Ulster SFC: Gritty Monaghan win thriller
Rory Beggan was an influential figure as Monaghan defeated Derry in the Ulster SFC. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
Ulster Senior Football Championship Semi-Final
Monaghan 1-30 Derry 3-23
After extra-time
By Francis Mooney at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds
High drama at the Box-It Athletic Grounds saw Monaghan come back from the dead to claim a sensational extra-time win over Derry and a first provincial final appearance since 2021.
Goalkeeper Rory Beggan, so often the Farney saviour, was the hero once again, sending over a 47 metre free with the last kick to seal a memorable comeback from 10 points behind.
It was his third two-pointer of the afternoon, an eighth orange flag in all for a side that refused to wilt under the relentless pressure that pre-match favourites Derry brought to this crazy contest.
Beggan had also provided an assist for Micheal Bannigan’s goal, while Jack McCarron also contributed to the unfolding drama with a magnificent sideline ball conversion right at the end of normal time to tie up the game.
Micheal Bannigan and Andrew Woods cancelled out the early flourish which produced scores from Lachlann Murray and Paul Cassidy, but the Oak Leafers established a platform in the middle third, with Conor Glass sitting deep, just behind the halfway line and directing operations.
The first signs of Monaghan’s defensive fragility were exposed as early as the sixth minute as centre back Gareth McKinless linked with Conor Doherty, creating the opening for Niall Loughlin to arrive at pace and beat Rory Beggan with a losw shot to the corner of the net.
They pressed Beggan’s kick-out, but he managed to pick out the high-fielding Micheal McCarville, who steered over a score, before Ciaran Meenagh’s men powered forward again to give five clear after a quarter of an hour, Glass powering over a point.
Monaghan lacked penetration, but managed to garner scores through Bannigan and Stephen Mooney, while their opponents missed a host of opportunities to build a substantial lead.
After hitting a flurry of wides, they found an additional threat in the emergence of Ethan Doherty as a liveware force.
He sent over a couple of points to push his side six clear, and they exposed an open channel down the heart of the Farney defence again as centre back Gareth McKinless pierced through again, and Murray crossed for Eoin McEvoy to punch home a second goal three minutes before the break.
Ten points clear at the interval, 2-10 to 0-6, despite hitting nine wides to Monaghan’s two, the Oak Leafers were well on their way.
Monaghan did have the aid of a light breeze for the second half, and goalkeeper Beggan chipped over a two-point free with his first shot at the posts to narrow the gap.
They had a goal chance when Killian Lavelle picked out Bannigan, whose shot zipped just past a post, while Derry swept forward again for McGuigan to slot over three quickfire points.
Monaghan once again looked dead and buried when Loughlin palmed home his second goal to restore the 10 points cushion.
The Farney kickers rose to the challenge, with McCarville, Woods, Beggan and McCarthy all raising orange flags as they fought their way back into contention.
Bobby McCaul was sent to the edge of the square as a target man, and brought a magnificent reflex save from Shea McGuckin, whose outstretched boot deflected the shot over the bar.
Beggan drifted out to midfield to face the Derry kick-out, claiming a McGuckin restart to send Micheal Bannigan in to smash home a 65th minute goal.
Substitute Jack McCarron narrowed it to two. High drama and immense pressure on McCarron’s shoulders as he sliced over a wonderful kick, his side’s sixth two-pointer of the second half, to tie it up a 3-16 to 1-22.
Monaghan led for the first time when Bannigan slotted a free early in extra-time, but it was the Oaks who led by two, 3-20 to 1-24 at the turnaround, thanks to a Murray two-pointer.
But Monaghan’s courage knew no bounds, Ryan McAnespie, off the bench to make two crucial tackles, making a contribution to this remarkable act of defiance as they refused to submit.
Even when Sean Kearney nudged Derry a point in front with his first touch just seconds from the end, Bannigan’s men continued to believe.
Late on, Monaghan got an opportunity, Beggan the calmest men in Armagh city as he stroked a 47 metre free between the posts for the match-winner, his side’s eighth two-pointer and the most precious of all.
Scorers for Monaghan: M Bannigan 1-5 (2fs), R Beggan 0-6 (3tp), D Ward (1tp), M McCarville (1tp), A Woods (1tp), J McCarron (1tp sideline) 0-3 each, C McCarthy 0-2 (tp), S Mooney, B McCaul, D Garland, O McGorman, K Gallagher 0-1 each.
Scorers for Derry: N Loughlin 2-1 (1f), E McEvoy 1-2, S McGuigan 0-7 (1f), L Murray 0-6 (1tpf), E Doherty 0-2, C Doherty, S Kearney, P Cassidy, N Toner, C Glass 0-1 each.
Monaghan: R Beggan; K Lavelle, R O’Toole, D Byrne; C Dowd, D Ward, A Carey; M McCarville, L Kelly; K Gallagher, M Bannigan, S O’Hanlon; C McCarthy, A Woods, S Mooney.
Subs: B McCaul for Kelly (h-t), D Garland for Mooney (45), O McGorman for Carey (51), J McCarron for Woods (54), R Hanratty for Gallagher (74), D McElearney for Lavelle (71), R McAnespie for O’Hanlon (81), S Hanratty for Dowd (88).
Derry: S McGuckin; D Baker, R Forbes, C McCluskey; C Doherty, G McKinless, P McGrogan; E McEvoy, B Rogers; E Doherty, C Glass, P Cassidy; N Loughlin, S McGuigan, L Murray.
Subs: S Downey for Cassidy (60), N Toner for Loughlin (60), P McGurk for Doherty (66), Loughlin for Downey (71), Doherty for McGurk (71), S Kearney for Loughlin (88).
Referee: N Mooney (Cavan).
