Dishonour shared in foul fest

DERRY'S reputation as a potential winner of the Sam Maguire Cup took a bit of a hammering at Clones yesterday when a spirited effort by Monaghan opened, up the possibility of a major upset. Derry, however, pulled some of their own fiery brand of football out of the bottom of the barrel to earn a draw.

The announcement that the replay would be in Celtic Park in Derry next Sunday came as a surprise to many, including the Monaghan manager, Sean McCague, who was not slow to admit that he will be having words with some of those in authority with the Ulster Council on the issue. Whether he can beat the argument that Monaghan were playing on their own turf and that Derry are entitled to play at home next Sunday remains to be seen.

Leaving the arguments about a venue for the committee room, neither side can be happy with a very poor match. On a splendidly prepared pitch, a dry sod and only a light wind, neither side seemed willing to react positively to the conditions.

A conservative statistician in the press box counted 76 frees in the course of the match. Others of a more liberal mind were willing to add at least another dozen to the tally. What was certain was that this was a very poor advertisement for the game.

Those who seek to blame the referee, Martin McBrien from Fermanagh, for the problems which arose are barking up the wrong rulebook.

Monaghan will deeply regret a golden opportunity wasted in the very first minute when Peter Duffy's penalty attempt was saved by the Derry goalkeeper, Damian McCusker.

In view of the fact that Monaghan went on to lead by 2-4 to 0-3 after 23 minutes, it might have been a case of the match going beyond the reach of Derry at that stage. However, Derry must be given credit for their tenacity and refusal to give in.

They whittled the lead down to three points by halftime and swept into the lead with the wind behind them in the second half. From that point onwards there was little between the sides.

In the second half, a period of 23 minutes elapsed without a score as the negative tactics of both sides won the day. Both teams will surely adopt a more open attitude to the replay. Certainly this was not the sort of game that an attendance of 10,340 paid good money to see.

The match had started at a furious pace and when Monaghan bore down on the Derry goal in the very first minute, Greg Flanagan was hauled down in the penalty area by Emmet McKeever. Peter Duffy stepped up to the kick without having broke sweat and he drove the ball to Damien McCusker's right. McCusker judged the kick correctly and had some help from the goal post as it rebounded back into play and was cleared.

Any idea that Monaghan were there merely as pawns for Derry were quickly dispelled, however. Fit and willing, they took the game into Derry's territory with long raking kicks, backed up by the willingness of the players to support the man in possession.

Stephen McGinnity was causing serious problems for Derry and Mark Daly was giving a fine performance at centre half forward. In defence, Dermot Duffy was switched to mark Joe Brolly and things were looking well for Monaghan.

Two severe blows seemed to take the wind out of the Derry sails midway through the half. In the 19th minute, McGinnity dashed in behind the Derry defence and placed Peter Duffy perfectly as he made up for his penalty miss.

Four minutes later, Monaghan struck again. Daly must have been as surprised as everybody else when he spotted his corner hack Noel Marron motoring up on his right to take a well timed pass before driving the ball past McCusker to give Monaghan a seven point lead.

This was not what Derry had expected, but they steadied admirably. Brolly was beginning to find his best form and Joe Cassidy, too, was looking dangerous. By half time, they had between them cut the lead to a respectable three points.

Predictably it was the same pair who turned the match around for Derry in the opening minutes of the second half. Cassidy pointed a free in the first minute and before Monaghan had time to settle, Fergal McCusker set up Brolly for the kind of goal for which he is rightly respected. A successful Brolly free added to Monaghan's woes and suddenly the confident predictions of a Derry victory seemed to become valid currency.

It was then that Monaghan showed their resolve and neither side could gain the upper hand.

As the tough tackles went in the referee was kept busy and after a short discussion with one of his linesmen, he sent off Brian McCormack of Derry and Joe Coyle of Monaghan who had conducted their own private contest off the ball.

Anthony Tohill, who had a quiet match by his standards, gave Derry the lead again in the 55th minute, but justice was done when McKiernan pointed a free for Monaghan.

Monaghan seemed to have gained a chance of victory just four minutes from time when they were awarded a free which was well within Stephen McGinnity's range, but another minor rumpus broke out, the referee decided to disallow the free and to throw the ball between the sides.