Monaghan's minor footballers failed to make the grade in 2011, suffering a heavy defeat to Tyrone in the first round of the Ulster MFC. The county's famine at this level now stretches to 66 years. Colin McAree's charges gave of their all, but it just wasn't good enough and the O'Neill County were a class apart on the big day. It was disappointing for all concerned as hopes were high for this latest crop of U18s.

Monaghan Harps clubman Colin McAree was given a three-year term as Monaghan minor football boss in November 2010 and a backroom team of Mattie McGleenan, Kieran Mulligan and Mark Kelly was assembled. The first red-letter day on the horizon was Sunday, May 29th, when they would face defending Ulster and All-Ireland champions Tyrone in the first round of the Ulster minor football championship at Fermanagh's Brewster Park. The match had a 7:00pm throw-in and the underdogs went into the contest full of confidence, despite the obvious strength, pedigree and recent history of the opposition.
In the Ulster minor football league, Monaghan had opened with a first-round victory over Down before losing to Armagh and Cavan. The manager used these games to take a proper look at his entire panel, so the results were not especially important. Having been eliminated from the competition proper, the Oriel County qualified for the semi-final of the Ulster minor league shield, wherein Tyrone provided the opposition. In that match, Monaghan gave a wonderful account of themselves, leading by four points at one stage before slipping to a very unlucky one-point defeat - so there was plenty of evidence to suggest they could stand toe-to-toe with the All-Ireland champions. After that semi-final battle, the manager said he was "very satisfied with the courage and commitment that the lads showed".
The Monaghan squad was laced with players who were either on St. Macartan's College's MacRory Cup team or the county Vocational Schools side that reached the Ulster final, while Tyrone could select players from their Vocational side and two MacRory schools: St Pat's, Dungannon and Omagh CBS. The target was to redress a poor recent record against Tyrone, who are incredibly potent as a colleges and minor force.
Captain Johnny McGuigan, Pádraig McKenna, Conor Boyle and Cillian Cromwell were amongst the players returning from 2010, while Tyrone has lost most of their All-Ireland winning team. But the conveyor belt of talent in the O'Neill County is without equal, so Monaghan still faced a mammoth task...
Tyrone had broken Monaghan hearts on a number of occasions at minor level in the past, most notably in two Ulster finals in 2001 and 2008 when Monaghan were trying to end the county's 60+ years in the minor championship wilderness. Before the game, Colin McAree noted:
"It's a big day for us all and quite honestly we can't wait for Sunday evening. The work is done now and the boys are hungry for action. We know what we are about but what you are also looking for on the day is a little bit of luck because that's what it's going to take. Above all, though, what our boys have to have next Sunday is a sense of belief that we actually can beat Tyrone. I genuinely think it's not about the skills and the hard work alone that has gone in - even though they are very, very important - it is the belief that on the day we can beat anyone."
As it transpired, Monaghan got neither the luck nor the performance, slipping to a comprehensive 0-15 to 1-5 quarter-final defeat, despite starting both halves well. The losers lost their grip on the game as Tyrone reeled off nine unanswered first-half points but recovered briefly at the start of the second period, buoyed by a goal from impressive substitute Mark McGuirk. However, the rampant winners replied with another run of five scores in a dominant 15-minute spell to put the outcome beyond doubt.
Monaghan's prospects were not helped by injuries to Pádraig McKenna (who missed the game), Thomas Kerr and Patrick Finnegan (both of whom got injured in the first half). McGuirk, Johnny McGuigan, Conor Boyle, Ryan Wylie and Pádraic Keenan tried hard over the hour, but to no avail as Tyrone were strongest in all departments.
Monaghan almost got off to a dream start when Fergal McGeough, Brian Greenan and Pádraic Keenan combined to release Conor Lavelle for a goal chance inside the first minute, but the Clontibret clubman's shot was blocked by Seán Molloy. Monaghan still registered the first point of the game and they quickly added a second point through McGeough, following a high ball in by Killian Rudden. But Mickey Donnelly's team levelled by the 13th minute and bossed the remainder of the first half to lead by 0-9 to 0-2 at the interval.
Just as the opening exchanges of the first half belonged to Monaghan, they hit 1-2 inside the first eight minutes of the second half, closing the gap to just two points, 0-9 to 1-4. They were also unlucky when Mel Boyce saw his goal attempt brilliantly saved by Mark McReynolds between the Tyrone sticks. Substitute Mark McGuirk got all three of the Monaghan scores upon the resumption. First, he converted a brace of 20-metre frees after fouls on Johnny McGuigan and Keenan before adding a superb goal when he linked up with McGuigan and struck a sensational shot, which left McReynolds with no chance.
But Tyrone again took control and Monaghan were never at the races again.
There were seven points between the team at the end and the unfortunate reality is that Tyrone won way more comfortably that the final scoreline suggests. Bar the flurries at the start of each half, Monaghan failed to impose themselves on the match in any meaningful way and they looked indecisive, nervous, flustered and uncertain throughout. In contrast, Tyrone performed with economy, efficiency and a collective purpose. The gulf between the sides on the day was enormous.
Leaving Enniskillen, Colin McAree was understandably deflated: "We have said that it's the same in any championship match, your first 15 minutes are vital and the boys knew that going out. I suppose we have to look at our role as the team management, did we all over-hype the game, did we over-prepare the lads or what?
"The first 15 minutes were essential but we didn't get out of the traps and Tyrone took advantage of that. We also had a couple of chances for goals, particularly in the first half, even in the first couple of minutes, to capitalise on a couple of their mistakes and give us the start that we needed. It was a bit easier for Tyrone because they are the current Ulster and All-Ireland champions and they have that depth while for us every game is a major challenge at this level.
"Yes we can look at the chances we missed, we can look at our distribution because they turned us over far too often, in fact more than any other team to date, and look also at where basic mistakes cost us dearly".
Monaghan, 2011 Ulster MFC V Tyrone: Conor Forde; Fergal Malone, Conor Boyle, Ryan Wylie; Padraig Keenan, Patrick Finnegan, Brian Greenan; Jonathan McGuigan, Conor Lavelle; Killian Rudden, Mel Boyce, Cillian Cromwell; Thomas Kerr (0-1), Fergal McGeough (0-1), Pauric Greenan. Subs: Donal Courtney (29) for P Finnegan, Mark McGuirk (1-3) for T Kerr (32). Tweet

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