Monaghan topple Tyrone to win Ulster Under-21 football title

Monaghan 0-13 Tyrone 0-11

Mighty Monaghan toppled the All-Ireland champions to win their first Ulster Under-21 football title since 1999 in a gripping final at the athletic grounds last night.

A heroic effort from Monaghan carved out a deserved victory as they lifted the trophy for only the third time.

Monaghan goalkeeper denied Seán Fox with a terrific double save, but once Barry McGinn and Fearghal McMahon began to run directly at Tyrone, the challengers started to enjoy some success on the scoreboard.

The pair landed their side’s first three points, and it was Conor McCarthy who slotted over the lead score at the end of the opening quarter.

But the brilliant Brennan struck scores from frees and play, every one of them a spectacular effort.

Aaron Lynch and Barry McGinn, from a free, brought Monaghan level at 0-6 each on 23 minutes, but they suffered a blow late in the half when one of their key defenders, skipper Kevin Loughran was forced out of the action by a black card.

Brennan’s fifth point sent Tyrone in at half-time with a 0-7 to 0-6 lead, but McCarthy showed his true class with a magnificent long range effort.

That set the tone for a frenetic effort from Monaghan throughout the second half, with defenders Mikey Murnaghan and James Mealiff performing heroics.

McGinn, Barry Kerr and McCarthy added further scores and a defiant defensive showing held key man Brennan scoreless for the remainder of the game.

TYRONE: S Fox, C McCann (0-1), M McKernan, S Hamill (0-1), C Byrne, F Burns, M O'Neill, C McShane (0-2, one free), S Loughran, M Flanagan, M Kavanagh (0-1), D Mulgrew (0-1), L Brennan (0-5, three frees), R Coleman, S Fox. Subs: D Gallagher for Coleman (h-t), S O'Donnell for McCann (39 mins), R McGlone for O'Neill, B McDonnell for Flanagan, P McGirr for Byrne (all 60 mins). MONAGHAN: C Forde, B Kerr (0-1), M Murnaghan, K Loughran, D Ward, J Mealiff, N Rooney, N Loughman, A Lynch (0-1), R McAnespie, B McGinn (0-6, five frees), D Meegan, M O'Dowd, C McCarthy (0-3, one free), F McMahon (0-1). Subs: A Curran for Loughran (bc, 27 mins), F Maguire for O'Dowd, B McBennett for McMahon, A Treanor (0-1) for Lynch (all 60 mins). Referee: N Cullen (Fermanagh).