Monaghan scored a 1-18 to 1-16 Ulster SFC victory over Tyrone to knock the holders out of the provincial title race at Healy Park.

In a pulsating tie, the Farney men produced a fearless performance to send the Red Hands crashing into the unknown territory of the qualifiers, and for themselves secure a semi-final date with Fermanagh.

Vinny Corey’s stoppage time goal sent Monaghan in with a 1-7 to 0-8 interval lead, with goalkeeper Rory Beggan contributing a couple of scores from long range frees.

Beggan’s kicking was crucial as he converted two ‘45s, with Conor McManus hitting six, and while Connor McAliskey kicked six Tyrone points, and Michael McKernan grabbed a last gasp goal, they were not enough to save the Red Hands from an early exit. Tyrone lost Peter Harte to a straight red card late on.

In front of a crowd of 15,029, Fintan Kelly’s early point was cancelled out by three Tyrone scores in as many minutes, all from play, with Cathal McShane, Connor McAliskey and Niall Sludden on target.

With the wind in their backs, the Red hands were adapting a more offensive approach than of recent times, and after Conor McManus had converted a Farney free, they swept forward again for corner back Padraig Hampsey to land a point, followed by a  Lee Brennan free.

Goalkeeper Beggan steered over a long range free, as Karl O’Connell and Darren Hughes started to get some joy from running at the home defence

Tyrone suffered a blow when attacker Mark Bradley limped off with an ankle injury after 18 minutes, and McManus brought the visitors level from a free.

The Red Hands, dangerous as always on the counter-attack, swept forward again for McAliskey and Brennan to knock over placed balls, but Beggan stroked over a monster effort from 50 metres.

And in stoppage time, they struck a major blow. Corey was involved in the move three times, taking return passes from McManus and Darren Hughes before sliding the ball past ‘keeper Niall Morgan from close range.

Drew Wylie’s score sent Monaghan in with a 1-7 to 0-8 lead, and playing with the wind in the second half, and they wasted no time in building on the advantage, with two points in the opening two minutes of the second half, a Jack McCarron free and a delightful Ryan McAnespie effort.

Tyrone were soon back on the attack, and after Brennan had tagged on another free, two well taken scores from full forward McAliskey narrowed the gap to two.

But there was always danger at the back, and Karl O’Connell’s angled snapshot was touched on to a post by ‘keeper Morgan, with his opposite number Beggan converting the resultant ’45.

Mickey Harte’s risks with three key players who had been carrying injuries - Colm Cavanagh, Tiernan McCann and Lee Brennan - didn’t pay off, and all three were withdrawn from the action.

Meanwhile, Monaghan’s challenge never waned, their strong running and support play putting the home side on the back foot for long spells.

Dessie Mone squeezed over a point from an almost impossible angle, and they were three clear going into the final 12 minutes.

But there was another kick in Tyrone, and McAliskey was on his game up front, steering over a couple of quality points, but Monaghan had more in reserve going down the home strait.

McManus nailed three brilliant scores, including a miracle point, struck sweetly inches from the sideline, with skipper Colin Walshe also on target as they opened a five points gap.

Tyrone lost Peter Harte to a straight red card, and while Michael McKernan did plunder a stoppage time goal, this was Monaghan’s day, and deservedly so.

Tyrone: N Morgan ; P Hampsey (0-01), R McNamee, C McCarron; T McCann, F Burns, C Meyler; C Cavanagh, M Donnelly (0-01); C McShane (0-01), N Sludden (0-02), P Harte (0-01); L Brennan (0-03, 3f), C McAliskey (0-06, 2f, 1 ’45), M Bradley.

Subs: R O’Neill for Bradley (18), D McClure for Cavanagh (h-t), M McKernan (1-1) for McCarron (39), K McGeary for Brennan (50), HP McGeary for McCann (53), C McCann for O’Neill (61)

Monaghan: R Beggan (0-04, 2f, 2 ’45); D Mone (0-01), D Wylie (0-01), R Wylie; K Duffy, V Corey (1-00), K O’Connell; N Kearns, D Hughes; F Kelly (0-01), J McCarron (0-02, 1f), D Ward; R McAnespie (0-01), K Hughes, C McManus (0-06, 4f).

Subs: C McCarthy (0-01) for Ward (41), O Duffy for McCarron (61), C Walshe (0-01) for Mone (63)