After a disappointing NFL showing Monaghan bounced back to win the Ulster Senior Championship in what was a good year despite no joy on the underage scene. By Alan Gunn. Seniors After a disappointing 2003, Monaghan began the New Year under a new manager with John McAleer appointed to the post. His first job was to lead his new side out against Cork in the NFL after just a week in the job. Monaghan had already two points in the bag from the game against Longford after the midlanders failed to turn up for the opening round fixture. Mountmellick was the venue for the game with the Rebel County and things didn't get off to the best of starts as Cork ran out winners by 3-09 to 0-07. Next up was a trip to Tuam and a meeting with hosts Galway. Like in the previous outing the Oriel girls were outplayed and suffered their second league defeat by 2-12 to 0-05. They were on the road again in early March when the bandwagon rolled into Ballinrobe and a meeting with the reigning All Ireland champion's Mayo. This was a much improved all round performance in a game that seen Monaghan lead by 1-04 to 1-03 at the break, the goal coming from Therese McNally. However any thoughts of a vital two points been collected were dashed as the home side came back to win by 1-11 to 1-09. It left McAleer's side now needing a win against Kerry to hold on to any chances of making the last eight. The game took place in Latton but as a contest Kerry had the points all but wrapped up after just twenty minutes and by the interval the score read Kerry 3-06 to 0-04 ahead. The Kingdom ladies went on to run out convincing winners by 6-12 to 2-07 and left Monaghan thankful to those two points from the Longford game that kept them in Division one. Despite a very poor NFL campaign the girls picked themselves up and put in massive effort for the Championship. The Ulster championship was a round robin series between Monaghan, Donegal, Down and Tyrone, with the top two making the final. First up was a trip to St Mellans in Truagh to welcome Donegal for the opening game. This was a tough opener and it took the introduction of Edel Byrne for the second half to eventually see Monaghan overcome their visitors. Byrne hit four second half points and Jenny Greenan notched the all important goal to see them win by 1-11 to 0-07. The second outing took them to Crossmaglen to face Down in a game the locals were fancied to win easily. However the Mourne County really give them a battle and helped by a Niamh Kindlon goal Monaghan led by just four points at the interval, 1-08 to 1-04. The lead was cut to two soon after the restart before a point from Therese McNally and a second major from the boot of Kindlon seen Monaghan pull clear. They held out to win by 2-15 to 2-07 in the end. Their final game in the round robin series was against Tyrone in Enniskillen, a game Monaghan only needed a draw to make the final. This was to be one of the best performances Monaghan put in for the year as they blew away the holders. A wonderful opening period seen the Oriel side lead by 1-10 to 0-01 with Brenda McAnespie hitting the goal after just seven minutes. They did take the foot off the gas somewhat in the second half but still were comfortable winners by 1-14 to 1-05 with Edel Byrne hitting five points and Niamh Kindlon four points on the day. With three victories behind them they travelled to St Tiernach's Park Clones high in confidence for the final and a second meeting with Donegal on the 15th August. This was expected to be a very tough encounter and indeed it was as it took a late Bonnie Fleming goal to give Monaghan a little comfort in the end. Monaghan got off to a lightening start and led by 1-02 to 0-01 in the early stages with McAnespie netting the goal. Yet by the interval Donegal had fought back to be level and indeed had they taken their chances Monaghan could have been facing an uphill battle for the second half. The Monaghan management made a number of changes for the second half and they started the brighter with early points from Greenan and Kindlon. With Donegal reduced to 14 players Monaghan stuck for goal number two and a second for McAnespie. The response from Donegal was immediate as they rattled the Monaghan net but with the help of Fleming's late major Monaghan held on by 3-09 to 1-10. Team captain Mary Croarkin climbed the steps to become the second Monaghan player to lift the O'Harte Cup. Monaghan (v Donegal) - Voreen Quigley, Donna Toal, Mary Croarkin, Christina Reilly, Michelle Lavelle, Catriona Brady, Ciara McGuinness, Jenny Greenan (0-01), Ciara Mulligan, Therese McNally, Niamh Kindlon (0-03), Edel Byrne (0-03), Orla Callan (0-01), Brenda McAnespie (2-00), Diane Dempsey. Subs - Aisling Smyth (0-01), Una McNally, Aisling Tierney, Bonnie Fleming (1-00) With the Ulster Championship safely wrapped up Monaghan headed off to Tullamore to face Kerry in the All-Ireland quarter final. It turned out to be a cracking match but unfortunately the result didn't go Monaghan's way. The sides departed at the interval on level terms 1-06 to 2-03 with Monaghan hitting a first half goal from Aisling Tierney. The Oriel girls got off to the ideal start after the break with Therese McNally firing to the Kerry net. Kindlon stretched the lead with a good point but with Geraldine O'Shea outstanding at the other Kerry were always not far away. The Kingdom came back to run out victorious by 5-10 to 3-11, the third Monahan goal coming from Orla Callan. Junior There was to be no honours for the Junior side as they fell to Cavan in the Ulster Championship semi-final. However they can look back on some very impressive performances in the league that saw victories over Fermanagh, Down, Antrim and just one defeat at the hands of Derry. This saw them qualify for the last eight of the Division three league but they fell to Wexford in the quarter final. Like the Senior championship the junior was also run in a round robin series, only this time in two groups of three. Monaghan 'B' were placed along with Derry and Antrim and with two victories recorded Monaghan finished top and a semi-final meeting with Cavan was their prize. Like in 2003 Cavan again came out on top as they pulled away in the second period. The sides were locked at 1-06 a piece at the interval with Sinead McCooey in great form and it was the Tyholland star that struck for the all important goal. It was however the Cavan girls that were much the better sides after the restart and they deservedly went on to win by 2-11 to 1-09 and the end of the road for the Monaghan 'B' team. Monaghan 'B' (v Cavan) - Linda Martin, Shauna McElvaney, Donna Finnegan, Colleen Callan, Sharon Courtney, Fiona Courtney, Charlene Graham, Laura McManus, Brenda McNally, Grainne McNally (0-02), Niamh Lynch (0-01), Edel Hacket, Majella Woods (0-02), Niamh Kerr, Sinead McCooey (1-04). Subs - Rynagh McNally, Orla McKeown, Margaret Treanor, Danielle McGorman Underage As it turned out 2004 left little to cheer about for our underage sides either as the U14 team faired the best as they went all the way to the Ulster final. However after a cracking decider in Kingspan Breffni Park, the hosts Cavan proved too strong to run out winners. Both the U16 and Minor sides faired disappointingly as they both failed to make an impression in either championship. The U16 girls bowing out in the opening round to Cavan, while the Minor side fell by the way side in Donegal. All Star Award for Christina Reilly The year was wrapped up with an All Star award coming to Monaghan and for Magheracloone's Christina Reilly. An award that was fully deserved for a wonderful footballer throughout the year and indeed for a number of years. The 21-year-old defender picked up the right corner back position and joins fellow club mates Edel Byrne and Niamh Kindlon as award winners and is the eleventh player from the county to receive an All Star. Christina made her senior debut in 1999, a year that saw her pick up a NFL winner's medal. She collected an Ulster senior championship in 2002 and also this year. Prior to that the Mitchell's star won an All Ireland U14 and two Minor All Irelands as well as numerous honours with her club. Tweet

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