MONAGHAN SFC INAL: Clontibret 1-10, Magheracloone 1-10: CLONTIBRET ARE still the champions after it finished all square at the end of this very exciting Monaghan SFC final in Páirc Grattan, Inniskeen yesterday.

Overall a draw was probably a fair enough result although both sides had late chances to win it after Conor McManus hauled Clontibret back to parity with a point from a free in the 54th minute.

Clontibret led at half time by 1-7 to 0-7, the goal by Fergal Mone a minute into stoppage time. On the resumption Fergal Mone extended their lead to four with a good point under pressure but by the 40th minute Magheracloone had the margin down to the minimum with three points in quick succession, two from Tommy Freeman and one by Paul Jones.

McManus restored Clontibret to a two-point lead with a point from a free but Magheracloone then hit the front again when Tomas Freeman blasted past Paul McElroy after 47 minutes.

A minute later Clontibret had a glorious chance to retake the lead when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Fergal Mone but Magheracloone sub keeper Pádraig Doogan tipped McManus’s shot onto the post and away to safety. But the latter had the last word with six minutes remaining.

The replay takes place in Inniskeen next Sunday at 3:30pm.

CLONTIBRET: P McElroy, C Duffy, C Greenan, M Corey, D Mooney, J P Mone, P McGuigan, A Rooney, E Greenan, P Boyle, C McManus (0-7, five frees, one 45), D Mone, F Mone (1-1), V Corey, R Gorman (0-1). Subs: B Og Magennis for P Boyle.

MAGHERACLOONE: S Duffy, N Babbington, P Ward, M Jones, P Tuite (0-1), J Ward, P Farnan, F Doogan, G Doogan, F Kindlon (0-1), P Jones (0-2), D Freeman, J Hand (0-1 a 45), T Freeman (1-4 one free), P Finnegan (0-1). Subs: P Doogan for S Duffy, N Tuite for N Babbington, K Gilsenan for F Kindlon.

Referee: D Boylan (Killanny).