By Paul Keane
Tyrone 0-18 Monaghan 0-14
Dogged Tyrone drew on all their defensive nous at Croke Park to shut down Ulster champions Monaghan and secure an unlikely All-Ireland football semi-final place.
Darren McCurry and Connor McAliskey led the scoring with 11 points between them but it was the ultimate team performance as the Red Hands’ counter attacking strategy paid of handsomely.
Their reward is an All-Ireland semi-final clash with Kerry that seemed unthinkable when they crashed out of the Ulster championship to Donegal and entered the qualifier series at Round 1.
But they took precious momentum into the quarter-finals after four big wins and stifled Monaghan impressively throughout.
The game ended in chaotic scenes with dismissals for Monaghan duo Darren Hughes and Paul Finlay while Tyrone full-back Ronan McNamee also walked to the line for his second yellow card.
Monaghan came into the contest intent on making a breakthrough to the All-Ireland semi-finals after a second Ulster success in three seasons.
But Tyrone held that vital momentum and after beating Sligo by seven points last weekend picked up where they left off with a strong start against Monaghan.
McAliskey opened the scoring after a minute and though Darren Hughes and Dessie Mone hit back for Monaghan, the Red Hands were quickly back on the attack.
They hit three points in a row to put clear daylight between the sides for the first time.
Harte’s side would enjoy a double scores 0-6 to 0-3 lead after half an hour as they played a typical counter attacking game that included 14 men inside their own 45 metre line on occasions.
There were a couple of early setbacks for Tyrone though. Joe McMahon limped off with an early leg injury while Conor Meyler was controversially black carded in the 22nd minute.
The Omagh man claimed he was body checked by Kieran Hughes though referee Marty Duffy bravely decided that Meyler was barging and attempting to get Hughes into trouble.
Still, Tyrone retained a 0-7 to 0-5 half-time lead and were happy with their controlled display that limited Monaghan danger man Conor McManus to a single point from open play.
McManus and Monaghan were better in the second-half though so were Tyrone who powered on to lead by five points in the third quarter and by six in the closing minutes.
The game was marred by several skirmishes in the closing moments though remained ahead where it counted with great points from Mattie Donnelly to keep them comfortable in control.
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Scorers for Tyrone: D McCurry (0-6, three frees, one 45), C McAliskey (0-5, four frees), M Donnelly (0-2), Joe Mc Mahon, P Harte, S Cavanagh, R McNabb and R McNamee (0-1 each)
Scorers for Monaghan: C McManus (0-7, five frees), O Duffy (0-2), D Hughes, D Mone, F Kelly, D Clerkin and P Finlay (one free) (0-1 each).
Tyrone: N Morgan; R McNamee, C McCarron, R McNabb; T McCann, Joe McMahon, A McCrory; C Cavanagh, M Donnelly; M Bradley, P Harte, C Meyler; D McCurry, S Cavanagh, C McAliskey.
Subs: Justin McMahon for Joe McMahon (8), C McCann for Meyler (23, black card), P McNulty for McCann (46), R O’Neill for McAliskey (58), R Donnelly for Bradley (68), B Tierney for T McCann (77).
Monaghan: R Beggan; C Walshe, V Corey, R Wylie; K O’Connell, N McAdam, D Mone; O Lennon, F Kelly; R McAnespie, S Gollogly, K Duffy (C McGuinness 61); D Hughes, K Hughes, C McManus.
Subs: D Wylie for Corey (h/t), D Clerkin for Lennon (h/t), O Duffy for McAnespie (h/t), D Malone for McAdam (49), P Finlay for Gollogly (52),
Referee: M Duffy (Sligo).