Tyrone 4-19 Monaghan 0-22
All-Ireland champions Tyrone claimed another Dalata Hotel Group Ulster Under-20 football title with a nine-point win over Monaghan at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds.
In maintaining a remarkable record at this level, they have kept themselves on course for a third successive title, with the Leinster winners (Kildare or Louth) their next opponents on 13 May.
It was a first-half goal rush that made it all possible, as the Red Hands recovered from a nervous start.
They chased down the Monaghan kick-out in ruthless fashion to pick off the scores, and were confident and convincing in the end as they retained the title in front of a 3,000-strong crowd.
Turlough Muldoon's early point was cancelled out by Tom Doherty, who, with a light breeze at his back, floated over a two-pointer.
Stretching the Tyrone cover as they switched play from right to left and back again, they dominated possession throughout the opening ten minutes, opening out a 0-06 to 0-01 lead, with Max Maguire adding a spectacular effort from close to the sideline.
But from scraps of attacking possession, the Red Hands got themselves right back in it, Brian Galagher sending Shea McDermott through to smash home a 13th-minute goal.
Aodhan Quinn brought them level at the end of the opening quarter, and they added a second goal through centre back and captain Conor Devlin, who drove through the middle to finish with power past Jamie Mooney.
Three scores from 2025 All-Ireland minor footballer of the year Peter Colton nudged the holders three clear as they continued to dominate the Monaghan kick-out.
A third goal, fired in by wing back Aodhan Quinn, followed by a couple of McGurren efforts, had the Red Hands ahead by 3-11 to 0-11 at the interval.
Monaghan came out for the second start with renewed energy, cutting back the deficit through Martin Quinn, Conor Jones, sub Killian Kierans and a Max Maguire two-pointer.
Now it was the turn of the Tyrone defence to feel the heat, but they broke away for McDermott and Conall Sheehy to hit the target and keep a hungry opponent at arms length.
Trailing by six moving into the closing ten minutes, Monaghan needed another burst of energy, and it came from Max Maguire, who sent his second two-pointer of the evening sailing between the posts, before brining his side to within three.
Conor Jones and substitute Tommy Mallen helped them turn the midfield battle in their favour, and Kierans sliced over a gem, but the inspirational Devlin continued to maraud through the heart of a nervous Farney defence, bringing hsis tally to 1-03.
And they killed the game off with a fourth goal from substitute Darragh Donaghy on the hour.
Tyrone: O Watson; S Broderick, L Neeson, M McNamee; A Quinn (1-02), C Devlin (1-02), B Gallagher; E Donaghy, C O’Neill; C Sheehy (0-02), L Hughes, T Muldoon (0-01); A McGurren (0-04), P Colton (0-04), S McDermott (1-02).
Subs: D Donaghy (1-01) for Muldoon (49), D Devlin (0-01) for McGurren (55), R O’Sullivan for Hughes (60), A Colton for Quinn (62), L Lawn for Colton (62)
Monaghan: J Mooney; A Stuart, C Clerkin, M Quinn (0-01); M McCaffrey, D Connolly, J McCrystal; S O’Connor, M Carolan (0-03, 1tp), C Murphy, T Doherty (0-06 (2tp), C Jones (0-01); M McGinnity (0-01, f), M Finn; M Maguire (0-06, 2tp).
Subs: T Mallen (0-01) for McCrystal (37), K Kierans (0-03, 1f) for McGinnity (37), S Carolan for Quinn (37), J Wright for Murphy (46), S Og McElwain for Jones (56)
Referee: M Dorrian (Donegal).
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