TYRONE 0-14 MONAGHAN 0-10

Allianz Football League Division 1
TYRONE 0-14 MONAGHAN 0-10
By Orla Bannon at Healy Park
An inspirational 15 minutes from Sean Cavanagh dragged wasteful Tyrone over the line at Healy Park, the captain coming off the bench to make sure of the Allianz Football League victory against 13-man Monaghan.
Not for the first time, Cavanagh’s leadership proved the difference and with his team rocking and in danger of blowing a big lead, he took responsibility and landed three late points.
Tyrone played with a zip in their legs that Monaghan couldn’t match in the first half and they led 0-9 to 0-2 at half time having also missed three good goal chances including a missed penalty from Peter Harte.
Monaghan, lethargic after their win in Killarney six days earlier, failed to score in the opening 25 minutes.They looked doomed when Fintan Kelly and Dermot Malone were dismissed early in the second half.
Yet Malachy O’Rourke’s side responded well to the setbacks and they were the better team for most of the second half, outscoring the home side by five points to one in the third quarter with Jack McCarron impressive up front.
But Cavanagh saved the day making a huge impact, hitting two frees and a point from play to steady the ship.
Tyrone took complete control early on hitting the opening four points in a dominant spell through Conor Meyler, Tiernan McCann, Darren McCurry and Burns.
Monaghan didn’t score until the 25th minute through Jack McCarron, and after a quality long-range point from Tiernan McCann, McCarron tagged on a free to reduce the gap to 0-6 to 0-2.
Tyrone missed a few goal chances but added on three points before the break to go in 0-9 to 0-2 in front at the interval.
There looked no way back for Monaghan. Malachy O’Rourke’s side came out pumped up but within six minutes they were down to 13 men with Fintan Kelly and Dermot Malone getting their marching orders.
Monaghan needed a goal to get back into it and almost got one when Conor McManus and McCarthy teed up Dessie Ward but Tyrone ‘keeper Mickey O’Neill came out smartly to smother the shot.
McManus finally got off the scoresheet nailing the ’45’ and McCarron scored a brilliant sideline ball with Monaghan rallying well after the dismissals.
The visitors were the better team and two frees from Rory Beggan cut the deficit to 0-10 to 0-6.
Mickey Harte responded by bringing on Sean Cavanagh and moving Donnelly from full-forward to midfield.
Monaghan gave it a great go, closing to within 0-10 to 0-7. Cavanagh made the difference, taking responsibility to nail a 60th minute free with his team rocking.
McCurry smacked a shot off the crossbar which would have killed the game and Monaghan rallied again with Kieran Hughes, McManus and McCarron on target.
Cavanagh scored a trademark point from play with three minutes to go and his injury-time free sealed the win.
Scorers for Tyrone: Peter Harte 0-4 (2f), Sean Cavanagh 0-3 (2f), Darren McCurry 0-2, Tiernan McCann 0-2, Justin McMahon 0-1, Frank Burns 0-1, Conor Meyler 0-1
Scorers for Monaghan: Jack McCarron 0-4 (2f), Conor McManus 0-2 (1f), Rory Beggan 0-2 (2f), Kieran Hughes 0-2
TYRONE: Mickey O’Neill; Padraig Hampsey, Ronan McNamee, Cathal McCarron; Tiernan McCann, Justin McMahon, Frank Burns; Colm Cavanagh, Declan McClure; Conor Meyler, Kieran McGeary, Peter Harte; Darren McCurry, Mattie Donnelly, Ronan O’Neill
Subs: Cathal McShane for Burns (46), Sean Cavanagh for McClure (51), Rory Brennan for McMahon (56), Conal McCann for R O’Neill (58), Aidan McCrory for McCarron (60)
MONAGHAN: Rory Beggan; Fintan Kelly, Drew Wylie, Ryan Wylie; Kieran Duffy, Neil McAdam, Ryan McAnespie; Owen Coyle, Kieran Hughes; Thomas Kerr, Dermot Malone, Gavin Doogan; Karl O’Connell, Jack McCarron, Conor McManus
Subs: Conor McCarthy for Kerr (HT), Dessie Ward for Duffy (HT), Stephen Gollogly for Doogan (63), James Mealiff for McAnespie (63)
REFEREE: Padraig Hughes (Armagh)