Referee only partially to blame for Farney failure
ALAS it just wasn’t to be for this brave Monaghan side in their quest for a place in the All-Ireland final.
Supporters could not have asked for more in terms of honest toil and effort. To a man, they fought gallantly to the final whistle and probably didn’t get the rewards which their endeavours deserved.
There was much criticism of referee Anthony Nolan in the immediate aftermath but while the Wicklow official did not have a good day, he could not be entirely blamed for Monaghan’s failure to advance.
Malachy O Rourke’s side created sufficient opportunities over the course of the game to seal victory and those missed chances will be rued over the winter nights ahead as players and supporters dream of what might have been.
Monaghan carved out two excellent goal-scoring opportunities but failed to take either. While Ciaran McManus and Vinny Corey spurned those first-half chances into the Canal End, Tyrone’s Niall Sludden was clinical in converting his side’s only three-point opportunity into the same goal.
That was the game’s pivotal moment. Entering the final 10 minutes, the outcome was still in the balance. Monaghan had just taken the lead for the first time in the contest and looked like they might push on for victory.
Peter Harte made a defence splitting run which created the opening for Tiernan McCann which was wonderfully blocked and smothered by Darren Hughes. Sludden, however, pounced on the rebound and ‘soccered’ the ball into the roof of Rory Beggan’s net. Tyrone were back in the driving seat.
Some very questionable decisions by Nolan allowed Mickey Harte’s men hold out for a one-point win and return to their first All-Ireland final since 2008. Monaghan will be devastated.
As expected Dublin’s march for a fourth title in a row continued with a comprehensive win over Galway the previous day.
The Tribesmen held their own in the opening half and indeed could have caused the holders more problems but missed chances, including a penalty save, were ruthlessly punished in the second period as the Dubs turned on the afterburners and blew Galway away.
As per normal, the impact from the bench was devastating. Galway might have seen Cian O Sullivan’s 28th minute retirement as a chink of light but replacement Mick Fitzsimons was the games best defender and shored up any gaps in the Dublin rearguard.
After his nine points last week, Cormac Costello continued were he left off and added three excellent scores when introduced on 44 minutes. And just as Galway were out on their feet in the closing stages Dublin unleashed two of their most decorated foot soldiers, Kevin McManamon and Paul Flynn into the fray.
Both were ravenous to impress and hit 0-3 three between, staking claims for more game time on September 2nd.
The worrying thing for Tyrone is that despite going for their fourth All-Ireland in a row, Dublin appear to be hungrier than ever. Shane Walsh’s unorthodox late goal only made the scoreline look a little prettier. Dublin’s relentless pursuit of excellence continues unabated.
CONTENTION
SHANE Lowry put himself in contention on the final day of the PGA Championship at Bellerive with an excellent 64 on Saturday but he only briefly threatened to get involved in the shake up on Sunday.
Two late bogeys on 16 and 17 saw him slip out of the Top 10 into a share for 12th place on eight under par.
B rooks Koepka held Tiger Woods at bay to win by two shots and collect his third Major in the space of just 14 months. Woods near fairytale return after such a lengthy period out of the sport has seen him come really close to landing his 15th Major. His brilliant 6-under closing round 64 was the lowest final round in a Major of his career.
It’s now more than 10 years since his last Major win at the 2008 US Open. Those generous 15th Major odds that were available up to recently have now been slashed.
Tiger is back!