2005 was another memorable year for the county when they contested the Division 2 National Football League final against Meath at Croke Park. However it took a last gasp point from Paul Finlay in the final league game against Longford in Clones to earn a draw and automatic promotion to Division 1 for the first time in 18 years. The league semi final against Derry in Clones was also a thriller from a Monaghan perspective. A goal within 15 seconds of the throw in by Tommy Freeman set Monaghan on their way and despite Rory Woods being sent off Monaghan held out for a 1–13 to 1–11 win. Prepare for a comfortable and affordable stay with excellent public transport links.
Additionally, St Macartan’s College have recently refurbished their handball courts, boasting the only combined dual 60×30 and 40×20 handball courts facility in Ireland. Beech Hill College have also added new Wallball courts to their sports facilities. Monaghan reached the 1986 National Football League final but this time the opposition was Laois. Played in front of over 30,000 supporters the Laoismen edged out Monaghan by 2–06 to 2-05.
The football team will be announced live on the night as well as the player of the year awards in hurling and football. However 1988 will be remembered for the Ulster title win over Tyrone when a “Nudie” Hughes goal following a fumble by Tyrone keeper Aidan Skelton saw Monaghan win by 1–10 to 0-11. An interesting facet of this particular game was that all Monaghan’s scores came from play.
For those of you arriving by car, there is free parking available at the hotel. In the Ulster final against Derry Eamon McEneaney helped himself to 2-04 as Monaghan recorded and easy 2–09 to 0–08 win. As stated the drawn All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry was a thriller but the absence of David Byrne through injury in the second half probably cost Monaghan victory. Eamon McEneaney’s last gasp equaliser was something special but in the replay Kerry were ruthless and despite serious Monaghan pressure the Kingdom won by 5 points. Monaghan’s run that year was something special considering the fact that they were missing Declan Loughman, Gerry Hoey and Bernie Murray (all with broken legs). All three were prominent in the National Football League win over Armagh while they would form the spine of the Ulster Senior Football Championship winning side of 1988.
Monaghan GAA
In 1987, Monaghan reached the National Football League semi-final again where they played out a thrilling game against Kerry at Croke Park. A superb second half performance against the wind had Monaghan leading by a couple of points near the end but a Pat Spillane goal and a late point by Mikey Sheehy saw the Kingdom win by 2–11 to 2-09. Disappointment followed in the Ulster championship with a shock 0–14 to 0–12 loss to Cavan in Breffni Park. The early promise of 1985 looked over as two successive seasons of flattering to deceive left the county in a state of gloom. In addition to football, handball (Gaelic handball) has a strong tradition within the county. Monaghan has enjoyed several major national successes in recent years in handball with Gavin Coyle winning three GAA Handball All Ireland 40×20 Singles titles over the past few years.
County team
The Leppävaara train station is just around the corner, and you can reach central Helsinki from here in about 15 minutes. You can get to Helsinki Airport in about 20 minutes by car or 45 minutes by train. Regardless of whether you’re here for some shopping, work or fun, you’ll find everything within easy reach. The large Sello shopping centre featuring shops, restaurants and a cinema is just a stone’s throw away from the hotel. You’ll also be ideally situated to explore Espoo’s wonderful natural surroundings – make sure to visit the Nuuksio National Park with beautiful hiking trails near the hotel.
Victories in the Ceannarus Tournament against Roscommon and Dublin in 1979 brought gloss to the county’s finest year on the football field in almost half a century. In the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1979 semi-final at Croke Park, Monaghan were again beaten by Kerry, 5–14 to 0-07. “To have gone on to play Inter County football from such a late start is a brilliant achievement, but to reach the very highest level and deliver in a Monaghan jersey for 14 seasons and be recognised at All Star level is simply staggering. The All-Star nominations were chosen by a group of Gaelic Games Correspondents from across print, radio, tv and digital media and was chaired by Uachtarán CLG, Jarlath Burns. The PwC All-Stars will be presented at a gala black-tie event at Dublin’s RDS on Friday November 7, which will be shown live on RTÉ.
O’Connell only took up GAA at 17, but went on to win some of the highest individual accolades in the game as well as two Ulster Senior Championships and represent Ireland at International Rules. Football is the dominant GAA sport in Monaghan but the county also competes in hurling. Our Visit Espoo Tourist Information is at your service via e-mail, telephone, and WhatsApp from Monday to Friday between 10-15.
PwC GAA/GPA Gaelic Football All-Star nominations announced
- However it didn’t stop Monaghan suffering a heavy defeat on the day to Derry.
- The first day against Armagh, Monaghan relied on pure luck to survive for a draw, as Armagh dominated the game from start to finish, doing everything but score.
- Previous wins over Cavan (0-16 to 0-14), again marked by a 5 star performance from Nudie Hughes and Down (1-11 to 0-09) had brought Monaghan to the Ulster final.
- Karl O’Connell has joined fellow Monaghan veteran Darren Hughes in announcing his retirement from inter-county football after a “simply staggering” career.
- However it took a last gasp point from Paul Finlay in the final league game against Longford in Clones to earn a draw and automatic promotion to Division 1 for the first time in 18 years.
- Monaghan has enjoyed several major national successes in recent years in handball with Gavin Coyle winning three GAA Handball All Ireland 40×20 Singles titles over the past few years.
Previous wins over Cavan (0-16 to 0-14), again marked by a 5 star performance from Nudie Hughes and Down (1-11 to 0-09) had brought Monaghan to the Ulster final. There’s something for everyone here in Espoo including business travellers, tourists and couples on a weekend getaway! The convenient Barception allows you to check in, check out and order something to eat or drink whenever you like, all in one place. Book one of the unique Tempur rooms for supreme comfort or experience the fabulous Vinyl Record Suite where you can play various vinyls on a record player.
Comfort Hotel Sello restaurant
Monaghan’s championship run in 1986 consisted of a draw against Down in Castleblayney thanks to a last gap Eamon McEneaney free while in the replay Down emerged victors in Newcastle on a 2–11 to 0–11 score. In 1979 the Monaghan team won the Ulster Senior Football Championship for the first time in 41 years with a defeat of Donegal. In the final Monaghan Kieran Finlay scored 1-09, which was a record in an Ulster final for 20 years, until Armagh’s Oisin McConville bettered it with a 2-07 tally against Down in 1999.
- Disappointment followed in the Ulster championship with a shock 0–14 to 0–12 loss to Cavan in Breffni Park.
- They ran out flattering 2–14 to 1-07 winners in the end, limiting Monaghan to a single point from a free in the second half.
- It has been an absolute privilege to wear the jersey and play for Monaghan.
- The large Sello shopping centre featuring shops, restaurants and a cinema is just a stone’s throw away from the hotel.
- That National football league title of 1985 was won by Monaghan on a 1–11 to 0–09 score against pre-match favourites Armagh.
In 1988, the team reached the National Football League semi-final again but ended in a 4–12 to 1-08 drubbing from Dublin at Croke Park. However a good league run prior to that had rescued a season where relegation to Division 2 of the National Football League looked a distinct possibility. A change in management during that league run also added to the merit of the achievement.
In 1989 Monaghan scraped home with an 0–08 to 0–05 win against Antrim in Casement Park, Belfast, where the homesters literally kicked the game away. Monaghan beat Kildare in a semi-final to reach the 1930 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, where Kerry beat them by 3–11 to 0-2 without their goalkeeper touching the ball. The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out. The rating is based on how the hotel lives up to its goals over time in reducing its environmental impact with respect to energy, water, refuse, food waste, chemicals, textile laundry and carbon emissions. 2024 Footballer of the Year Conroy debuted for Galway seniors in 2008 and hasn’t missed a single season, with this year his 18th in total, while Murphy debuted a year earlier but was retired for two seasons.
It has been an absolute privilege to wear the jersey and play for Monaghan. Karl O’Connell has joined fellow Monaghan veteran Darren Hughes in announcing his retirement from inter-county football after a “simply staggering” career. The PwC GAA GPA Young Footballer of the Year is for players aged 22 and under and will be a choice between three headline grabbing talents in Armagh’s Oisín Conaty, Donegal’s Finnbarr Roarty and Galway’s Matthew Thompson.
That year’s Ulster Senior Football Championship was also a stirring success. The first day against Armagh, Monaghan relied on pure luck to survive for a draw, as Armagh dominated the game from start to finish, doing everything but score. Paddy Linden saved a penalty, while and Armagh player saw the line barely 30 seconds after coming onto the field as a substitute, following an apparent high tackle on Declan Flanagan. The replay was a better match but a late Armagh goal had Monaghan concerned. Derry gained revenge in the Ulster Senior Football Championship with a 1–17 to 2–08 win, but “back door” wins over London, Wexford and Louth brought Monaghan to a last 12 meeting with eventual All-Ireland champions Tyrone in Croke Park. In a very entertaining game the tactic of isolating Tommy Freeman up front caused havoc for Tyrone in the first 25 minutes as they leaked 1-05, the goal a spectacular effort from Freeman.
He missed the game but later returned for the quarter-final against Dublin. Freeman’s exploits in the summer of 2005 brought him an All-star nomination and an “Irish News” Ulster All star award on the “40”. The NFL Division 2 final was a thrilling ding dong battle between two well match sides and was full of top drawer scores. Fortunes ebbed and flowed between both sides and in injury time Meath looked like holding onto a 2-point victory.
However a Paul Finlay free with the last kick of the game (sounds familiar) from 40 yards out was deflected into the Meath net by a Meath player and Monaghan edged out 3–13 to 3-12 winners. This game preceded the National Football League final which saw Armagh overcome Wexford to gain their first league title. This marked Monaghan’s first visit to Croke Park in 7 years, that resulting in a 1–12 to 0–08 defeat in a National Football League semi-final to Derry back in 1998. The National Football League run of 1998 was also memorable for Monaghan when they surprisingly qualified from a “group of death” that included Tyrone, Dublin, Kerry, Cavan and Sligo to qualify for the quarter-finals against Down in Croke Park. The semi final against Derry was less memorable and defeat on a score of 1–12 to 0-08 was the result. The game had a bit of controversy too when a Mark Daly goal was disallowed and a Monaghan player was sent off.
Comfort Deli is open 24/7 – perfect if you’re feeling peckish or fancy a treat, no matter the time of day. You’ll find a selection of simple meals, snacks, drinks, and goodies here, which you can take up to your room, grab on your way to work, or enjoy in our comfy lobby.
However a shrewd management move from Tyrone resulted in a player being brought back to double mark Freeman and the Farney threat was quashed. They ran out flattering 2–14 to 1-07 winners in the end, limiting Monaghan to a single point from a free in the second half. All the pre-match hype surrounded the question as to whether or not Tyrone’s Ryan McMenamin would be playing, having been suspended following an incident in the Ulster final.
All-Ireland, Allianz League and Munster champions Kerry are next with nine contenders across every line of the field. Monaghan were prominent in Ulster championship competitions during the period 1914–30 and one of the first Ulster counties to contest an All-Ireland final. “From the committee, the locals, players, past and present, and to my closest friends, thank you so much for your support over the years. Although the decision chicken road was easy to make, I still found it incredibly hard to mutter the words to Gabriel.
