It was a disappointing year on the juvenile front for the girls from Monaghan. There was to be no joy in the winner's enclosure with both the U-14 and U-16 sides defeated in the Ulster finals. By Alan Gunn U-14 The U-14 side put in some solid performances and were rewarded with a place in the final. However on their way to the decider they had suffered a heavy defeat to Donegal in the earlier rounds and with Donegal their opposition in the final the prospect of winning was not good. It was to turn out that way with Donegal hitting eight goals past them in St Oliver Plunkett Park, Emyvale. Monaghan had opened the brighter with Lisa McElvaney and Shauna McAnespie firing over a point apiece inside six minutes. Soon things began to go wrong with Donegal opening their account on seven minutes. A blistering spell then between the eight and thirteenth minutes yielded three goals and a commanding lead. The home side momentarily halted the visitors charge with points from Sandra McConnell and Shauna McAnespie. Donegal rattled the net three more times before the break while Caoimh Mohan also scored a goal but it was Donegal in control leading 6-1 to 1-6 at half time. The visitors continued their dominance after the resumption and Monaghan had to settle for second best on a score line of Donegal 8-11 Monaghan 1-10. Monaghan team: Amy Treanor, Niamh Maguire, Kady McKenna, Riona Heekin, Claire O'Brien, Niamh Tierney, Rebecca Malone, Eileen McKenna, Niamh Brennan, Caoimhe Mohan (1-2), Anna Jones, Sandra McConnell (0-2), Lisa McElvaney (0-1), Sarah Hughes, Shauna McAnespie (0-4) Subs: Naomi Coogan, Ailbhe Quinn (0-1), Orlagh McKenna, Laura McKenna, Fiona Callan Despite the disappointment of loosing out on the Ulster Championship, Monaghan had to quickly put it behind them as they still advanced to an All Ireland quarter-final clash with Kerry. At the finish it was a late injury time surge that ended their dream in Mountmellick. With the wind at their backs, Monaghan led at the break 4-7 to 1-3 but facing the elements in the second period they failed to find the target. The battling Oriel girls were still holding onto a one-point lead entering injury time but three points from Kerry edged them across the winning line. U-16 Like the U-14 side Monaghan U-16's also made the Ulster decider. The campaign did not start out to plan with a defeat to Tyrone in the opening round but after rebuilding and beating Cavan, Monaghan did reach the Ulster decider. In the Ulster final they also came up against Donegal with the final taking place in Truagh. Donegal rattled the Monaghan net on four occasions during the second half to secure the crown in a thrilling encounter. In the opening minutes Monaghan struck the crossbar on two occasions before opening the scoring. Monaghan led at the break by a single point 0-7 to 0-6 but they had their goalkeeper Edel Corrigan to thank, as the Scotstown girl pulled off a string of saves. The home side opened the advantage to three points after the resumption before the game swung in favour of Donegal. Two goals in a minute saw them take control and they never looked back to run home winners 4-9 to 0-14. Monaghan (v Donaegal): Edel Corrigan, Edel Keenan, Belinda McCabe, Amy Salmon, Amanda Jackson, Orla King, Louise Byrne (0-1), Natasha Mohan, Ellen McCarron (0-7, 5f), Laura McEnaney (0-1), Tessa Fleming (0-1), Laura Sherry, Flavia O'Callaghan (0-1), Fabiana O'Callaghan (0-2), Sinead McGuire (0-1) Subs: Breige McCarron for A Salmon, Leanne Kirk for B McCarron The campaign did not finish there with an All Ireland Quarter-Final meeting with Galway their reward for been defeated in the Ulster decider. That game took place in the Downs, Mullingar but having to travel with a very weakened side Monaghan were very much up against it. Conditions were far from ideal for good football and Galway ran riot against the Oriel girls. The Westerners ran out easy winners 5-19 to 0-8. U-18 The Minor's began their Ulster Championship with a facile victory over Fermanagh in Emyvale. Goals from Ciara McAnespie (2), Ellanna Hackett, Laura Boylan, Cathriona McConnell and Nicola Fahy had the tie was over by the break with the home side leading 6-8 to 1-1. Further majors from Charlotte Brady, Tessa Fleming, Francis Finnegan and Niamh McCarthy followed after the resumption. Next up was a trip to Killeshil to face Tyrone in the quarter-final. Monaghan turned in a great performance in the opening half and led 0-11 to 0-5 at the midway points. Catriona McConnell (6), Laura Boylan (2), Ciara McAnespie (2) and Nicola Fahy all on target for the Oriel girls. However after the restart Tyrone took control and within five minutes they had hit the front as they tore Monaghan apart. Monaghan responded to level but Tyrone were always looking dangerous and only for the heroics of Monaghan keeper Edel Corrigan the score line could have been much worse. In the end as hard as she tried she could not deny Tyrone from knocking Monaghan out of the Ulster Minor Championship. Monaghan (v Tyrone): Edel Corrigan, Siobhan McCarra, Grainne McKenna, Ellen McMeel, Cora Courtney, Linda Callan, Aoife McAnespie, Charlotte Brady, Nicola Fahy (0-1), Ellanna Hackett, Lisa McConnon, Tessa Fleming (0-1), Ciara McAnespie (0-2), Cathriona McConnell (0-8), Laura Boylan (0-2) Subs: Rachel McKenna for E McMeel, Sinead Busby for L Callan Tweet

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