Monaghan Lift Fourth Title

Catriona Mc Connell opened the scoring in the 2nd minute when she fired over a free after Nicola Fahy was fouled. Four minutes later Ciara Mc Anespie doubled the farney advantage when she pointed from a tight angle. Monaghan should then have goaled but Sinead Mc Vey saved well from Nicola Fahy's shot. Monaghan continued to dominate and further points followed from Niamh Kindlon, Edel Byrne and Catriona Mc Connell. In the 13th minute Therese Mc Nally should have netted but the excellent Mc Vey in the Tyrone goal denied her. Mc Connell and Kindlon then pointed to give Monaghan a seven point lead at the end of the first quarter.

Tyrone's opening scored arrived in the 19th minute. All-star Gemma Begley who had been starved of ball early on cut inside the Monaghan defence and her lethal shot ended up in the net via the crossbar. The Red Hand joy only lasted a couple of minutes as Therese Mc Nally goaled after picking up a pin point pass from the excellent Kindlon. Tyrone responded positively with points from Jolene Donnelly, Begley and Neamh Woods. With just two minutes of the half remaining Tyrone where awarded a penalty when Linda Martin tripped Gemma Begley. Martin was lucky to stay on the pitch and then made a brilliant save to deny Begley a goal. Clodagh Poyntz was then introduced by Tyrone and with her first touch she pointed to leave the midway score 1-7 to 1-4 in favour of Monaghan.

Scores were hard to come by in the third quarter. Begley pointed in the 4th minute and shortly after Therese Mc Nally missed a glorious goal chance. Poyntz pointed from a free in the 13th minute to leave just one between the sides. Monaghan's first score for almost half an hour then arrived in the 20th minute when Mc Nally pointed. That score lifted the Farney side and further points followed from Byrne, Mc Anespie and substitute Lavina Connolly. The game was effectively killed off in the 27th minute when Connolly received a lovely pass from Mc Anespie and fired to the net for Monaghan's second goal.

Speaking after the game Monaghan manager John Mc Aleer was delighted with the result but admitted his side needed strengthening. “In the first 20minutes we were absolutely brilliant but we should have been further ahead. Isobel Kiearans had a shoulder injury going into the game and it showed in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Edel Byrne then moved to midfield and her experience was vital. We will have to strengthen before our next outing” said Mc Aleer.

Tyrone joint manager Joe Gilligan had no complaints after the final whistle. “We simply couldn't score, we missed far too many chances. It took us 15 minutes to get going and at that stage Monaghan were seven points ahead. I've no complaints and I wish Monaghan well”, said Joe.

Tyrone – S. Mc Vey, S. Mc Laughlin, M. Kelly, C. Mc Glinchey, A. Hagan, N. Woods 0-1, C. Fox, S. Quinn, S. Donnelly, A. Dooher, L. Hughes C. Donnelly, J. Donnelly 0-1, G. Begley 1-2, E. Gormley Subs Used – A. Mc Shane, C. Poyntz 0-2, O. O Neill and C. Mc Gahon
Monaghan – L. Martin, C. Reilly, S. Courtney, G. Mc Nally, F. Courtney, A. Lennon, A. Mc Anespie, A. Casey, I. Kierans, C. Mc Anespie 0-2, E. Byrne 0-2, T. Mc Nally 1-1, C. Mc Connell 0-3, N. Kindlon 0-2, N. Fahy Subs Used – C. Mc Guinness, L. Connolly 1-1 and Y. Connell
Referee – G. Corrigan (Down)