Ulster U-20 FC

Tyrone 5-20 Monaghan 0-8

By Michael McMullan

TYRONE eased past Monaghan on Wednesday night in Coalisland to seal their semi-final spot.

The Red Hands were relentless and never looked back from the moment Odhran Brolly netted for a 1-5 to 0-2 lead after 20 minutes.

Monaghan were minus 10 of their starting team that ran Derry close seven days earlier including key attackers Bobby McCaul and Aaron Carey.

The Farney side were twice ahead early on but were unable to properly break down a Tyrone defence with Callum Daly perfectly positioned as sweeper.

In attack, it was Eoin McElholm who pulled the strings and made use of the space vacated by ‘number 15’ Daly dropping back.

Cormac Devlin and McElholm added goals as Tyrone raced into a 3-8 to 0-3 interval lead.

McElholm was replaced by Loughmacrory clubmate Ruairi McCullagh at the break who also went on to nick 1-3 in the second half.

McCullagh nabbed points with either foot before his goal pushing Tyrone further into the comfort zone.

Tyrone used their bench to great effect. Noah Grimes and Ronan Donnelly were also on target with Michael Rafferty getting forward to hit their fifth goal.

Tyrone: C McAneney; J Clarke, B Hughes, Conor Devlin; C Daly; S O’Hare (0-1), M Rafferty (1-1), O Brolly (1-0); R Fox (0-1), C O’Neill (0-1); Cormac Devlin (1-0), E McElholm (1-3), G Potter (0-2); C Owens (0-1), R Cassidy (0-3, 1f)
Subs: F Donnelly for Conor Devlin (HT), R McCullagh (1-3, 1m) for E McElholm (HT), N Grimes (0-1) for C Owens (40), R Donnelly (0-1) for G Potter (43), P McCann (0-2) for O Brolly (44)

Monaghan: O Finnegan; T Hughes J McConnon, P Farrelly; N Sherlock (0-1), G Devlin, S Casey; J McMahon, M Ennis; C Foy, K Duffy (0-4, 3f), D McKenna (0-2, 1 45); J McElwaine, O Byrne, L McManus (0-1)
Subs: O Reilly for O Finnegan (blood sub 30, reversed HT), O McGorman for O Byrne (HT), P Doogan Burke for P Farrelly (34)

Referee: S Murphy (Armagh)

Round-up

Derry were similar winners over Antrim at Owenbeg (5-16 to 0-3) to secure second place and a quarter-final meeting with Cavan next week.

Goals from Ryan McNicholl (2), Odhrán Murphy Niall O’Donnell and Ruairi Forbes were the key scores for the Oakleafers.

In the other group, Donegal’s game with Armagh – to decide top spot -was postponed and it now refixed for Saturday.

Cavan’s 2-9 to 1-11win over Fermanagh at Brewster Park was enough to see them clinch third spot and a place in next week’s quarter-finals.

Matthew Smith hit an early Cavan goal that helped them into a 1-6 to 0-5 interval lead.

With 11 minutes to go Micheal Burns pulled Fermanagh back within a point, 1-9 to 1-8.

Cavan responded instantly with a Darragh Lovett goal but Fermanagh rallied with scores only for Cavan to hang on.

How the Ulster u-20 FC looks….

Refixed game – Saturday, April 13
Donegal v Armagh (3pm – venue tbc)

Quarter-finals (Wednesday, April 17)
Derry v Cavan (Owenbeg, 7.30pm)
Loser Armagh/Donegal v Monaghan (Venue tbc, 7.30pm)

Semi-finals (Wednesday, April 24)
Tyrone v quarter-final winner
Winner Armagh/Donegal v quarter-final winner