Seniors caught by new force
December 08, 2006
It was a disappointing year on the county front for our senior side. The girls began the year hoping to reclaim the TG4 Ulster title and become the first side to gain a three-in-a-row. However this was not to be as new kids on the block Armagh ended the dream in the final. Monaghan faired little better in the Suzuki NFL bowing out at the quarter-final stage. By Alan Gunn.
Monaghan got off to the perfect start with victory over Donegal in the opening round of the NFL in Currin. However they were soon brought back to earth with a bang in round two as they made the short journey to Rataoth to face Meath. The Oriel girls were out played from the start and came away with an embarrassing twenty three-point defeat.
Padraig Treanor and his charges had little time to lick their wounds as Galway waited in round three. The games were getting no easier as Monaghan looked to secure vital points not only in a push for a last eight spot but also survival in the top flight. The match with the Westerners was played in Cremartin and it turned out to be an exciting and close encounter.
It was a massive improvement from the locals but after sixty minutes it was not to be enough to record a victory as they went down 0-13 to 1-7. The sides went in level at 0-5 apiece at the interval and despite Monaghan finding the net through Grainne McNally, Galway came out on top at the finish.
Next up was a tricky tie against the reigning All Ireland and NFL champions Cork in Abbeyleix, Co Laois. While only five points separated the sides at the finish (0-12 to 0-7) the Rebels were always in control throughout. Cork led at the interval by two points and remained clear during the second period. Niamh Kindlon finished top scorer with five points.
Entering the final round of games Monaghan were left in joint forth place with Donegal on just two points a piece with Roscommon propping up the table with nothing to show for their four games. Monaghan's final game was against Roscommon but the failure by the girls from the West to field ment a vital two point for Monaghan and a spot in the last four.
In the Quarter Final they made the journey to Ballina to face the home side Mayo. Monaghan turned in a very impressive performance but yet again they fell short losing out 4-11 to 1-11. The locals faded away in the final quarter as only three points separated the side with fifteen minutes remaining.
Mayo took a 2-6 to 0-6 lead in at the break but helped by a goal from Grainne McNally and some fine points by Niamh Kindlon and Helen Hughes, Monaghan got back into the contest. Any hopes of progressing were dashed as Mayo lifted their game and ran out comfortable winners at the finish.
The attention now swung towards the TG4 Ulster championship and the aim of completing the three in a row. The draw had been kind with a semi-final spot against Down. The clash was to be played over two legs with the opening encounter set for Downpatrick on 16th July. The reigning champions came into the Ulster campaign with a very much new look side from previous years with a number of new talented players making the breakthrough onto the senior scene. Down began the game with a number of people giving them a chance of causing an upset.
It wasn't to be as Monaghan came away with a seven point victory and one foot in the final. A goal a piece from the McNally sisters, Grainne and Therese, were the vital scores in the 2-8 to 0-7 win. After a disappointing opening period the sides went in level at 0-3 each.
After the resumption, Grainne McNally fired to the Down net inside the opening minute of the half and from there Monaghan never looked back. The second major from her sister Therese six minutes from time wrapped the all important first leg win. It was not all one-way traffic however with Linda Martin pulling off a few vital saves to keep Down at bay.
Heading into the return leg seven days later in St Tiernach's park, Clones with a seven point cushion, Monaghan were expected to have little difficulty. In the end they hadn't but had only three points to spare at the finish and ten in all over both encounters. The midfield pairing of Amanda Casey and Catriona Brady were excellent while up front Niamh Kindlon hit 1-5 and both Grainne McNally and Hazel Kingham also found the net.
As half time approached the Oriel girls looked to be coasting but conceded two late goals to go in level at the midway point. Their third goal from McNally wrapped up the contest, and Monaghan eased home to a meeting with Armagh in the final.
It was back to Clones on Sunday August 6th for the TG4 Ulster final with All Ireland Junior champions Armagh as the opposition. This was Armagh's first year at senior level as they set out to stop a third successive crown for Monaghan. Armagh opened the scoring but Monaghan soon settled and with four unanswered points from Catriona McConnell (2), Charlene Graham and Grainne McNally opened an early advantage.
The Orchard County responded to draw level before the Oriel girls hit another purple patch yielding points from Slainey Murray and Grainne McNally as well as a goal from McNally. That all important major coming on twenty two minutes after a move from one end of the field to the other started by excellent defending from captain Christina Reilly. The Magheracloone star cut out a dangerous Armagh attack before releasing Niamh Kindlon who in turn played a beautiful pass into the path of McNally who hammered the ball to the net.
Before the interval arrived Monaghan were caught out with an Armagh goal from Shauna O'Hagan and only a single point separated the sides at the mid way point. Monaghan held that narrowest of margins 1-6 to 1-5.
Both sides cancelled each other out in the second half and they were on level terms entering the final ten minutes. The Orchard girls lifted their game and struck over three fine points to pull clear. Monaghan tried to hit back but were denied by two fine saves from Armagh keeper Fionnuala McAtamney and the crossbar right at the death. As the hooter sounded Monaghan's dream of that elusive three in a row had gone with Armagh securing their first title by 1-11 to 1-9.
Monaghan (v Armagh): Linda Martin, Sharon Courtney, Michelle Grimes, Christina Reilly (Capt), Helen Hughes, Joanne Courtney, Fiona Courtney, Amanda Casey, Catriona Brady, Slainey Murray (0-1), Niamh Kindlon, Charlene Graham (0-1), Catriona McConnell (0-3), Niamh Lynch, Grainne McNally (1-2). Subs: Aisling Tierney (0-2), Hazel Kingham
After the disappointment of the Ulster Final, it was now onto Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan for the All-Ireland Quarter Final against Leinster champions Laois. While in the Ulster championship Monaghan were looking to keep their successful run going, it was a different story in the All-Ireland Quarterfinals as they aimed for a first ever win. It was not to be as they suffered their fourth consecutive last eight defeat after a very poor performance.
The tie was all but over after at the break as Laois led 2-4 to 1-2 with Niamh Lynch hitting the Monaghan goal to give them a glimmer of hope on the stroke of the interval. Without the inspirational Niamh Kindlon through injury the attack was lacking in ideas.
The Oriel girls kept plugging away but without much head way as they bowed out at the finish 4-11 to 2-7. Their second goal coming from the boot of Charlene Graham off the penalty spot after a foul on Therese McNally. Aisling Tierney also knocking over three second half points.
It was the final say of the year in what was a disappointing season in all. Monaghan recorded just three wins and they were all against Ulster opposition, Donegal and Down (2) while Roscommon failed to field giving them two extra points in the league.
Junior
The Monaghan 'B' side did claim some silverware for the year as they lifted the Suzuki NFL 'B' title after an impressive league campaign against counties' second string teams.
Placed in a group along with Mayo 'B', Meath 'B', Dublin 'B', Waterford 'B' and Louth 'B' they had little difficulty in progressing to the knockout stages. In the last eight they came head to head with Laois 'B' in Stradbally. At the finish they recorded a comfortable 3-17 to 3-4 victory.
All six forwards got on the score sheet with the outstanding Edel Hacket hitting 1-4 while other stars like Kathy McManus, Sinead McCooey, Bonnie Fleming and Lavina Connolly also impressed. The win set up a trip to Cappincur, Tullamore for a semi-final meeting with Cork 'B' on 30th April.
Monaghan turned in a stunning display to hold off hot favourites Cork to progress to the final with a final score of 1-8 to 0-4. Defensively they were very solid at the other end they took their chances when they came their way. Lisa McConnon hit the only goal of the game just ten minutes from the break to leave it 1-4 to 0-3 at the mid way point.
With Pamela Treanor and Charlotte Brady excellent in defence Monaghan held firm to book their place in the decider. That final was against Galway 'B' in Athlone the following Sunday 7th May. At the finish Aghabog's Lisa McConnon was the hero as her late goal secured the honours in a 3-7 to 2-9 win.
The girls from the West had the better of the opening half to lead 1-6 to 1-3 at half time. Bonnie Fleming who picked up the player of the match accolade hit the opening half goal. Lisa Sherry netted their second major eleven minutes after the resumption and then six minutes from time McConnon pounced with their third and the title was in Monaghan's hands.
Monaghan 'B' (v Galway 'B'): Julie Moran, Colleen Mulligan, Pamela Treanor, Anita Newell, Brenda McNally (capt), Donna Finnegan, Charlotte Brady, Una McNally (0-1), Lisa Sherry (1-0), Lavina Connolly (0-02), Kathy McManus (0-1), Edel Hacket, Lisa McConnon (1-0), Bonnie Fleming (1-2), Sinead McCooey Subs: Tessa Fleming, Rosie Hughes (0-1), Rynagh McNally
It was now onto the TG4 Ulster Junior championship and a semi-final meeting with Fermanagh. Like at senior grade it was played over two legs with Fermanagh coming out on top in the opening leg by four points in Lisnaskea. The return leg in St Tiernach's Park, Clones was a ding dong tussle with Monaghan winning by three points 5-9 to 1-18 but bowing on aggregate by a single point.
Goals from the Fleming sister Bonnie (2) and Tessa helped Monaghan lead at the break 3-4 to 1-8. The home side hit 1-3 early in the second half with Ciara McAnespie getting the goal and they were clear by three on aggregate. Fermanagh came roaring back and despite Bonnie Fleming netting her third and Monaghan's fifth major Fermanagh had a single point to spare on aggregate at the finish.
Full results
Suzuki NFL Div 1 B
12th Feb: Monaghan 2-9 Donegal 1-7, Currin
19th Feb: Meath 3-18 Monaghan 0-4, Rataoth
26th Feb: Monaghan 1-7 Galway 0-13, Cremartin
12th Mar: Cork 0-12 Monaghan 0-7, Abbeyleix
2nd April Monaghan w/o Roscommon scr
Suzuki NFL Quarter-Final
16th April: Mayo 4-11 Monaghan 1-11, Ballina
TG4 Ulster SFC Semi-Final 1st leg
16th July Down 0-7 Monaghan 2-8, Downpatrick
TG4 Ulster SFC Semi-Final 2nd leg
23rd July: Monaghan 3-11 Down 3-8, Clones
TG4 Ulster SFC Final
6th Aug: Armagh 1-11 Monaghan 1-9, Clones
TG4 All Ireland Quarter-Final
26th Aug: Laois 4-11 Monaghan 2-7, Cavan
Suzuki NFL 'B' Group 2
12th Feb: Louth 'B' 1-2 Monaghan 'B' 5-25
25th Feb: Monaghan 'B' 1-7 Meath 'B' 1-5
12th March: Monaghan 'B' 1-8 Mayo 'B' 1-5
2nd Apr: Monaghan 'B' 0-6 Dublin 'B' 0-12
: Monaghan 'B' w/o Waterford 'B' scr
Quarter Final
23rd Apr: Laois 'B' 3-4 Monaghan 'B' 3-17, Stradbally
Semi-Final
30th Apr: Cork 'B' 0-4 Monaghan 'B' 1-8, Cappincur
Final
7th May: Monaghan 'B' 3-7 Galway 'B' 2-9, Athlone
TG4 Ulster JFC Semi-Final 1st Leg
16th July: Fermanagh 1-12 Monaghan 'B' 1-8, Lisnaskea
TG4 Ulster JFC 2nd Leg
23rd July: Monaghan 'B' 5-9 Fermanagh 1-18, Clones
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