Round-up: Tyrone and Monaghan to contest Dalata Hotel Group Ulster U20 FC Final

Dalata Hotel Group Ulster U20 Football Championship semi-finals

Donegal 0-8 Tyrone 0-11

Armagh 1-9 Monaghan 3-13

By Francis Mooney

All-Ireland champions Tyrone are through to another Ulster U20 football final following a comeback win over Donegal, and their opponents in next week’s decider will be Monaghan, who saw off Armagh in the other semi-final.

Donegal led by seven points at one stage at Convoy, but the Red Hands battled back to win a tense eliminator by 0-11 to 0-8.

The home side dominated the opening half with the wind in their backs, building up a three points lead in the opening ten minutes with the help of a Tomas Carr two-pointer.

However, they missed a host of chances and reached the end of the opening quarter with just a three points advantage.

Turlough Carr and Kevin Muldoon added scores, before Max Campbell stretched the lead to seven.

They had held the holders scoreless until stoppage time, when Peter Colton opened Tyrone’s account.

Donegal led by 0-7 to 0-1 at the turnaround, but it was Tyrone who seized control, points from Adrian McGurren and Shea McDermott.

Leo Hughes and McDermott landed two-pointers at the beginning of the final quarter to nudge Tyrone ahead for the first time, and they restricted their opponents to a single point in the entire half, a ’45 from goalkeeper Lewis McCaughan.

And it was McDermott who sent over the two late points that clinched it for the Red Hands.

Monaghan overwhelmed Armagh by 3-13 to 1-8 at the Box-It Athletic Grounds to set up a meeting with the holders in the final.

Max McGinnity and John McCrystal sent over early scores to give Monaghan a bright start, before the home side settled to build patiently, going level through Liam McGeary.

McCrystal and Tom Doherty hit the target again as Monaghan displayed steel and directness, but the Orchard Count drew level for a second time, as Liam Carroll sent a ’45 sailing between the posts.

McGinnity and Matthew Finn added to the Farney tally, with Ryan Nugent responding at the other end, but the boys on blue struck for a goal two minutes before the break, McGinnity hitting the net to send them in with a 1-6 to 0-6 interval lead.

They dominated the second half, pushing further clear with points from Tom Doherty, Caolan Clerkin and Matthew Finn.

Armagh got themselves back in contention with a goal from Aaron McGuinness, but Monaghan had the big finish in store, with substitute Killian Kierans grabbing two late goals.