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Sunday, 07 March 2010

Tyrone fall to third NFL defeat

Monaghan’s Vincent Corey with Justin McMahon and Conor Gormley of Tyrone

Tyrone slumped to their third consecutive defeat in Division One of the Allianz National League after an incident-packed but scrappy encounter with Monaghan at Inniskeen on Sunday.

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Monaghan 1-14 Tyrone 0-16
'A bit annoyed' - Harte

Monaghan 1-14 Tyrone 0-16

Monaghan, who like Tyrone went into the game without a point, finished it with 13 players after Stephen Gollogly and Thomas Freeman were sent off for second bookable offences in the closing stages.

Read Colm McAlinden's blog: View from the Terrace

There was also a dispute over the referee's timekeeping as he blew the final whistle immediately after Dermot Carlin's stoppage time point went over the bar.

"The players had asked the referee how long was left when we were awarded the free and they were told 30 seconds," explained Tyrone manager Mickey Harte.

"So naturally we expected play to continue after Dermot had scored the point."

However Harte was not too disappointed about his side's performance over the course of the 70 plus minutes despite the result.

"If the boys continue to show that sort of character then I think we'll be okay," he added.

"If I had a criticism then it would have been that we made too many unforced errors and gave the ball away too often."

On a more positive note, Harte revealed that his talisman and three-times All Ireland winner, Sean Cavanagh, is ready to return to the fray after injury.

"Sean was due to play a club game today (Sunday) and if he came through that then he'll be in the squad for our next match against Cork though I doubt he will play from the start," Harte continued.

Tyrone made the better start against Monaghan and the Red Hands led by four points on two occasions in the opening 28 minutes.

But Paul Finlay cut the gap and then Tyrone conceded the only goal of the game in the 33rd minute.

Conor Gormley lost possession 50 metres out and Freeman made the most of the chance running unchallenged before planting a terrific shot into the corner of the net.

Finlay tagged on another point from a free helping the Farney County into a 1-7 to 0-9 interval lead.

It was nip and tuck in the second half and the sides were level on three occasions with the opening 10 points all coming from frees.

Tyrone sub Eoin McCusker broke the trend and he pointed from play in the 67th minute to make it all square at 0-15 to 1-12.

But late scores from Finlay and sub Rory Woods, both of whom wisely opted for points when goals were a possibility, won it for Monaghan with Carlin's late reply proving to be of only consolation value.