 Cavan 3-14
Rd 2: Donegal 5-15 Monaghan 1-14
Rd 3: Monaghan 4-7 Down 4-12
Rd 4: Monaghan 4-14 Tyrone 1-6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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