Monaghan claimed their 16th Ulster football title after the slimmest of margins after a 0-11 to 0-10 point win over Donegal in Clones this afternoon.
Donegal stormed into a three point lead early on courtesy of McGlynn, Lacey and Patrick McBrearty, who was fantastic in corner forward. Monaghan soon replied with points of their own through Captain Karl O'Connell and the other outstanding forward of the day Conor mcManus as his two points drew the sides level.
The game then faced a ten minute barren spell where neither side scored and it was a game being played firmly in the middle of the park as both sides battled for possession. With 25 minutes played the scores stood at 0-3 each. The final ten minutes of the half were a joy to watch a Monaghan came alive scoring 0-5 to Donegal's one with Michael Murphy ending Donegal's 27minute scoreless spell and keeping Donegal in the game with the score at half time 0-8 to 0-4.
The opening 20 minutes of the second half were very similar to that of the first with both sides exchanging scores and going into the final 15 minutes Donegal still trailing by 4 points 0-11 0-7.
Paddy McBrearty sprung to life in these final minutes getting three points in succession leaving Donegal with all the momentum going into injury time and looking that a replay may have to be played. With the last kick of the game, Donegal trailing by one, McBrearty picks the ball up inside the Monaghan 45m took a shoot it loops over the post and is waved wide. Donegal fall short and Monghan march on to the All Ireland quarter final.
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