February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Mike Fitzpatrick
Tyrone 1-10, Monaghan 0-10
Same old story, same old Monaghan.
The fans’ favorites crashed once more when, at times, they looked as if they could have clinched something from this senior football Div. 1 tie at Gaelic Park on Sunday.
Monaghan have now gone a lengthy spell without a win, despite some dogged performances against the so called stronger sides in New York. How many times have we seen them take vital leads at crucial stages of big games, only to heartbreakingly fall at the final hurdle?
Last time out, we saw them take the game versus Donegal by the scruff of the neck, only to have Mickey Slowey, a vital component in the Monaghan machine, dismissed for a second bookable offense.
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Slowey missed this tie, as did Monaghan’s other primary scorer Eddie Murphy. The two were sorely missed, as Tyrone managed to surge in front and clinch the two points.
But what of Tyrone?
They’ve now played three and won three. The Duke’s men are clearly on a roll. They’ve brushed aside kingpins Donegal, which was an achievement in itself, and now this result versus the combative Monaghan side leaves them perched on top of the senior football table.
Only an unmitigated disaster would see them fail to reach the playoffs at this stage, though stranger things have happened. Especially at Gaelic Park.
Tyrone, having lost the services of Mickey and Martin Slowey, and full back Sean Teague, had been dismissed by quite a few of the Gaelic Park faithful this year. They still have the likes of Danny Barr, Philip Sloan and Barry Tally though, and although missing Michael Coleman for this game, they still managed to outscore Monaghan, one of the more difficult sides to pin down in the senior division.
In this game, it was a low scoring first half, with Tyrone leading by two points at the break, thanks to points from Paul Devlin, Paul McGuirk and Justin Murray.
Pogo McEntee, and one of Monaghan’s unsung heroes, Hughie O’Sullivan, replied for Monaghan.
The game still seemed wide open with neither side really able to make the crucial breakthrough. What was in essence a dour first half, was soon put to the back of our minds as the second half livened up somewhat with both teams increasing their scoring levels.
Monaghan forced their way through on countless occasions, but missing Slowey and Murphy up front, they were always going to be found wanting. Added to that, the impressive performance of Tyrone keeper Aidan Lloyd, it was not to be Monaghan’s day.
Tyrone moved into a decent lead with Darren Flanagan hitting a goal, and Justin Murray adding to his tally.
Monaghan fought back through accurate efforts from Gary McQuaid and O’Sullivan, but Tyrone’s lead remained intact.
A three point cushion remained between the sides, and once more, it was a downhearted Monaghan team which left Gaelic Park on Sunday afternoon.
With Slowey back for the next game, who knows what will happen, but right now, they find themselves at a severe disadvantage having lost each game they’ve played. Tyrone, on the other hand, are on the up. Without a point dropped, the Duke’s men will hope to be out to cause problems for Donegal and Kerry this year.
Tyrone: Aidan Lloyd, Damian Devlin, Brian Quinn, Liam Briody, John Cormican, Collie Fearon, Gary McConnell, Danny Barr (0-1), Paul McGuirk (0-1), Gerard Flanagan (0-1), Paul Devlin (0-3), Philip Sloan, Barry Tally, Joe Firth, Darren Flanagan (1-0) Subs: Justin Murray (0-3), Barry Hynes (0-1).
Monaghan: David Ballantine, Barry Duggan, Mickey Art Traynor, Paul Rush, Gareth Duffy, Gary McQuaid (0-4), Garret Duffy, Hughie O’Sullivan (0-3), Dan Scott (0-1), Bonnie Duffy, Raymond Roneghan, Mickey McEntee, Pogo McEntee (0-2). Subs: Paul McGlynn, Bernard Traynor, Brian McKenna Man of the match: Paul McGuirk (Tyrone).