Commanding performance from Derry as they beat Monaghan at Celtic Park

Derry 3-17

Monaghan 0-12

Goals from defensive trio Conor Doherty, Paudi McGrogan and Conor McCluskey shot Derry to victory over Monaghan at Celtic Park on Saturday night.

In an all round commanding performance, it was McGrogan’s 50^th minute strike the ended any hopes of an Farney comeback.

It was a night when Ethan Doherty laid his fingerprints over the Oakleaf victory.

Derry had the breeze at their back and hit the from a McGuigan free in the first attack.

Monaghan hit back with points from goalkeeper Darren McDonnell and Michael Hamill putting them ahead after six minutes.

The home side took over with a purple patch, hitting seven unanswered points.

McGuigan was unerring with Derry’s first five scores including a booming effort from the sideline.

Derry pegged Monaghan in on their kick-outs with Diarmuid Baker winning break when McDonnell was forced to kick long.

McFaul hit two points within a minute before Monaghan got a foothold in the game. Stephen O’Hanlon and Michael Hamill injected pace coming from deep.

Jack McCarron hit three first-half frees but it was Derry who finished the half with a bang.

Ethan Doherty, who was involved in much of the home side’s play, won a kick-out after a lungbusting run. He was then on the end of the move to tee up Conor McCluskey for a goal, a bullet of a finish to the bottom corner to hope open a 1-9 to 0-6 interval lead.

Niall Toner notched a point with his first touch after coming in at half-time with Monaghan losing the injured O’Hanlon at the break.

McCarron and McGuigan exchanged frees with Derry still in control early in the second half.

A Monaghan long ball to Gary Mohan that was mopped up by McFaul but the Farney won a turnover for McCarron who thump the first of two monster scores to make the score 1-11 to 0-9 after 47 minutes.

Derry came with the hammer blow in the form of a Paudi McGrogan goal. It began with a Diarmuid Baker interception in defence with Ethan Doherty passing for McGrogan to drill to the bottom corner after 50 minutes.

Derry hit their third goal from Conor Doherty after a pass from debutant Runan Mulholland.

McGuigan increased his tally as Derry cruised to victory with Dessie Ward hitting a later score for the visitors.

Derry: R Scullion; C McCluskey (1-0), C McKaigue, D Baker; C Doherty (0-1), E McEvoy, P McGrogan (0-1); C Glass, B Rogers; E Doherty (0-1), C McFaul (0-2), P Cassidy (0-1); N Loughlin, S McGuigan (0-11, 6f), L Murray
Subs: N Toner (0-2, 1f for L Murray (HT), E Bradley for N Loughlin (42), D Gilmore for P Cassidy (53), M Bradley for D Baker (64)

Monaghan: D McDonnell (0-1f); R Wylie, C Lennon, R O’Toole; R McAnespie, K Duffy, T McPhillips; M McCarville, G Mohan; S O’Hanlon, J Wilson (0-1), M Hamill (0-1); C McNulty, J McCarron (0-8, 4f, 1m), J Irwin

Subs: K Loughran for R McAnespie (33), A Woods (0-1) for S O’Hanlon (INJ HT), S Mooney for J Irwin for (42), D Ward (0-1) for C Lennon (54),B McBennett for G Mohan (64)

Yellow card: C McNulty (6)

Referee: N Cullen (Fermanagh)