U-21s force replay in Shamrock
Tournament Final
28 February 2008
Monaghan and Down met in the final of the 2008
Shamrock U-21 Football tournament final in Shamrock
Park, Cremartin last weekend and after a thrilling
encounter between two determined sides in poor
weather conditions it was the Mourne side who
forced a replay in added time - final score
Monaghan 1-10, Down 0-13.
Both teams are gearing themselves
for a good run in this season’s Ulster
championship which commences in the coming weeks,
and Saturday’s clash was ideal preparation
and excellent match practice.
Down had the strong wind at their backs in the
opening half and held the edge. However, the
Farney side finished the half strongly scoring
a goal and a point in the closing minutes of
the half to go in at the break ahead by one
point - 1-5 to 0-7.
Monaghan looked in command
in the early stages of the second-half increasing
their lead and forcing the pace of the game.
Then the Down management introduced senior panelist
James Colgan to the midfield area and they began
to win more ball around this vital area. With
the game entering the final quarter the sides
were level. Then in the 27th minute a well-struck
free by Conor McManus put Monaghan back in front
and the game moved towards an interesting finish.
But just when it looked as
if Monaghan would narrowly hold on, Down senior
player Paul McComiskey got the equaliser and
it’s off to Newry on Tuesday at 7.30 for
the replay and it would be a brave man who would
predict the outcome of this game.
Monaghan - Kieran Boyce; P
MacRory, Darren Hughes, Darren Duffy; Pat Meegan,
Neill McAdam, Seamus Markey; Gavin Doogan, Mathew
McKenna; Conor McManus, (0-3, 3frees), Shane
Smith, Eoin Duffy (0-2); Paraic Donaghy, Darren
Bishop (1-2, 2frees), Daniel McNally (0-2).
Subs - Colm Greenan for P. Donaghy, Martin McElroy
(0-1) for D. Duffy, Mark McCaffrey for S. Markey,
Dean Fanning for E. Duffy, James Turley for
S. Smith.
Down - Michael McAllister;
Mark Digney, Seamus Grant, Andrew Sloan; Brendan
Rooney, Kevin Duffy, Timmie Hanna; Cathal Murdoch,
Kiernan McKiernan (0-2); Conor Garvey, Eamon
Toner (0-1), Declan Lavery; Ciaran Brannigan
(0-2), Cathal Magee (0-1), Ryan Kelly (0-3,
1free).
Subs - James Colgan for C Murdoch (0-1), Jimmy
Reilly (0-1) for D Lavery, Gerard McCartan for
T Hanna, Cathal Murney for S Grant, Paul McCumiskey
(0-1) for R Kelly
