TYRONE 1-13
MONAGHAN 0-15
Peter Harte and Colm Cavanagh were pure class for Tyrone but goalscorer Niall Sludden will get most of the credit as Monaghan were pipped by a point.
Sludden’s goal gave Tyrone renewed belief after a storming second half spell from Monaghan in the All-Ireland semi-final at Croke Park. Malachy O’Rourke’s men left it all out on the pitch but it was not to be and Tyrone will now meet Dublin in September’s final.
Tyrone got off to the better start but, just when it looked as though they could build a big lead, the kicks that were going over the bar started going wide.
Monaghan, between Conor McCarthy and Conor McManus, started chipping away at the Red Hand lead. They missed a great opportunity to hit the front, on 22 minutes, but Niall Morgan saved superbly from Vinny Corry and Mattie Donnelly got back to block a follow-up effort.
Serious Tyrone Defence deny Monaghan a score! pic.twitter.com/yPZbFKIpth
— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 12, 2018
Both goalkeepers – Morgan and Rory Beggan – were key figures and their distribution was put under more pressure than usual. Both sides were aware that winning or spoiling kick-outs would go a long way to deciding the winner of this last four clash.
Tyrone’s lead was eventually cancelled out just before half-time and both sides headed to the tunnel with the score at 0-8 to 0-8.
Conor McAliskey opened the second half with two Tyrone points before Beggan answered back with a free from 46 metres out.
The Farney looked to be through on a 3-on-1 counter-attack but were appalled when McManus was pinged for what the referee deemed to be a foul. To make matters worse, Tyrone got a free, close in, moments later and Lee Brennan chipped over.
But Monaghan found another gear and had a 10-minute purple patch that included sub Kieran Hughes levelling matters with a swinging leg as he was being hauled to the deck and McManus knocking over a close-range free.
0-12 to 0-11 in behind and without a score in 16 minutes, Tyrone responded with a goal when Niall Sludden was first to react to a breaking ball to slam home past Beggan.
What a finish from Tyrone's Niall Sludden! Rattles the net! pic.twitter.com/DQNgGUDPm0
— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 12, 2018
McManus then kicked a 40-yard free and the closing minutes were teed up for a cracker.
Colm Cavanagh then won a soft free by charging at Conor McManus and, ball in hand, Peter Harte chipped over his first score of the day. 90 seconds later, from play, Harte doubled his scoring contribution with a curling effort on the run.
Hughes and the brilliant Drew Wylie got scores to reduce Tyrone’s lead to a point but Monaghan simply ran out of time.
Hughes was hauled down in the 73rd minute but no free was given and the jig was up. Mickey Harte’s men march on.
OUR MAN OF THE MATCH: Colm Cavanagh (Tyrone)
