Monaghan move up the gears

UNDER-21 FOOTBALL ULSTER QUARTER-FINALS/Monaghan 2-12 Antrim 2-6:A GOAL for each side in the opening 11 minutes at Casement Park last night promised much in way of entertainment, but that was before Monaghan took command.

After the teams were level at 0-1 each, Antrim hit the first blow when Colm Fleming fired a penalty to the Monaghan net. As the goalkeeper fumbled the ball on the goal-line, Fleming was fouled and made no mistake with the spot kick. Antrim’s joy was short-lived, however. Donal Hahessy pointed for Monaghan and in the 11th minute a three-man move down the middle ended with midfielder Kieran Hughes shooting to the corner of the net. Another Fleming free levelled matters again on 13 minutes (1-2 each), but five unanswered points sent the visitors into a 1-7 to 1-2 lead.

Kieran Hughes and Colm Greenan were controlling midfield with Hahessy, Dermot Malone and David Miller giving the Antrim defence a testing time with their running and combined play.

Fergal Burke had the last say of the first half with a pointed free-kick for Antrim to leave the visitors 1-7 to 1-3 ahead.

Points by David Hughes and Chris McGuinness on the resumption were followed by a David Millar goal in the 34th minute to leave Monaghan leading by 2-9 to 1-3 and Antrim a mountain to climb. They replaced both midfielders which steadied things, but not enough. A 56th-minute goal for Antrim fisted in by Fleming was only a consolation score.

MONAGHAN: E McArdle; M Reilly, D Daly, C Galligan; C Walshe, K Duffy, D Hughes (0-1); C Greenan, K Hughes (1-0); D Hahessy (0-5, two frees), D Malone (0-1), B McArdle; C McGuinness (0-2, one free), P Tavey (0-1), D Miller (1-1). Subs: P O’Hara for B McArdle (46 mins); D McNally (0-1) for Tavey (48 mins); B McCrudden for Malone (50 mins); K Boyce for E McArdle (53 mins).

ANTRIM: P Graham; D McAlernon, D McCann, C McVeigh; P Gallagher, J Lavery, S Finch; M Magowan, B Rushe; P McCann, F Burke (0-1, free), M Armstrong (0-1); C Fleming (2-3, 1-0 pen, three frees), M Kelly, B Neeson (0-1). Subs: E McNeill for Rushe (20 mins); M McAleese for Gallagher (23 mins); P Johnston for McVeigh (39 mins); M Graham for Magowan (40 mins); M Kane (1-0) for Burke (47 mins).

Referee: B Cassidy (Derry).