After the heroics of 2002 which saw four Ulster titles secured and two All Ireland Final appearances, Monaghan Ladies had a somewhat disappointing 2003 with just the one trophy coming their way, this honour falling to our Minor side who reclaimed the Ulster title. By Alan Gunn. On the senior front prior to the new season, new management was appointed with Micheal McKeown coming into the hot seat and Mickey Morgan bowing out. McKeown got the ball rolling in early January with a number of challenge matches before the real thing of the Suzuki NFL opened in February. The opening fixture saw Galway as the opposition in Reaghstown, Co. Louth. This was suppose to be a home fixture for Monaghan but with no grounds available the fixture was moved. It turned out a disappointing start with the Western girls proving to strong on the day by 1-14 to 0-07. Round Two rewarded the girls with their first win after they travelled to Longford. Goals from Niamh Kindlon, Ciara Mulligan, Diane Dempsey and Voreen Quigley laying the foundation for their narrow three point victory. However two heavy defeats to Mayo in Magheracloone and Kerry after the long trip to Killarney left the Oriel side needing victory over Clare in their final game to secure a quarter final spot and more importantly remain in Division one for next year. The game took place in Durrow, Co Offaly and the win was secured thanks to a spirited second half which saw Monaghan turn a half time deficit of five points around, to run out winners by 4-07 to 0-10, the goals coming from Diane Dempsey (3) and one from Niamh Kindlon. Their reward in the last eight was the visit of Laois to Killanny, a game that was to see Monaghan lose a key player through injury for the remainder of the year and suffer a major blow ahead of the championship. The home side opened very brightly and raced into a nine-point advantage before inspirational player Niamh Kindlon was carried off with a leg injury after a bad tackle on her in the penalty area. The loss of such a key player coupled with the resultant penalty miss upset the home team's momentum. Monaghan soon collapsed and began to chase shadows as Laois eventually reeled them in to win by 4-19 to 4-08. Ulster Championship Once out of the league all the attention was now switched to the championship and the hope existed that we could go one step further than last years All-Ireland defeat to Mayo. The 20th of July was the date for the semi-final clash with Down, played in St Tiernach's Park, Clones as a curtain raiser to the replay of the men's Ulster Final meeting of Tyrone and Down. At a packed Clones reigning champions Monaghan were made fight all the way by a determined Down side before finishing strongly to book a final place with Tyrone. The Oriel side ran out winners by 4-12 to 4-07 with Diane Dempsey finishing top scorer with 2-05, while Aisling Tierney and Orla Callan rowed in with the other two majors. (Team v Down): Kerrie Quigley, Mary Croarkin, Brenda McAnespie, Christina Reilly, Fiona Kindlon, Jenny Greenan, Ciara McGuinness, Aisling Tierney (1-03), Ciara Mulligan, Lisa Hughes, Orla Callan (1-03), Catriona Brady, Lorraine Freeman, Diane Dempsey (2-05) Kathy McManus (0-01). Subs: Pamela Treanor, Breda McGinn, Rosie Hughes and Linda Gartlan Ulster Championship Final It was back to Clones on August 17th for the forth ever Ulster senior final and indeed the forth meeting in a row of Tyrone and Monaghan, with Tyrone looking for title number three and Monaghan for two in a row. As it turned out it was a very disappointing decider with heavy rain throughout making conditions a lottery and very little free flowing football. Tyrone opened with an early point before Monaghan who were forced to field without five of the side that started against Down settled and replied with points from Therese McNally and Ciara Mulligan. At this stage it was the holders calling the shots and it looked even better when Brenda McAnespie rattled the Tyrone net only for the referee to disallow the goal much to the amazement of all in St Tiernach's Park. It was a blow that stunned Monaghan and by half time they trailed by 1-06 to 0-03. The deficit was stretched to seven early in the second half, but with a goal from McAnespie and points from Aisling Tierney and Kathy McManus it was soon back to just a two point game. However missed opportunities were to prove costly and it was Tyrone that were to claim the title by 1-10 to 1-06. (Team v Tyrone) Kerrie Quigley, Christina Reilly, Pamela Treanor, Mary Croarkin, Catriona Byrne, Jenny Greenan (Capt), Una McNally (0-01), Catriona Brady, Ciara Mulligan (0-01), Therese McNally (0-01), Linda Gartlan, Aisling Tierney (0-02), Orla Callan, Brenda McAnespie (1-00), Voreen Quigley. Subs: Slainey Murray, Edel Hacket, Michelle Grimes, Kathy McManus (0-01) All-Ireland Quarter Final With the new system coming into play for the first time it wasn't the end of the road and Monaghan still progressed to the All Ireland stage and a place against Leinster champions Dublin in the quarter final. It turned out a much-improved performance with the girls playing their best football of the year only to once again rue missed chances and be piped in the dying minutes. The early exchanges seen the Dublin girls open a six points to three advantage before Diane Dempsey rattled the Dublin net to level matters. The reply from Dublin was immediate with a cracking goal to restore their three-point lead before a point from Therese McNally and a goal from Slainey Murray edged Monaghan into a 2-04 to 1-06 interval lead even though Dublin had out played them for long periods. A brace from Therese McNally stretched the lead to three in the second half but Dublin always remained in touching distance and turned it around to edge in front. Diane Dempsey then missed a glorious goal chance for Monaghan - a chance that was to prove costly in the end. A point from Aisling Tierney give Monahan a single point lead with just under ten minutes remaining but further missed chances at this stage failed to put Dublin away and back they came firstly with the equaliser and then with two late points to seal victory by 1-14 to 2-09. (Team v Dublin) Kerrie Quigley, Una McNally, Christina Reilly, Slainey Murray (1-00), Catriona Byrne, Catriona Brady, Lisa Hughes, Jenny Greenan, Ciara Mulligan, Therese McNally (0-02), Aisling Tierney (0-02), Kathy McManus, Brenda McAnespie (0-02), Diane Dempsey (1-03), Lorraine Freeman. Subs: Pamela Treanor, Voreen Quigley, and Orla Callan Juniors Our Junior side had an up and down Suzuki NFL campaign in Division Three but still did enough to qualify for the last eight. In the first round games they suffered defeats to Derry, Dublin 'B' but had victories over Antrim, Westmeath and Fermanagh. In the last eight they faced Limerick, but despite a brave performance they bowed out convincingly in the end. However the Junior side's highlight of the year was to come in the Ulster Junior championship against Derry. Already beaten heavily in the league by Derry, Monaghan made the trip to Ballinascreen more in hope than with much confidence. The girls however put in a stunning performance especially from young Scotstown girl Amanda Beggan who tormented the Derry girls all afternoon to finish with a personal tally of 2-07. Monaghan lead at the break by 2-08 to 1-08 with the majors coming from Beggan and Catherine McGinley. Sinead McCooey hit an early second half goal to stretch the lead but back came the home side to within a single point before McCooey struck again with her second. The Derry side responded only for Beggan to knock in her second goal and this time Derry were unable to recover and Monaghan went on to record a 6-12 to 1-15 win with Aisling Smyth wrapping up proceedings with their final goal. (Team v Derry): Emma O'Harte, Fiona Courtney, Orla McKeown, Martina Sullivan, Joanne Courtney, Catriona Byrne, Helen Hughes, Aisling Smyth (1-01), Niamh Kerr, Sinead McCooey (2-00), Aileen Lennon, Edel Hacket (0-01), Amanda Beggan (2-07), Catherine McGinley (1-03), Charlene Graham. Subs: Niamh Lynch Next up was a meeting with neighbours Cavan in the semi-final and a repeat of last year. Unfortunately for Monaghan it was also a repeat result with Cavan once again coming out on top in Rooskey by 2-15 to 1-05. Cavan led at the break by 1-08 to 0-03 and although Catriona Byrne struck for an early second half goal Monaghan could not find any way back. (Team v Cavan): Emma O'Harte, Fiona Courtney, Orla McKeown, Niamh Lynch, Joanne Courtney, Donna Finnegan, Helen Hughes, Aisling Smyth, Niamh Kerr (0-01), Sinead McCooey (0-01), Aileen Lennon, Catriona Byrne (1-00), Amanda Beggan (0-03), Catherine McGinley, Charlene Graham. Subs: Linda Martin, Danielle McGorman, Phyllis Coyle, and Rhonda Newell Underage On the underage scene it was to turn out a very disappointing year, with both our U14 and U16 sides unable to make the provincial finals with the only joy coming from our minor team. Our U14's began with defeats to Donegal and Cavan, and although the recorded victory over Down in the final game, it wasn't enough to qualify out of the group. They did have some joy at the All Ireland Blitz where they put in a wonderful showing only to bow out in the semi-finals. Our U16's began their Ulster campaign with a win over Antrim but came crashing down to earth in the semi-final when Cavan sent them packing in Aghabog. Monaghan ladies football was shocked and saddened this year with the tragic death of the U16 manager Ronan Leonard; Ronan was a great servant to ladies football in Monaghan. Our only winners for 2003 came from our Minor team when they claimed the Ulster championship. This side had been beaten in last year's All Ireland Final by Galway. First up for our minor side was a comfortable opener with Armagh, and the girls as expected had little trouble. Donegal were also seen off before the much-awaited Ulster Final meeting with Cavan took place in Scotstown. Cavan had already taken the U14 and U16 Ulster titles and had been hotly fancied to take the minor aswell. But Monaghan had other ideas and in the end ran-out easy winners by 2-14 to 1-09, helped by majors from Sinead McCooey and Slainey Murray. In the All-Ireland series they bowed out to Mayo in Longford in a poor game that took an extra thirty minutes to decide the outcome (Team v Cavan): Bonnie Fleming, Sharon Courtney, Fiona Courtney, Maraid Kerr, Helen Hughes, Aisling Tierney, Charlene Graham, Lisa Hughes, Catriona Byrne (0-01), Sinead McCooey (1-02), Niamh Lynch (0-01), Therese McNally, Niamh Kerr (0-01), Slainey Murray (1-05). Subs: Phyllis Coyle (0-01), Jacinta Treanor, and Hannah Bowe Tweet

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