Monaghan advance to McKenna Cup final with narrow win over Tyrone

Dr McKenna Cup semi-final

Monaghan 1-15

Tyrone 2-10

Monaghan will look to bag the Dr McKenna Cup for the first time since 2022 in this Saturday’s final after a hard-earned derby victory over Tyrone in Inniskeen last night.

The home side struck 1-10 against the breeze in the first half, which was decisive, with captain Micheál Bannigan adding 1-6 over the hour, following on from his 0-8 haul in a cameo off the bench against Fermanagh.

The opening exchanges were even, but a goal from Aidan Donaghy and an orange flag for Ethan Jordan saw Malachy O’Rourke’s boys move five in front.

Monaghan responded through Bannigan, David Garland and Thomas Hughes, and the home revival gathered momentum when Bannigan capped a slick move with a well-taken goal. Tyrone’s only scores in the second quarter came from Jordan and Conroy, while Andrew Woods, Bannigan and Fionán Carolan kept Monaghan ticking over at the other end to establish a 1-10 to 1-6 half-time advantage.

As in the first period, Tyrone began the second half with purpose, Conroy landing 1-2 in the third quarter as the away side again moved five in front.

It took Monaghan 13 minutes to register after the restart, but once Woods ended the drought, they regained control through a Shane Hanratty point and a Bannigan two-pointer.

Scores dried up on the run-in before debutant Matthew Carolan tacked on the insurance point in injury time to seal a good win for Monaghan.

Monaghan: Jack Kiernan; Daragh McElearney, Darragh Treanor, Cameron Dowd; Dessie Ward (0-1), Shane Hanratty (0-1), Oisín Monahan; Karl Gallagher, Thomas Hughes (0-1); Fionán Carolan (0-1), Mícheál Bannigan (1-6, 2ptf, 1f), Jason Irwin; David Garland (0-1), Andrew Woods (0-3), Stephen O'Hanlon.

Subs: Alastair Stewart for Ward, Liam McDonald for Irwin, Ryan Wylie for Dowd (all ht); Aaron Carey for Monahan (41); Seán Callan for Garland, Eddie Walsh for Woods, Matthew Carolan (0-1) for F Carolan (all 58); Packie Doogan-Burke for Hanratty (60).

Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Nathan McCarron, Peter McCaughey, Shane Hughes; Michael Rafferty, Cormac Quinn, Frank Burns; Aidan Donaghy (1-0), Cathal Donaghy; Shea O’Hare, Oisín Gormley, Matthew Óg McGleenan; Michael Conroy (1-5, 3f, 45), Mattie Donnelly (0-1f), Ethan Jordan (0-4, 2pt).

Subs: Jack Gibney for Morgan, Dalaigh Jones for Rafferty, Ciarán Bogue for Jordan (all ht); Brian Kennedy for O’Hare, Aidan Clarke for Burns (both 38); Joe Oguz for Donnelly, Rory Brennan for Quinn (both 47); Michael McKernan for C Donaghy, Conn Kilpatrick for Conroy (both 52).

Ref: Pat Clarke (Cavan).