WAFER-THIN MARGINS AS THE RACE HEATS UP

Colm Shalvey

Monaghan’s eighth draw in their last 15 competitive games comes as little surprise, given their recent history. Monaghan should be a little further on in their preparations than Tyrone at this stage of the year as the Red Hands play catch-up, but no matter when these sides meet, there tends to be little between them. Over the teams’ last nine meetings, the aggregate score is Monaghan 3-115 Tyrone 3-120, leaving the average margin at just over half a point per game.

Goals have been few and far between so far this year and that has also been very true of this fixture. Monaghan’s last three meetings with Tyrone have all been goalless (aggregate score: Monaghan 0-38 Tyrone 0-39). You have to dig way back to a 2005 qualifier for the last time either team scored more than one goal in this fixture in NFL and SFC. Their paths could cross…