NFL Division One A/ Tyrone 1-15 Monaghan 1-13: Tyrone produced a comeback to turn a seven-point deficit into a two-point win at Healy Park, Omagh, yesterday. A Martin Penrose goal broke the hearts of a Monaghan side which had looked set to spring a shock and condemn the All-Ireland champions to a relegation dogfight.
Tommy Freeman had put Monaghan in pole position with a second-half goal, but suddenly Mickey Harte's side caught fire, and a devastating spell of attacking football saw them hit 1-7 in the closing 20 minutes.
Monaghan's workrate and willingness to get men behind the ball served them well in the opening quarter, but Tyrone's Stephen O'Neill still hit the target twice in the opening 10 minutes.
Paul Finlay was a powerful and skilful force at midfield for Séamus McEnaney's men and it was Finlay who curled over two gems from play to edge them in front by the 14th minute.
Penrose soon equalised, setting a trend for an opening period which saw the sides level on six occasions.
Tyrone also squandered two glorious goal chances in the space of five minutes. Penrose punched over an empty net after fine work by O'Neill and shortly afterwards, goalkeeper Shane Duffy produced a superb save to deny Owen Mulligan's effort.
The influential Finlay's third score had the large travelling support in fine voice, before O'Neill's third converted free eased Tyrone into a 0-7 to 0-6 interval lead. But the high drama still lay ahead. Monaghan made an inspired start to the second half, hitting 1-5 in an 11-minute spell.
Substitute Paul McGuigan made an immediate impact with three scores from play, and in the 57th minute, Vincent Corey sent Tommy Freeman through for a clinically executed goal.
Monaghan were then ahead by 1-11 to 0-7, but that was the signal for Tyrone to turn on the style. Seán Cavanagh and Joe McMahon were sprung from the bench, and with Brian McGuigan pulling the strings, the All-Ireland champions began to hum.
McGuigan, Mulligan and O'Neill narrowed the gap, and McGuigan's delightful crossfield pass sent Penrose in for the 59th- minute goal that levelled the scores. A mighty McMahon effort had Tyrone back in front, and after Rory Woods and Finlay had found the target to give Monaghan some hope, two late O'Neill scores sealed Tyrone's win.
TYRONE: J Devine; D Carlin, C Gormley, M McGee; D Harte, C Gourley, P Jordan; C Holmes, B Meenan; K Hughes, B McGuigan (0-1), G Cavlan; M Penrose (1-2), S O'Neill (0-8, five frees), O Mulligan (0-3). Subs: J McMahon (0-1) for Harte, S Cavanagh for Meenan, E Bradley for McGee.
MONAGHAN: S Duffy; D Morgan, J Coyle, C Flanagan; D McArdle, K McManus, K Sheerin; V Corey, P Finlay (0-6, three frees); H McElroy (0-1, one free), D Freeman, S Gollogly; T Freeman (1-1), D Clerkin (0-1), R Woods (0-1). Subs: P McGuigan (0-3) for D Freeman, B McKenna for Clerkin, E Duffy for McManus.
Referee: M Monahan (Kildare).
