USHC – Wins for Monaghan & London

Ulster SHC 2nd Round:
Monaghan 1-15 Donegal 1-14

Monaghan survived a furious late rally by Donegal at Clones where the Farney men booked their place in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship quarter-finals with a narrow, one-point win.

The home side had to dig deep in the tense closing stages to survive a late Tir Chonaill comeback, before substitute Pat O’Connor sealed victory with a stoppage time point.

Monaghan were given an early boost when Michael Greaney grabbed a fifth minute goal. He finished to the net with conviction from Stephen Lambe’s delivery, and that score gave the Farney men genuine belief that they could triumph.

With Brian Phelan an unshakeable tower of strength in midfield, the home side grew in confidence as the first half progressed, with Eanna MacSuibhne firing over some sublime long range scores and Stephen Lambe striking accurately from frees.

Donegal struggled to get into the game, but did nick points on the breakaway through Kevin Campbell, Niall Campbell and Barry Friel.

They almost conceded a second goal to Greaney, but Marty McGrath blocked heroically to avert the danger.

Monaghan were six points clear at the interval and further scores from Sean McVeigh, Barrry Friel, O’Brien and substitute Damien Doherty had them well in control.

Donegal needed some inspiration, and they got it when Kevin Campbell drilled a 20-metre free to the net 10 minutes from the end to bring them right back into it.

They reeled off a string of points through Kevin and Niall Campbell, before Sean McVeigh brought them level in the final minute.

It looked like it was set to go to extra-time, but O’Connor’s late strike from wide on the left sealed it for Monaghan.

Monaghan: M McHugh, A Kerr, J McHugh, G Coleman, D Crowe (0-1), J Greene, B O’Brien (0-3, 2 frees), D Connolly, B Phelan (0-1), S Lambe (0-5, 4 frees), A Hughes, E MacSuibhne (0-3), M Greaney (1-0), M Dolan, B McGuigan.
Subs: P Dowdall for Greaney, P O’Connor (0-1) for Greene

Donegal: R Scanlon, M McGrath, J Wallace, J McGee, J Donnelly, G Dwyer, S Boyle, P Hannigan, E Organ, S McVeigh (0-3), M McCann (0-1), K Campbell (1-3, 1-3 frees), L Henderson (0-1), B Friel (0-2), N Campbell (0-3).
Subs: D Doherty (0-1) for Boyle

Referee: O Elliot (Antrim)

Wides: Monaghan 6, Donegal 12

Yellow cards:
Monaghan: D Crowe, J Greene
Donegal: E Organ, D Doherty, P Hannigan

Red cards – None

Ulster SHC 2nd Round:
Tyrone 1-6 London 2-13

Tyrone were no match for a dominant London side at Omagh, where the Exiles swept to a comfortable Ulster SHC win.

First half goals from Stephen Malone and Kevin McMullan laid the foundations for a dominant display by Mick O’Dea’s side in the Healy Park sunshine.

Tyrone made a promising start with early scores from Conor Gallagher and David Lavery, but the Exiles, with Fergus McMahon and Sean Quinn a powerful force in midfield, soon settled to take control of the contest.

They went in front through McMahon, McMullan and Stephen Malone, before Peadar McMahon’s long range strike brought the sides level.

But in the 18th minute, the game turned very much in favour of London when they struck for their first goal, albeit with the help of a touch of good fortune.

Malone sent in a hopeful delivery from the right, which deceived goalkeeper Niall Gallagher and ended in the net.

And when Finn swept over a free, London led comfortably by 2-6 to 0-3 at the interval.

The visitors continued to show their superior class in the second half, and led by 13 points at one stage.

Finn continued to strike accurately from placed balls, and while the Red Hands did enjoy a brief productive spell which yielded excellent scores from Gallagher and Cormac McHugh, there was never a hint that they could drag themselves back into contention.

Finn, McMullan and Conor O’Halloran turned the screw, and Niall Healy and Sean McLoughlin held things tight at the back, until Tyrone finally did grab a late goal, drilled direct to the net from a 20 metre free by Gallagher.

Tyrone: N Gallagher, SP Begley, M Winters, M McElroy, S McKiver, S Donnelly, L Moore, N Hurson, C Gallagher (1-2 , 1-2 frees), D Lavery (0-1), P McMahon (0-1), C McHugh (0-1), P O’Connor (0-1), P Hughes, P Devine.
Subs: J Kelly for McMahon, J Connolly for O’Connor

London: G McCollum, B Mulcahy, S McLoughlin, T Simms, T Abernethy, N Healy, E Phelan, S Quinn (0-1), F McMahon (0-1, free), J McCarthy (0-1), C O’Halloran (0-1), S Malone (1-1), K McMullan (1-1), M Finn (0-6, 1 free, 1 ’65’), C McDonnell.
Subs: M Mythen for O’Donnell, M Heffernan for Phelan, E Fahy for Abernethy, M O hArragain for Mulcahy

Referee: R Matthews (Antrim)

Wides: Tyrone 11, London 10

Yellow cards:
Tyrone: P Hughes
London: M Finn, F McMahon

Red cards: None