Tyrone overturned a seven-point deficit to defeat Monaghan by three in Omagh tonight, 0-17 to 2-8.

Three second-half points from substitute Tiarnan Drayne proved crucial for the home side, who will now face Armagh (victors over Fermanagh in Enniskillen) for a place in the Ulster final. Trailing by 2-6 to 0-8 with 18 minutes left, the Red Hands delivered a grandstand finish and fired over nine of the last eleven points to seal a memorable win.

Two goals inside the opening six minutes propelled the visitors into a double-scores interval advantage, 2-4 to 0-5.

With a strong breeze behind them in the first half, the Farney County made a dream start as Oran McElligott - a late addition to their starting team - netted inside the opening minute. Centre back Frank Connolly added a point before Dean McDonnell plundered the second Monaghan major in the sixth minute - 2-1 to 0-0.

A Paul Donaghy treble - two frees and one from play - had the Red Hands up and running, 2-1 to 0-3 with eleven minutes played, but Monaghan replied seven minutes later through county senior David Garland. When Cahir Goodwin pointed for the home side eight minutes from the break, the losers responded with two points inside 60 seconds courtesy of Michael Bannigan and Fergal Hanratty.

Home custodian Benny Gallen closed the first-half scoring from a late free.

Matthew McGleenan, Emmet McNabb and Ryan Gray had the hosts - now with the wind at their backs - back within two by the 40^th minute but Bannigan and Ryan Mohan doubled the Farney lead again. McGleenan and McNabb posted Tyrone points as the match remained in the balance going into the final quarter, 2-6 to 0-10.

McNabb's third made it a one-point game as the tension rose and the home team now took control, notching five of the next six points to lead by 0-16 to 2-7 with six minutes left. Substitute Drayne pointed with his first touch to nudge his team in front for the first time and followed up with his second after Donaghy had doubled the difference.

Bannigan's point set up a nervy finale but Drayne's third of the night in injury time all but settled the issue as the brilliant Red Hands progressed to the last four in the province.

Tyrone - B Gallen (0-1f); A Fox, C Quinn, C Shields; M McKearney, R McCusker, C Goodwin (0-1); R Gormley, T Loughran; M Murnaghan, E McNabb (0-3), R Gray (0-1); J Garrity, M McGleenan (0-2), P Donaghy (0-5, 3f). Subs: C Grimes for M McKearney, P Og McCartan (0-1) for M Murnaghan, T Drayne (0-3) for T Loughran, D Jones for E McNabb, P Mullan for C Quinn.

Monaghan - J Kirk; R Mohan (0-1), C Lennon, D Connolly; C Doyle (0-1), F Connolly (0-1), D McDonnell (1-0); L Og Murray, R O'Toole; D Hanley, M Bannigan (0-3, 2f), F Hanratty (0-1); C Leonard, D Garland (0-1f), O McElligott (1-0). Subs: S Monaghan for O McElligott, F Beggan for D Hanley, C Burns for R O'Toole.

Referee - P Faloon.

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