Monaghan deservedly hold out

ULSTER U-21 FC QUARTER-FINALS: Monaghan 1-12 Derry 1-8: DERRY STARTED the brighter in Inniskeen with a brace of points from Lee Moore but Monaghan were soon on level terms to set the tone for the opening half.

Monaghan took the lead for the first time in the 12th minute when Pete Dooney crashed to the Derry net.

By the 22nd minute Monaghan had opened a four-point lead but Derry struck for a goal and a point inside two minutes to level for the third time, Caolan Boyle with a brilliant finish for the goal.

Derry equalised on the resumption and retook the lead through a O’Boyle free but five points without reply from Monaghan put them in the driving seat with Derry reduced to 14 players with the dismissal of James Devlin. They did pull back a point by Lee Moore but Monaghan held out and will now face the winners of Down v Tyrone.

MONAGHAN:R Beggan, C Walshe, F Kelly, S Dooney, P Boyle, K Duffy, D Millar, P Dooney (1-1), P O'Hara, K Mooney, D Malone (0-1), P O'Hanlon, C McGuinness (0-6, 4f), K McEnaney (0-2), M Hanratty (0-1). Subs: J McCarron (0-1) for Mooney, D McKenna for Hanratty.

DERRY:A Warnock, K Johnston, D Dillon, J Devlin, D McGuckian, C McWilliams, R Ferris, C O'Boyle (1-3, 3f), B Doyle, N Forrester, E McGuckian, A Devlin, B Herron (0-2, one free), C McGoldrick, L Moore (0-3). Subs: A Mullan for Devlin, T Brady for McWilliams, R McElhinney for McGuckian.

Referee:G Corrigan (Down).