THE grieving Tyrone minors paid their own personal tribute to late colleague Paul McGirr with a storming performance which carried them through to the Ulster final at Clones yesterday.

Despite some defensive lapses which allowed their opponents in for goals, the Tyrone lads looked a potent unit, with some fine individual performances. It was the first half which produced all the drama, with a goal rush which threatened to turn into an avalanche. But the second half was more subdued, with Tyrone gradually wearing down the opposition and shooting some marvellous scores to coast to a deserved seven point victory.

Tyrone got the perfect start with two goals in the opening two minutes from Stephen Donnelly and Richard Thornton. Even when Padraig Swinburn hit back with a Monaghan goal, they stretched their lead to 10 points after Thornton cracked in his second.

But in an all action first half, there were more fireworks to come, with Monaghan staging a spirited fight back for Noel Clerkin to find the net, before Swinburn grabbed his second to bring the goals tally for the opening 30 minutes to an incredible six.

Only three points separated the sides at halftime, with Tyrone ahead by 3-7 to 3-4, but Tyrone grew in confidence, with midfielder Kevin Hughes shooting some fine points. Monaghan however kept in touch until the closing stages, when Stephen Donnelly drilled home a penalty to seal a spot in the decider.

The cruel reality of McGirr's absence touched the hearts of even the most hardened of football fans among the 30,000 strong crowd. Gone, too, was the number 12 shirt he wore with such pride and distinction. The Tyrone teenagers, who have been receiving counselling to help them come to terms with Paul's death, lined out with a No 25 at left half forward.

The void was clear for all to see. Paul McGirr's death, following an accidental collision with an opponent in the first round victory over Armagh a fortnight ago, stunned the sporting world. Yesterday, his grieving colleagues honoured his memory in a fashion of which he would have been immensely proud.