If ever Monaghan Ladies football had an unlucky year, 2001 must surely have been it. Despite the fact that they are still the main contenders for the Ulster title as well as being potential candidates for All-Ireland honours, they find themselves ending the year empty handed of an Ulster adult title, writes Seamus McCluskey. Prior to 2000 Monaghan had represented Ulster in the All-Ireland series as they were the only senior side in the province up until then. They represented both county and province with pride and took two All-Ireland Senior Championships to prove the fact. Following their Junior All-Ireland win in 1999 Tyrone stepped up to senior level in 2000 and met Monaghan in the first ever Ulster Senior Final, with the result going against the Monaghan cailini. Then Down arrived on the scene for 2001, having won Junior honours the previous year, and this guaranteed a three-way contest for the Ulster senior title. Ulster Council paired Monaghan and Down for the semi-final with the losers to meet champions Tyrone in a second semi-final. The Monaghan semi-final with Down took place at Crossmaglen on Sunday 1st July and resulted in a facile win for Monaghan over the All-Ireland Junior champions. The final score line of Monaghan 4-21, Down 1-12, did not even fully represent the dominance of the Monaghan ladies. Four first half goals really settled the issue on this occasion and Monaghan were very much in command, even by the half way stage when they led by 4-10 to 0-8, the four majors coming from different players - Orla Callan, Catriona Brady, Niamh Kindlon and Aisling Tierney. Monaghan lined out as follows: - Martina Grey, Una McNally, Anita O'Reilly, Donna Toal, Michelle Lavelle, Jennifer Greenan, Mary Croarkin, Aisling Tierney, Catriona Brady, Lavina Connolly, Niamh Kindlon, Aisling Smith, Orla Callan, Diane Dempsey and Ciara Mulligan. Subs used: Catherine McCarvile, Pamela Treanor, Lorraine Freeman, Cathy McManus and Eileen McElvaney. Tyrone's victory over Down in the second semi-final meant that the 2001 Ulster Final would be a repeat of the 2000 decider. Sunday 12th August was the date and Clones was again the venue. This time Monaghan were going out for revenge and played with a determination seldom seen in their previous outings during the year. They looked the better of the two sides all through and when they led by three points, with time running out, it looked as if the title was on its way back to Monaghan. Time-keeping, however, was to play a vital role in this final and when Tyrone scored a goal to level matters, and then had a point deep in injury time, it was curtains for a dreadfully disappointed Monaghan team that deserved better. Despite it being August, the conditions were dreadful for the game, with rain falling throughout. Niamh Kindlon had Monaghan's early points and scores were level on three occasions during the first quarter. Further points from Kindlon and Jenny Greenan saw Monaghan hold an interval lead of two points, 0-5 to 0-3. Catriona Brady, Aisling Tierney and Niamh Kindlon had further points in the second half to put Monaghan well ahead, 0-8 to 0-3. Brilliant saves by the Tyrone goalkeeper also prevented Monaghan from going much further ahead but they still looked good, leading by 0-9 to 0-6 with time up. It was then that Tyrone scored the goal that really devastated Monaghan and when they had the winner well into injury time and after the scorer had taken a remarkable number of steps, the house really fell in on the Monaghan girls. The final score of Tyrone 1-7, Monaghan 0-9, really did not do justice to Monaghan's performance and they were at least deserving of a draw. The atmosphere in the Monaghan dressing-room after the game summed it all up. Monaghan had lined out: - Martina Grey (Scotstown), Una McNally (Tyholland), Anita O'Reilly (Monaghan Harps), Catherine McCarville (Scotstown), Michelle Lavelle (Monaghan Harps), Jenny Greenan (Aghabog), Mary Croarkin (Aghabog), Catriona Brady, captain (Aghabog), Aisling Tierney (Clones), Lavina Connolly (Latton), Niamh Kindlon (Magheracloone), Aisling Smith (Aghabog), Lorraine Freeman (Magheracloone), Diane Dempsey (Latton) and Slainey Murray (Monaghan Harps). Sub used: Pamela Treanor (Tyholland) Monaghan fortunes in the league were also of the very unlucky variety. Competing in Division One, they scored a magnificent early 2-8 to 1-7 win over Mayo, the reigning All-Ireland champions, on Sunday 11th February, when the scores were Diana Dempsey 1-0, Breda McGinn 1-0, Jenny Greenan 0-2, Orla Callan 0-2, Aisling Tierney 0-2, Una McNally 0-1 and Anita O'Reilly 0-1. On Sunday 18th February they met Waterford in Dublin and again put on a super show to win by 4-12 to 1-8, to prove beyond doubt that they were the best team in the country - defeating the successive All-Ireland champions of the three previous years. Unfortunately they fell to Clare by 4-6 to 1-8 in the next outing at Mullingar but they still led the league table with six points from four games. They made up for the lapse with a decisive 1-9 to 0-6 win over Longford at Longford on Sunday 8th April, to maintain the top position. The good form was maintained even though there was a slip up to Tyrone, losing by 1-10 to 0-9 at Augher on Sunday 20th May. Despite this they were guaranteed a semi final spot and in this, they defeated Tyrone again at Latton on Saturday 2nd June on a very impressive score line of Monaghan 5-9 Tyrone 1-5, the scores coming from Niamh Kindlon (2-3), Orla Callan (2-1), Jenny Greenan (1-1), Diane Dempsey (0-2), Lavina Connolly (0-1). The League Final was played at Mullingar on Sunday 24th June with Monaghan looking for their fifth National League title in eight years. Unfortunately they ran up against Clare, who emerged narrow winners by 2-10 to 1-10. It was a very closely contested game and Clare just about shaded the issue. Monaghan lined out as follows: Martina Grey, Donna Toal, Anita O'Reilly, Michelle Lavelle, Una McNally, Jenny Grennan, Mary Croarkin, Catriona Brady, Ciara Mulligan, Lavina Connolly, Niamh Kindlon, Aisling Smith, Aisling Tierney, Diane Dempsey and Orla Callan. Subs used: Slainey Murray and Breda McGinn. Juniors Fall to Armagh Nor did Lady Luck favour Monaghan in the Ulster Junior Championship. In the semi-final at Gavan Duffy Park, Monaghan, on Sunday 22nd July the Junior squad fell heavily to Armagh, who triumphed on a final score-line of Armagh 5-10, Monaghan 2-6. It was a disappointing day for the home side but tremendous whole-hearted performance were still given by Orla McKeown, Leone Callan, Amanda Beggan and Voreen Quigley in a side which lined out as follows: Alison Treanor, Leone Callan, Orla McKeown, Martina Sullivan, Deirdre Patton, Davina McCaffrey, Lorraine Connolly, Elaine Greenan, Fiona Kindlon, Aileen Duffy, Marie Doogan, Seannie McConnell, Amanda Beggan, Voreen Quigley and Mary Connolly. Subs used: Edel Kearns, Nicola Leonard, Mairead Kelly, Emma McGinnity and Janette Newell. The scorers were: Amanda Beggan 0-5, Voreen Quigley 0-2 and Mary Connolly 1-0. Minors go out to Tyrone In the semi-final Monaghan had an easy 6-9 to 1-5 win over Derry at Clones in June, but once again it was Tyrone who proved to be Monaghan's stumbling block in the Ulster Minor championship when the sides met at Carrickmore at the end of June. Lavina Connolly had Monaghan's opening point and Orla Callen the second. Aisling Tierney followed with a great goal but Tyrone still led by 1-6 to 1-2 at the interval. Aisling had an early second half point for Monaghan and Cathy McManus had their second goal in a well contested second period, but Tyrone still finished the stronger on a scoreline of Tyrone 3-9, Monaghan 2-5. The Monaghan team was: Emma O'Harte, Una McNally, Pamela Treanor, Maggie Deery, Donna Toal, Orla McKeown, Joanne Courtney, Rosie King, Cathy McManus, Lavina Connolly, Aisling Tierney, Lisa Kingham, Danielle McGorman, Orla Callan and Breda McGinn. Subs used: Christina Reilly, Paula Moyna, Therese McNally, Aoife McDonald. This, unfortunately, ended Monaghan hopes of a provincial minor title in 2001. Under 14s do Monaghan proud Monaghan's great achievement during 2001 was gained by the county's Under 14 brigade who retained their Ulster title and went on to contest the All-Ireland final. In the opening round they disposed of Tyrone by 4-6 to 2-7 at Ballybay on Saturday 19th May, and followed this up with a decisive 7-11 to 2-7 win over Donegal in the semi-final played at Cremartin on Saturday 26th May. In the Ulster final at Tyholland on Saturday 2nd June they defeated Cavan 3-10 to 4-6 to retain their Ulster crown. In the All-Ireland semi-final they had a great 5-7 to 3-5 win over Dublin at Drumbaragh, Co Meath on Saturday 9th June to qualify for the final. Here, however, they were well beaten by Cork at Portlaoise on Saturday 23rd June. Despite defeat, this was a great year for the U14s and the team in the final was: Amy Duffy, Rona Newell, Lorraine Duffy, Sharon Courtney, Louise Cunningham, Yvonne Connell, Grainne McNally, Lisa Sherry, Niamh Kerr, Rachel McNally, Marie McNally, Aoife Hagan, Danica Tavey, Caroline McAree and Grainne Treanor. Subs used: Aine Mulligan, Grace Mullen, Eimear Mulligan, Linda Martin and Mairead Mc Geough. It may have been a heart-breaking year for Monaghan who could surely have done with even a little smile from Dame Fortune, but with Juveniles of the calibre of the current U14 and U16 sides coming up, Monaghan hopes for the future are indeed bright. And having been the victims of misfortune in 2001, they show all the signs of again becoming supreme in Ulster in the year ahead. Tweet

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