Allianz Football League Division One

Tyrone 0-9 Monaghan 0-9

By Orla Bannon at O'Neill's Healy Park

As incident-packed and eventful a nine-point draw as you’re likely to see as both Tyrone and Monaghan missed injury-time chances to win this gripping Division One Allianz League clash in Omagh.

Tyrone sub Paul Donaghy’s point was disallowed for a foul on Monaghan ‘keeper Rory Beggan, who then passed up on a long-range free opportunity in galeforce conditions in Healy Park, instead opting to kick it short to Conor Boyle’s whose effort dropped short.

Beggan had earlier scored a point from play – the first time Monaghan’s All Star keeper managed the feat at inter-county level.

A point apiece on the opening weekend left both teams going home happy because these rivals refused to bend or concede ground to the other.

With referee Joe McQuillan making allowances for the stormy, wet conditions and letting a lot go, the game ripped along at breakneck speed with plenty of mistakes and plenty of memorable moments.

2021 Player of the Year Kieran McGeary was sent off in the 68th minute for two bookable offences with All-Ireland champions Tyrone only scoring two points in the final 40 minutes of the game, having taken a 0-7 to 0-4 lead early in the second half.

This was a repeat of last year’s Ulster final which Tyrone edged by a point in Croke Park and there was a lot of bite and needle about this one.

Both sides made loads of mistakes but the crowd were fully engaged in a contest that was played at a surprisingly high tempo given the dreadful conditions.

It was 0-6 to 0-4 to Tyrone at half time with Monaghan missing several good goal chances as well as a couple of bad wides from very scoreable positions.

The sides were level twice in the early stages with Peter Harte and Kieran Duffy trading points.

Tyrone then opened up a three-point gap with three on a row from one of the new players Nathan Donnelly, Niall Sludden and a free from Cathal McShane.

In between those points Monaghan’s best goal chance came and went. Conor McCarthy and Ryan McAnespie were involved before Kieran Duffy’s shot was half blocked and crashed off the upright.

A poorly hit free and a couple of misses from Jack McCarron cost Monaghan further, but they had a good finish to the half with Shane Carey and Micheal Bannigan on target.

Carey and the lively Gary Mohan almost combined for a goal but the ball rolled across goal without anyone getting the finishing touch.

A superb second point from Sludden, who got his shot away under extreme pressure, left two in it at the break.

Cathal McShane looked rusty up front but Darren McCurry’s point early in the second half put Tyrone three ahead.

From there Monaghan shaded things with Ryan McAnespie, Conor McCarthy and memorably Beggan’s point from play in the 50th minute putting Monaghan ahead for the only time in the game at 0-8 to 0-7.

Tyrone hit the next two before Conor McManus struck the equaliser for Monaghan after 65 minutes shortly after his introduction for his first taste of competitive action in 2022.

Scorers for Tyrone: Niall Sludden 0-2, Cathal McShane 0-2 (2f), Darren McCurry 0-1 (1f), Niall Morgan 0-1 (f), Peter Harte, Liam Rafferty, Nathan Donnelly 0-1 each

Scorers for Monaghan: Rory Beggan 0-3 (2f), Ryan McAnespie, Kieran Duffy, Conor McCarthy, Shane Carey, Conor McManus 0-1 each, Micheal Bannigan 0-1 (f)

Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Michael McKernan, Padraig Hampsey, Liam Rafferty; Conor Meyler, Frank Burns, Peter Harte; Conn Kilpatrick, Nathan Donnelly; Kieran McGeary, Richie Donnelly, Niall Sludden; Darren McCurry, Conor Shields, Cathal McShane

Subs: Brian Kennedy for Richie Donnelly (48), Darragh Canavan for Conor Shields (48), Mattie Donnelly for Darren McCurry (62), Paul Donaghy for Cathal McShane (67)

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Darren Hughes, Conor Boyle, Ryan Wylie; Kieran Duffy, Dessie Ward, Ryan McAnespie; Gary Mohan, Niall Kearns; Conor McCarthy, Micheal Bannigan, Shane Carey; Aaron Mulligan, Jack McCarron, Andrew Woods

Subs: Killian Lavelle for Niall Kearns (HT), Karl O’Connell for Mulligan (47), David Garland for Jack McCarron (56), Conor McManus for Gary Mohan (56).

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan).