Derry edge out Farney Men
Ulster SFC Quarter-Final:
Derry 1-10 Monaghan 0-10
Derry edged Monaghan at Celtic Park on Sunday, just about deserving a narrow win, with Paddy Bradley hitting the only goal of the game in the first half.
Bradley fisted to the net at the far post from Enda Lynn’s cross to give Derry a massive boost in the eighth minute.
Earlier, Stephen Gollogly and Chris McCaigue had swapped points, but Monaghan struggled to make inroads against a well organised Oak Leaf defence in the opening quarter.
But Derry failed to turn their offensive possession into scores, going 27 minutes without hitting the target after Eoin Bradley had shot them into a 1-2 to 0-1 lead on nine minutes.
Monaghan finally began to get some momentum going, after hitting a rash of wides, the worst of these a Tommy Freeman free after full back Vinny Corey had charged forward in a bid to inspire his team-mates.
Freeman then did find the target, along with Raymond Ronaghan, and it was a Paul Finlay free that edged the Farney men back on front on 33 minutes – 0-6 to 1-2.
Paddy Bradley’s free levelled it in first-half stoppage time and the former All-Star edged Derry back in front early in the second half, before laying off for brother Eoin to curl over his second.
The Oak Leafers, now with a strong wind in their backs, should have pressed home the advantage at this stage, but allowed Monaghan to draw level for the fifth time with a Finlay free.
Rory Woods eased the Farney county back in front with a fisted effort, before Derry midfielder Fergal Doherty was dismissed for a second yellow card 12 minutes from the end.
But the 14-man Oak Leafers battled back to go in front with two excellent efforts from debutant James Kielt.
And they sealed a semi-final spot against either Tyrone or Armagh with late scores from Joe Diver and Paddy Bradley.
DERRY: B Gillis, K McGuckin, K McCloy, G O’ Kane, C McCaigue (0-1), B McGoldrick (0-1), S L McGoldrick, F Doherty, J Diver (0-1), B
McGuigan, P Murphy, E Lynn, E Bradley (0-2, P Bradley (1-3, 0-1f), J
Kielt (0-2).
SUBS: M Lynch for Murphy (40), B Mullan for Lynn (53).
MONAGHAN: P McBennett, D Mone, V Corey, D McArdle, D Freeman, G McQuaid, D Hughes, E Lennon, D Clerkin, C McManus, P Finlay (0-3, 3f), S Gollogly (0-1), R Ronaghan (0-2), R Woods (0-1), T Freeman (0-3,
1f).
SUBS: M Downey for Rnaghan (45), C Hanratty for Lennon (46), P
McGuigan for Woods (65).
REFEREE: J White (Donegal)
WIDES: Derry 11, Monaghan 12
YELLOW CARDS:
Derry: F Doherty (2), P Bradley
Monaghan: R Ronaghan, D Clerkin, T Freeman, D Mone
RED CARDS: F Doherty (second yellow)
ATTENDANCE: 12,000 (approx)
Related:
– Video: Gaelic Life reporter Declan Bogue picks his Man of the Match from Celtic Park
– Video: The Derry manager Damien Cassidy makes no excuses for the manner of his team’s victory over Monaghan
– Video: Derry forward Eoin Bradley talks about victory over Monaghan
– Video: Derry student James Kielt balances Championship football with exam time at Queen’s
– Video: Church of Ireland representative attends the official opening of Celtic Park
– Video: Ireland’s fourth city gets a modernised stadium for Gaelic Games
– Video: Sport NI Chairman Dominic Walsh praises Ulster GAA for the development of Celtic Park
– Video: Cumann na mBunscol boys from Derry and Monaghan show their skills at Celtic Park
– Photo Gallery: Derry v Monaghan USFC
