Monaghan will take on Derry in Armagh and Tyrone will face Fermanagh in Clones in the semi-finals of the Bank of Ireland Doctor McKenna cup next weekend. This was determined after the final round of group games were played this evening. Monaghan made it 3 from 3 in the Dr Mc Kenna cup with a 1-13 to 0-10 win over Saint Marys in Iniskeen. It was a game that will have given manager Malachy O Rourke plenty of food for thought as his side were flat in the first half and indeed saw themselves behind at the break 0-06 points to 0-05, Clontibrets Conor Mc Manus with his first start of 2017 rattling over 3 points in the opening 35 minutesand indeed he added a further 3 in the 2nd half before been replaced by Dessie Mone, who was also making his first start of 2017.
It was Cathal Mc Shane for the student’s who was the one to watch particularly in the first half as his 4 points give them a strong foothold in the game, indeed the Tyrone man added a further 2 in the 2nd half, adding to points from Conor Myler and Jarlath Og Burns.
No doubt strong words were spoken in the Farney dressing room at half time as their intensity picked up in the 2nd half and while the students did get the opening score, replies from Conor Mc Manus and Neil Mc Adam levelled matters before a 1-01 salvo from Dermott Malone given the home side the breathing space they required. Conor Mc Manus also adding a point in that 3 minute spell that decided this game. With the students visibly tiring in the final 10 minutes, Dessie Mone , Fintan Kelly and Ryan Wylie all made moves up the field to fire over scores with man of the match Cathal Mc Shane having the last say with a point to leave it Monaghan 1-13 St. Marys 0-10 .
You can hear live coverage of their game against Derry in Armagh next Sunday on Northern Sound.
