All-Ireland champs Tyrone proved too strong for Monaghan in the opening round of the Lidl Ladies Division 2 league. The Red hand county raced into a 6 point lead scoring 1-3 from play. Éabha Sherry kicked a fine score on the 16th minute to get Monaghan’s scoreboard ticking and this was followed up 2 minutes later with a great effort from Niamh Flanagan, whose height proved advantageous in the middle of the field for the new mark rule, putting 4 points between the sides. Tyrone fired another 1-2 without reply to keep a comfortable lead with several of Monaghan’s efforts dropping short or wide. With 5 minutes to go until the half time whistle, Monaghan seemed to find their groove. The Farney defence started to get to grips with the pacey Tyrone forwards with Eimear Traynor turning over plenty of ball and Aine Loughman putting her body on the line to stop a shot on goal. Alison Gilliland and Rosemary Courtney led charges out of defence and instigated counter attacks. The middle of the field put immense pressure on homesides kickouts with excellent catches from Niamh Flanagan, Amy Garland and Casey Treanor. A run of scores from Chloe Mc Bride and Casey Treanor produced a Monaghan purple patch while Muireann Atkinson got the last score of the half to leave 5 points in it at the break with it 2-05 to 5 points in favour of the 2025 All Ireland intermediate champions
A quick start from Tyrone yieled 3 goals at the begining of the 2nd half and effectively put the game to bed but Monaghan had to be credited for not backing down as scores from Chloe Mc Bride, Aoibhin Mc Cormack who came in from the bench, Jennifer Duffy and Eabha Sherry seen if finish out 7-11 to 11 points. Next up for Monaghan is the visit of Donegal who opened their league campaign with a victory over Westmeath
Monaghan Team and scorers :- Molly Flood, Aine Loughman, Aine McQuaid, Maeve Monaghan, Eimear Traynor, Rosemary Courtney, Alison Gilliland, Jennifer Duffy (0-01) Niamh Flanagan (0-01) Muireann Atkinson (0-01) Amy Garland, Casey Treanor (0-02) Chloe McBride (0-03; 1f) Éabha Sherry (0-2) Amy Jo Kierans, Dervla Cawley, Michaela Grew, Aoibhin McCormack (0-01) Ellen Leonard, Caoimhe Ward
