Monaghan snatch thrilling extra-time win over Derry

Rory Beggan's last-gasp two-point free in extra-time saw Monaghan break Derry hearts with a 1-30 to 3-23 win and reach the Ulster Senior Football final for the first time since 2021.

The Farney men fought back from 10 points down in normal time, forcing the extra period as Jack McCarron slung over a two-pointer from a sideline with the last kick after the hooter sounded and Derry fans already celebrating.

It was a game that had it all, as the drama kept coming as both sides emptied the tank.

Derry will look back with regrets as a tally of 14 wides in normal time came back to bite them, while Monaghan's ability to hit two-pointers kept them afloat, energised them, rescued the situation and ultimately won the game.

Indeed, they would land eight shots from outside the arc to Derry's one, with Beggan again producing the heroics as he held his nerve at the last.

It was cruel on Derry, who more than played their part in a thrilling game, but just couldn't see it out when in winning positions in normal time and extra time.

In the end, the Athletic Grounds was a see of white and blue at the end. Gabriel Bannigan's men can now look ahead to the final on 17 May, where the winners of Sunday's semi-final between Down and Armagh.

Derry made the better start and seven minutes in, bagged their first goal as Conor Doherty passed into Niall Loughlin who drilled low to the net.

While Michael McCarville hit back, Monaghan were struggling to get much going in attack as Derry began to stretch the lead with Shane McGuigan, Conor Glass and Loughlin pointing.

Although Derry had seven different scorers in the opening period, they weren't able to find their range from two-point territory as Monaghan stayed in it, but a good finish to the opening half from the Oak Leafs was capped by Lachlan Murray squaring for Eoin McEvoy to fist home, while a Murray's third point gave his side a 2-10 to 0-6 lead at the half.

It was just the appetiser for what was to come.

Monaghan's route back lay with two-pointers and Rory Beggan converted his first free from outside the arc moments after the restart.

While Shane McGuigan rattled off three on the spin afterwards, Monaghan really ought to have had a goal when Micheal Bannigan was through but missed the target.

However, the Farney men began to believe as Michael McCarville and Andrew Woods hit two-pointers to narrow the gap to seven, yet it seemed Derry may have landed the killer blow in the 50th minute as Murray popped into Loughlin to palm home his second goal.

Monaghan were far from done with another couple of two-pointers, while Derry goalkeeper made a brilliant save from Bobby McCaul to divert the shot up and over.

It appeared Derry may have weathered the storm with Murray and McGuigan pointing to extend the gap to six with five to go, but it was far from done as Beggan pushed up on the Derry kick-out, made the fetch and found Bannigan who found the net this time.

A Jack McCarron free narrowed it to two and Derry thought they had won it with the ball out for a Monaghan line ball as the hooter sounded.

While fans streamed on to the pitch, they had to be ushered off again as referee Noel Mooney realised the kick had to be taken and Jack McCarron nailed it in spectacular fashion for his side's fifth two-pointer, sending the game to extra-time with the sides level at 3-16 to 1-22 in the most dramatic of fashion.

While Bannigan kicked Monaghan into their first lead of the day two minutes into extra-time, Derry's one and only two-pointer of the game from Murray proved the difference at the turnaround.

Shane McGuigan's seventh of the game pushed the gap out to three, but Monaghan roared back with the next four including a two-pointer from Andrew Woods.

Derry were level through McEvoy and with less than a minute left, substitute Sean Kearney thought he had won it, but there was still time for Monaghan as they went long and Diarmuid Baker was penalised for clattering into Conor McCarthy outside the 45 with just seconds left.

Up stepped Beggan to win it with the last kick and the Scotstown man drilled the ball straight down the middle, sending the Monaghan fans into raptures and breaking the hearts of those in red and white in a heart-stopping conclusion.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan (0-6, 3x2pf); Killian Lavelle, Ryan O'Toole, Dylan Byrne; Cameron Dowd, Dessie Ward (0-3, 1x2p), Aaron Carey; Michael McCarville, Louis Kelly; Karl Gallagher (0-1), Michael Bannigan (1-5, 0-1f), Stephen O'Hanlon; Conor McCarthy (0-2, 1x2p), Andrew Woods (0-3, 1x2p), Stephen Mooney (0-1).

Subs: Bobby McCaul (0-1) for L Kelly (HT), David Garland for S Mooney (45), Oisin McGorman (0-1) for A Carey (51), Jack McCarron (0-3, 1x2pf) for A Woods (55).

ET subs: Darragh McElearney start in place of K Lavelle; Robbie Hanratty for K Gallagher (5), Ryan McAnespie for S O'Hanlon (HT), Shane Hanratty for D Garland (18)

Derry: Shea McGuckin; Diarmuid Baker, Ruairi Forbes, Conor McCluskey; Conor Doherty (0-1), Gareth McKinless, Padraig McGrogan; Eoin McEvoy (1-2), Brendan Rogers; Ethan Doherty (0-2), Conor Glass (0-1), Paul Cassidy (0-1); Niall Loughlin (2-1, 0-1f), Shane McGuigan (0-7, 1f), Lachlan Murray (0-6, 1x2p).

Subs: Shea Downey for P Cassidy (61), Niall Toner (0-1)for N Loughlin (61), Patrick McGurk for C Doherty (67).

ET subs: Conor Doherty and Niall Loughlin start in place of S Downey and P McGurk; Sean Kearney (0-1) for N Loughlin (18), Patrick MCGurk for C Doherty (18).

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)