Cruel Ulster Championship exit for Derry

It was a cruel, cruel Ulster Championship exit for Derry as Monaghan goalkeeper Rory Beggan was the hero with his last gasp two point free booking their place in the final in an extra-time blockbuster.

Seconds earlier, Sean Kearney looked to have won the game for Derry with a point with his first touch.

When Monaghan were awarded a free at midfield on the kick-out, Beggan nailed his kick to win a game littered with turning points.

It was looking bleak in normal time. Eoin McEvoy’s point, after Derry’s third goal, opened an 11-point margin after 51 minutes, 3-14 to 0-13.

Substitute Jack McCarron’s free left two between the sides before the drama ramped up again.

When referee Noel Mooney blew his final whistle, Derry were two points ahead. With fans coming on the pitch, the Cavan official overturned his decision to give Monaghan one last chance.

At that stage, Monaghan had a sideline outside the 40-metre arc and McCarron landed the score to take the game to extra-time.

First-half goals from Eoin McEvoy and Niall Loughlin helped the Oakleafers to a 10-point interval lead with the breeze at their back.

Derry had the wind and were off to a fast start with scores from Paul Cassidy and Niall Loughlin before Monaghan pulled back level.

When Derry struck for a sixth minute goal McKinless and Conor Doherty were incisive with Loughlin shooting low to the net.

Loughlin, Glass and McGuigan pushed them into a five-point lead.

Monaghan got a grip of the game until Ethan Doherty arrived with two points as he took control.

With Derry turning up the heat again, Eoin McEvoy palmed home at the end of a well-worked goal and the Oaks pushed into a 2-10 to 0-6 interval lead.

Derry won the throw-in but Monaghan started the second half with a Beggan two point free after Derry carried possession into a Dessie Ward tackle.

Monaghan forced two further turnovers but a second right-footed McGuigan score settled Derry and he added another.

Bannigan had a goal chance at the other end but pulled it across goal and Derry stayed 2-12 to 0-8 ahead.

Monaghan won two kick-outs with McCarville and Woods kicking two pointers at the end of the moves to shoot them back into contention.

Loughlin palmed in a third Derry goal and the Oaks were 10 points clear after 50 minutes.

A McCarthy two-pointer was followed up by a Bobby McCaul goal chance brilliantly flicked over by McGuckin’s trailing leg.

Monaghan then turned the game with a Bannigan goal after Beggan won a Derry kick-out and it was game on with five minutes to go.

There was another goal scare in the Derry defence a Monaghan smelt blood. Jack McCarron kicked a free to leave just two points between the teams.

Referee Mooney then blew the final whistle before calling back for McCarron to kick the dramatic two point sideline.

Murray (two-pointer), Bannigan and Ward all kicked scores and it was level again after 75 minutes with Conor Doherty edging Derry ahead.

A Toner point made it a two-point lead at half-time in extra-time as Ryan McAnespie came in.

McGuigan and Oisin McGorman shared points before Ward levelled matters again with a two-pointer.

Sean Kearney looked to have won the game before Beggan won the game with a late two-pointer.

Monaghan scorers: M Bannigan 1-5 (0-2f), R Beggan 0-6 (3tp), D Ward (1tp), M McCarville (1tp), A Woods (1tp), J McCarron (1tpf) 0-3 each, C McCarthy 0-2 (tp), S Mooney, B McCaul, D Garland, O McGorman, K Gallagher 0-1 each.

Derry: S McGuckin; D Baker, R Forbes, C McCluskey; C Doherty (0-1), G McKinless, P McGrogan; E McEvoy (1-2), B Rogers; E Doherty (0-2), C Glass (0-1), P Cassidy (0-1); N Loughlin (2-1), S McGuigan (0-7, 1f), L Murray (0-6, 1tp) Subs: S Downey for Loughlin (61), N Toner (0-1) for Cassidy (61), P McGurk for C Doherty (67), N Loughlin, C Doherty (all started ET), S Kearney (0-1) for Loughlin (88), P McGurk for C Doherty (88)

Monaghan: R Beggan (0-6, 3tp); K Lavelle, R O’Toole, D Byrne; C Dowd, D Ward (0-3, 1tp), A Carey; M McCarville (0-3, 1tp); L Kelly; K Gallagher (0-1), M Bannigan (1-5, 2f), S O’Hanlon; C McCarthy (0-2tp), A Woods (0-3, 1tp), S Mooney (0-1) Subs: B McCaul (0-1) for Kelly (HT), D Garland (0-1) for Mooney (45), O McGorman (0-1) for Carey (51), J McCarron (0-3, 1tps, 1f) for Woods (55), D McElearney for Lavelle (FT), R Hanratty for Gallagher (75), R McAnespie for O’Hanlon (HT ET), S Hanratty for Dowd (88)

Referee: N Mooney (Cavan)