A NIP AND TUCK GAME BUT HANDS HANG ON BY THEIR FINGERNAILS

MONAGHAN’S proud standing as a Division One force came to an end on a devastating evening for gaelic football’s great survivors.

Defeat to Tyrone sent them crashing out of the top tier after 10 years of unbroken presence, a record bettered only by Kerry.

Having avoided relegation on the final day of the League campaign in each of the last five seasons, the Farney county finally ran out of road. They still have a game to play, but there’ll be no great escape for Vinny Corey’s men, who will operate in the more modest environs of Division Two in 2025.

Darren Mccurry, Darragh Canavan and Kieran Mcgeary gave Tyrone a fiery start with a string of early scores, but they were caught out by the classic counterattack, led by livewire Micheal Bannigan, who picked out Jack Mccarron for a fifth minute goal.

Monaghan seemed content to sit deep and soak up the pressure, but were punished by the accuracy of Canavan and Mccurry as the home side moved into a 0-7 to 1-1 lead by the end of the opening quarter.

Veteran attacker Conor Mcmanus, a late addition to the starting line-up, fired over a trademark score to keep his side in touch but they were caught on the breakaway on 27 minutes as keeper Niall Morgan released Canavan, who sprinted in from halfway to smash his shot to the net past Darren Mcdonnell.

Monaghan responded with points from Conor Mccarthy and Mccarron, but the deadly duo of Canavan and Mccurry brought their combined first half total to 1-8, sending their side in with a 1-11 to 1-6 interval lead.

They stretched the advantage out to seven points through Ciaran Daly and as Tyrone’s injury crisis eased with the arrival of Mattie Donnelly for a first appearance of the season, another returnee, Cathal Mcshane, hit the target.

Mcmanus kept Monaghan in touch with a couple of vintage strikes but there was no stopping Canavan at the other end as he kept daylight between the sides.

Monaghan lost defender Ryan O’toole to a black card, but the numbers were instantly evened up as Tyrone midfielder Brian Kennedy also saw black less than a minute later.

And it was the men in last chance saloon who struck a major blow with a 58th minute goal, punched home by Killian Lavelle from an Andrew Woods assist.

Daren Hughes, Micheal Bannigan and Conor Mccarthy drove the Farney challenge as they sensed the opportunity to survive, with Mcmanus adding another couple to his tally, bringing his side to within a point with five minutes to play.