MONAGHAN ROAR INTO NEXT ROUND

Monaghan 1-13

Tyrone 0-09

By COLM SHALVEY

MONAGHAN marked their return to Division One of the Allianz NFL with an impressive win over Tyrone in Omagh last Saturday evening.

A slow start, playing against the wind, saw Monaghan fall five points down, but they responded with six unanswered points either side of half-time and even a floodlight failure – which delayed the game by around half-an-hour – couldn’t stop their momentum.

Stephen Gollogly scored the only goal just short of the hour-mark to ensure that Monaghan secured two valuable league points and a first away win in the top flight since 2006. NFL debutants Daniel McKenna and Ryan McAnespie were among nine Monaghan scorers in a fine team performance, led by Man of the Match and captain on the night, Darren Hughes.

It took just a minute for Seán Cavanagh to win and score a 13-metre free to get Tyrone up and running, with Peter Hughes quickly doubling their lead, although Dessie Mone linked up with Ryan McAnespie to get Monaghan off the mark with a fine point on five minutes.

A second point from Peter Hughes restored Tyrone’s two-point lead, before Kieran Hughes and Darren McCurry swapped points from 13-metre frees won by Dermot Malone and Seán Cavanagh. Mattie Donnelly had a good effort at a point eventually adjudged to have gone …