Tyrone edged Monaghan 1-19 to 2-13 in an absolutely nail-biting finish to their all-Ulster Division One Clash, with a late onslaught from Monaghan causing Tyrone huge issues before the Red Hand County responded with their own burst of class.
As always big games call for big moments, and that's exactly what player of the match Darragh Canavan and goalkeeper Niall Morgan delivered in the first half, with what could only be described as one of the best goals you'll see in Gaelic football.
The goal summed up a monumental half from Canavan who complimented it with four other points before the break and played a huge role in sending Tyrone down the tunnel at halftime with a five-point advantage.
While Tyrone managed to maintain that five-point cushion for much of the second half, a late onslaught from Monaghan that saw Killian Lavelle score a goal and Conor McManus knock a mark over reduced the Red Hand County's lead to a single point with just five minutes to play.
58 nóim #TYRvMON@TyroneGAALive 1-16@monaghangaa 2-11
Cúl do Mhuineachán! Féach ar an luas seo agus bhí Lavelle an fear ceart san áit cheart 🤩
Monaghan are right back in this game as Killian Lavelle finds the net!
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV 📺#AllianzLeagues #GAABeo pic.twitter.com/v7olQawqen— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 16, 2024
Despite only a point separating the sides with two minutes of injury time remaining, Tyrone's defence endured onslaught after onslaught before Darren McCurry and Joe Oguz put another two points between the teams in the dying seconds of the game, to make for an exhilarating finish.
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Darragh Canavan scores goal of the season contender
The game will be remembered however for Canavan's goal and Morgan's assist. It was like deep route in an American football game
After a wayward Monaghan point attempt fell into the hands of Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan, Morgan hit a near-perfect pass well beyond the 65-yeard line to an on-the-run Canavan who collects the ball himself before taking it all the way towards the goal. While Canavan looked out of look when a stray bounce caused him to lose control of the ball, the Tyrone star hit it on the volley off the side of his boot straight into the back of the net.
Outrageous goal from Tyrone.
The Morgan pass🚀
The Canavan finish🤤pic.twitter.com/XJCVfSJUEl— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) March 16, 2024
Speaking after the game Canavan revealed that while the duo were yet to pull the move off until tonight, they had practiced it a few times before in the hope it would come good.
Scór Lán-Ama #TYRvMON@TyroneGAALive 1-19@monaghangaa 2-13
'At least it's in our own hands now'
Comhghairdeas le Darragh Canavan, Laoch na hImeartha agus Brian Kennedy, captaen na foirne.👏 #AllianzLeagues #GAABeo
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV 📺 pic.twitter.com/HLQP0Cnl4a— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 16, 2024
Niall Morgan shed more light on the goal speaking to TG4 after the game. He said Tyrone had practiced the move in training on Thursday and even his own players were calling on him to let the ball go out of play.
"You see so many goalkeepers letting the ball go out for a kick out. It gives defences a chance to reset themselves."
'I want to get us from back to front as quickly as I can.'
Smaointe Niall Morgan faoin gcúl speisialta sin sa chéad leath den chluiche.
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV 📺#AllianzLeagues #GAABeo pic.twitter.com/IKWZ38i4yD— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 16, 2024
We're not sure what's better, the near 50-yard pass or Canavan's amazing finish but one thing is very clear, with 1-4 before the break and 1-6 by the end Darragh Canavan should be considered one of the top-forwards in the country.
Tyrone's win tonight places them one huge step closer to maintaining their division-one status ahead of the last round of the league next weekend, while the loss for Monaghan effectively relegates them to Division Two before the last round of football.
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