Half-time: Monaghan trail by two at the break

Breaking

Paul Fitzpatrick

Monaghan trail by two points at half-time in a pulsating Ulster SFC final against Armagh at a rainy St Tiernach’s Park, Clones.

Gabriel Bannigan’s side settled immediately, with Conor McCarthy opening the scoring inside the first minute. Andrew Woods then landed a superb two-pointer after Armagh failed to gather a breaking ball in midfield, helping Monaghan into an early 0-3 to 0-1 lead.

Monaghan looked sharper and hungrier in the opening quarter. Michéal McCarville stretched the lead, while Oisín McGorman, a late addition to the starting side, added another excellent point as Armagh struggled to cope with Monaghan’s intensity.

However, Armagh gradually found their rhythm, with Oisín Conaty dragging them back into the contest. The Portadown forward was outstanding throughout the half, kicking five points from play and constantly troubling the Monaghan defence.

A major turning point arrived when Armagh finally struck for a two-pointer through Jarly Óg Burns after forcing turnovers around the middle third. Aaron McKay also made a crucial intervention with a superb block just as Monaghan looked certain to cut the gap to one.

Monaghan responded well late in the half. Stephen O’Hanlon pointed, Rory Beggan converted a massive two-point free from 46 metres, and Davy Garland levelled after an Armagh kick-out went astray.

But Armagh finished the half strongly through Joe McElroy before Conor Turbitt struck the post with a huge goal chance in stoppage time, leaving Monaghan relieved to be only two behind at the interval.

There were three late changes to the Monaghan starting team, Oisin McGorman for Darragh McElerney, Bobby McCaul for Cameron Dowd and David Garland for Stephen Mooney.