Derry power past Monaghan to make Ulster decider

Defending champions Derry are back in another Ulster SFC final following a comfortable 1-21 to 2-10 win over Monaghan at O'Neills Healy Park.

Shane McGuigan led the way with a nine points haul, one of ten different players on target, as a controlled display saw them reach successive provincial deciders for the first time since 1998.

They dominated the Farney men in almost every sector, with Conor Glass and Brendan Rogers giving them a huge platform in the central third.

Trailing from start to finish, Monaghan were always chasing the game, and while they kept themselves in touch with goals from Karl O'Connell and Karl Gallagher, there was a certain inevitability about this eight-point success from a well organised and highly motivated Derry side.

In front of an Omagh crowd of 13,371, Glass blasted over a long range opener for Derry, also gaining a foothold in the central area along with Rogers as the Oak Leaf men imposed themselves on the contest early on.

Monaghan protected the 'D', but the accuracy of their opponents from distance neutralised the defensive efforts of Vinny Corey’s men.

And the energy and dynamism of Conor Doherty, Conor McCluskey and Ethan Doherty kept the defending champions on the front foot as they took the game to Monaghan with positivity.

Paul Cassidy arrowed over a couple of scores, and it was Doherty’s superb effort that had them ahead by 0-6 to 0-2 by the end of the opening quarter, both of Monaghan’s scores coming from goalkeeper Rory Beggan’s long range frees.

But in the 18th minute, Karl O’Connell injected a much-needed dose of pace and directness into Monaghan’s approach as they charged through the middle to drill his shot low to the net, exposing a defensive vulnerability when the threat seemed