Beggan Sends Monaghan Past Derry 1-30 to 3-23 — Derry Monaghan Gaa

Rory Beggan’s last-gasp two-point free pushed Monaghan past Derry 1-30 to 3-23 after extra-time and sent derry monaghan gaa into the Ulster Senior Football final. Monaghan are back in the final for the first time since 2021 after recovering from a 10-point deficit in normal time.

Beggan Decides It

Beggan ended it with the final act of extra-time. His free completed a comeback that had already dragged Monaghan level after Jack McCarron slung over a two-pointer from a sideline after the hooter sounded to force the additional period.

Monaghan had spent much of the match chasing. Derry led 2-10 to 0-6 at half-time, with Niall Loughlin scoring after seven minutes and Eoin McEvoy adding the second goal before the break.

Monaghan’s Two-Point Swing

The pressure shifted after the restart when Beggan converted his first free from outside the arc moments after play resumed. Michael McCarville and Andrew Woods then added two-pointers as Monaghan narrowed the gap, while Micheal Bannigan missed a chance when he was through on goal.

The match turned on long-range scoring. Monaghan landed eight shots from outside the arc to Derry’s one, and Derry also finished normal time with 14 wides. Lachlan Murray set up McEvoy for Derry’s second goal, and Murray’s third point had left them 2-10 to 0-6 clear at the interval.

Ulster Final On 17 May

Gabriel Bannigan’s side will now play in the final on 17 May against the winners of Sunday’s semi-final between Down and Armagh. For Monaghan, the route back to that stage runs through a match that swung from a 10-point hole to a place in the province’s decider.