Ulster Under-20 Semi-Finals will deliver, says Tyrone boss Paul Devlin

Paul Devlin's Tyrone will have home advantage against Monaghan

John Campbell

Tyrone manager Paul Devlin needs no reminding that his team face a tough obstacle in Monaghan when the sides go head to head in Wednesday night’s Ulster Under-20 Football Championship Semi-Final at Healy Park, Omagh (7.30pm).

While the Red Hands have looked impressive to date, Monaghan have unveiled their skills in no uncertain manner to the extent that they positively relish this latest challenge.

“The standard of play overall to date has been very good but these will be crunch games,” said Devlin.

“There is not much between any of the sides and I think the stage is set for what I feel could be two cracking ties.”

Skipper Thomas Hughes, who won a hurling medal in 2023, spearheads a Monaghan team that has been making the most of their scoring opportunities of late and are keen to get the better of Tyrone on their own soil.

But to do that they will have to reach a new peak with Hughes ready to lead the way. There is no shortage of talent within his side with the Mooney brothers Stephen and Jamie along with Bobby McCaul accomplished finishers while Sean Callan, Packie Byrne and Aaron Carey are other key players.

For their part, Tyrone can lean on Eoin McElhatton, Conor Owens, Gavin Potter and Oisin Gormley to stoke their fire. The home side are all too well aware that they must hit the ground running if Monaghan are to be contained.

In Wednesday’s other Semi-Final, Derry and Donegal will cross swords at Letterkenny (7.30pm) where their respective forward divisions will come under close inspection in a match that could yield a feast of scores.

Oisin Doherty has been in superb form for Derry to date while Ruairi Forbes, Patrick McGurk and Niall O’Donnell have also been contributing handsomely to their team’s progress.

Donegal for their part have underlined their fluent teamwork and their ability to pick off scores. Senan Carr, Paddy McElwee and Luke McGlynn have combined to set a splendid example thus far for their colleagues but it will take an overall huge team effort if Derry are to be halted in their tracks in what could be a gripping encounter.