MONAGHAN STAY ON TRACK

UNDER-20 PHILLY MCGUINESS CUP

COLM SHALVEY REPORTS

Monaghan’s U-20 footballers claimed a second consecutive narrow win in the Philly McGuinness Cup when they finished strongly to pip Armagh in a five-goal thriller in Inniskeen last Saturday. The momentum swung dramatically on a couple of occasions during this game, where a brace of goals towards the end of the first half put Monaghan in the driving seat, only for Armagh to dominate the third quarter to go from five points down to five ahead. Monaghan outscored Barry O’Hagan and Oisín McConville’s side by 1-5 to 0-1 down the home straight, however, to add to their opening win over Cavan.

Monaghan had four changes from round one, with county senior Shane Hanratty returning to the U-20 side and Seán Treanor, Mark McPhillips and Niall Rice also being handed starts. The game was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of Frankie Mooney, grandfather of Monaghan player Stephen Mooney. Monaghan started off on the front foot…