EirGrid GAA Football Under 21 All-Ireland Championship Semi-Final – Cork 2-15 Monaghan 1-16

Cork defeated Monaghan by 2-15 to 1-16 in the EirGrid GAA Football Under 21 All-Ireland Championship Semi-Final on Saturday April 16th at O’Connor Park Tullamore.

Deadly Rebels gun down Monaghan to reach U21 All-Ireland final https://t.co/AXUvVHrEsJ pic.twitter.com/wpYRiV0WNC

— Evening Echo (@CorkEveningEcho) April 16, 2016

Second-half surge sees Cork's U21s into All-Ireland final https://t.co/HvJgppkDEH pic.twitter.com/capRvasope

— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) April 16, 2016

Second-half surge sees Cork’s U21s into All-Ireland final

Cork 2-15 Monaghan 1-16

By Eoghan Cormican, O’Connor Park for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Cork’s greater balance in front of goal propelled them past Monaghan and into a first All-Ireland U21 final since 2013. The winners finished with eight different scorers, including each member of their starting front six, while Monaghan were largely dependent on Barry McGinn and Conor McCarthy for scores.

The Munster champions were never led beyond the 22nd minute and although Monaghan closed the gap to the minimum early in the second period, they were unable to regain parity. Three on the bounce from Sean Powter, Sean O’Donoghue and Michael Hurley between the 37th and 39th minute nudged Cork into a 2-11 to 1-10 lead and thereafter, the Rebels never looked like being caught.

Subs Ronan O’Toole and Stephen Sherlock both kicked points to cancel out Monaghan efforts, with O’Donoghue and Powter adding to their tallies late on. Monaghan, upon closing the deficit to two, lofted the ball into the opposition square in the third minute of stoppage, but Cork held firm. Sean Hayes’ charges had returned back down the tunnel at half-time 2-7 to 1-9 in front, the lead having changed hands on seven occasions in the opening period.

Congrats @OfficialCorkGAA who take their place in the EirGrid All-Ireland Final! EirGrid MOTM is Hurley #EirGridU21 pic.twitter.com/kdk0y8PyZy

— EirGrid Plc (@EirGrid) April 16, 2016

Barry McGinn kicked three of Monaghan’s opening four points as they led 0-4 to 0-3 after 11 minutes. The contest’s first goal, however, moved Cork in front as Peter Kelleher scrambled the ball across the line after a powerful run by Sean Powter. The Monaghan response was as swift as it was effective, McGinn blasting to the net little over a minute after Kelleher’s green flag. A Donal Meegan point had Monaghan 1-5 to 1-3 to the good, but Cork reclaimed the inside lane with a 1-3 burst.

Sean O’Donoghue, Ryan Harkin and Brian Coakley raised three white flags in-a-row before Harkin, after a sweeping passage of play cut open the Monaghan rearguard, rattled the back of the Monaghan net.

Cork, though, were unable to build on this scoring burst and were outscored 0-4 to 0-1 on the run in to the break as McGinn (0-2), Fearghal McMahon and Conor McCarthy kept Monaghan in touch. Failure to get back, ultimately, proved their downfall.

Scorers for Cork: S O’Donoghue (0-4); R Harkin (1-1); M Hurley, S Powter (0-3 each); P Kelleher (1-0); B Coakley (0-2); S Sherlock, R O’Toole (0-1 each).

Scorers for Monaghan: B McGinn (1-6, 0-2 frees); C McCarthy (0-2 frees), F McMahon (0-3 each); C Forde (0-1 free), D Ward, R McAnespie (0-1 each).

Cork: A Casey (Kiskeam); M McSweeney (Newcestown), J Mullins (Éire Óg), D Quinn (St Finbarr’s); K Flahive (Douglas), S Cronin (Nemo Rangers), K Histon (Cobh); S White (Clonakilty), S O’Leary (Bantry Blues); S O’Donoghue (Inniscarra), S Powter (Douglas), R Harkin (Mallow); B Coakley (Carrigaline), P Kelleher (Kilmichael), M Hurley (Casltehaven).
Subs: E Lavers (Dohenys) for O’Leary (HT), R O’Toole (Éire Óg) for Quinn (41), S Sherlock (St Finbarr’s) for Coakley (42, bc), D Ó Duinnín (Cill na Matra) for Harkin (55), C Dorgan (Ballincollig) for Powter (62)

Monaghan: C Forde (Scotstown); B Kerry (Cremartin), M Murnaghan (Donaghmoyne), K Loughran (Monaghan Harps); D Ward (Ballybay), J Mealiff (Clones), N Rooney (Truagh Gaels); N Loughman (Carrickmacross), A Lynch (Carrickmacross); R McAnespie (Emyvale), B McGinn (Doohamlet), D Meegan (Inniskeen); F McMahon (Monaghan Harps), C McCarthy (Scotstown), A Treanor (Truagh Gaels).
Subs: F Maguire (Scotstown) for Treanor (17), A Curran (Clontibret) for Lynch (35), B McBennett (Doohamlet) for McMahon (40).

Referee: J Hickey (Carlow)

CONFIRMED: John Hickey (CW) will referee the #EirGridU21 All-Ireland Semi-Final; Cork-Monaghan (April 16, 4.30pm) pic.twitter.com/4rYli4QNLF

— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 8, 2016

Team News

The Cork U21 Football team to play Monaghan on Saturday in Tullamore has been announced.https://t.co/4H1ArbxTfe

— Cork GAA (@OfficialCorkGAA) April 14, 2016

The Cork team to play Monaghan in the EirGrid GAA All-Ireland U21 Football Championship Semi-Final on Saturday April 16th at 4:30pm in O’ Connor Park Tullamore as been announced as follows.

Cork Team

1 Anthony Casey – Kiskeam
2 Michael Mc Sweeney – Newcestown
3 John Mullins – Eire Og
4 Dylan Quinn – St Finbarrs
5 Kevin Flahive – Douglas
6 Stephen Cronin – Nemo Rangers Captain
7 Kieran Histon – Cobh
8 Sean White – Clonakilty
9 Sean O Leary – Bantry Blues
10 Sean O Donoghue – Inniscarra
11 Sean Powter – Douglas
12 Ryan Harkin – Mallow
13 Brian Coakley – Carrigaline
14 Peter Kelleher – Kilmichael
15 Michael Hurley – Castlehaven
Subs
16 Ross Donovan – Nemo Rangers
17 Sean Daly – Dohenys
18 Kevin Cremin – Boherbue
19 Cian Kiely – Ballincollig
20 Eoin Lavers – Dohenys
21 Stephen Sherlock – St Finbarrs
22 Dan O Duinin – Cill Na Matra
23 Sean O Donovan Ilen Rovers
24 Cian Dorgan – Ballincollig