A good spell midway through the second half when Derry hit a goal and four points inside six minutes to turn a four-point deficit into a three-point lead was the crucial element in this hard-earned victory in Castleblayney yesterday.
Played in atrocious and deteriorating conditions, Monaghan dominated for most of the first half, at the end of which they led by 1-7 to 1-3, the goals coming from Stephen McGinnity after two minutes and Gary Coleman from a penalty in the 10th minute.
Derry: S O'Kane; R Lynch, S M Lockhart, B Dillon; F Crossan, D O'Neill, G Coleman (1-1); R Rocks (0-2), J McBride (0-1); G Diamond (0-1), D Dougan (0-1), E Burns (0-1); J Brolly (0-2), D Bateson, A Lagan (1-1). Subs - S McLernon for B Dillon.
Monaghan: J Sullivan; D McArdle, D McDermott, N Marron; E Murphy (0-1), S Mullen, J ; G McGurk (0-1), J Coyle; P Treanor, P O'Connor, J P Mone; S McGinnity (1-5), D McKernan (0-1), P Duffy (0-1). Subs - P McKenna for P Duffy; M Daly for P Treanor; B Morgan for J P Mone.
Referee: G Lynch (Fermanagh)
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