Monaghan won an epic Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Football Championship semi-final on penalties against Tyrone on Saturday.
It was a 6-5 win for the Farney county. The game had finished Monaghan 2-13, Tyrone 3-10 in normal time, and then 2-19 to 4-13 after extra-time.
Goalkeeper Jamie Mooney was the hero for Monaghan, saving four penalties. It had appeared that Monaghan would ease to victory in the shoot as they scored their first three, and Tyrone missed two of their opening three. However, Tyrone goalkeeper Oisin Watson also proved difficult to beat as he saved three.
A major weekend of action across the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships sees 3 players up for the Electric Ireland Minor Championships Player of the Week. Will it be @GaaClare’s Ronan Kilroy, @MayoGAA’s Tom Lydon or @monaghangaa’s Jamie Mooney? Vote below! #ThisIsMajor
— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) May 22, 2023
"We had the joy of it last year," Tyrone manager Gerard Donnelly told Highland Radio after the game.
"We knew when we came here that it could go to penalties. That's just the way it works. Monaghan got it this year, we won it last year [against Donegal] on penalties. I want to wish Monaghan all the best in the final now.
"[Monaghan] never stopped. People will say we lost the game on penalties but when you're five up with a couple of minutes to go, you really should hold on.
"It's not the penalties. It was the position that we were in to then actually get it to penalties that annoys me, and will annoy me more than the penalties themselves. Those five lads went up there, put their hand up, and wanted to take penalties. I commend every single one of them.
"Our lads gave it their all, and I told them in there that I'm so proud of them. We went out with our heads held high. We did everything that we could. It was a super game."
Monaghan will play Derry in the Ulster final on May 28th. Derry defeated Donegal 0-9 to 0-4 on Saturday.
