ANOTHER RORY Gallagher coup in a big Ulster Championship game.
This may have been a surprise result at the Athletic Grounds today, but the orchestrator of the win can’t have blindsided anyone.
Gallagher understands what is required to win Ulster Championship games.
Monaghan know that better than anyone.
They were on the end of a Gallagher masterclass in the 2018 Ulster semi-final when Fermanagh caught Monaghan on the line with a last gasp Eoin Donnelly goal.
Four years on, Fermanagh native Gallagher came back to haunt the Farney men again.
Gallagher was Donegal boss in 2015 when they came to the same venue, the Athletic Grounds, and tied Armagh up in knots.
And last year as Derry boss he came within one Patrick McBrearty swinger of shocking Donegal at Ballybofey.
Derry folk will care little for all that.
A sensational victory over All-Ireland champions, Tyrone, a first Ulster final since 2011, and one more big game win away from a first Anglo-Celt Cup since 1998 has the county dreaming again.
Gallagher is very much operating in the here and now, but a seventh Ulster final in 11 years across three counties, is a fair achievement.
“I don’t want to be building a long-term project for Chrissy McKaigue or Brendan Rogers or Gareth McKinless, Niall Toner or anybody,” he said, still a little hoarse after a frenetic encounter.
“We want to be part of something that lives in the moment now and we done an awful lot right.
“What a game. What a day.”
Despite being hammered on their own kick out, losing over 50percent, and only having eight shots in the second half, the underdogs still found a way to win this one.
A dream first half showing, where they fired two goals and led by 2-7 to 0-6 at the break was the foundation.
Monaghan had six first half wides, but that was literally only half the story as a well manned Derry defence forced them into error after error.
One Monaghan shot was blocked, another hit a post and two were dropped short, while Ethan Doherty pulled off a sensational tackle on Micheal Bannigan as he was about to pull the trigger.
Monaghan didn’t register a score for 13 minutes.
Derry already had a goal by then as Gareth McKinless took the ball at breakneck pace and smashed his shot to the roof of the net in the 12th minute.
It was a sign of things to come.
The second goal came as Derry goalie Odhran Lynch, who was an invaluable extra man all afternoon, surveyed the field for options and with none on fired it in long.
Conor Boyle misjudged the high ball with Niall Toner nipping inside and showing great composure to give Benny Herron a tap in goal.
McKinless intercepted the resulting Monaghan kickout and was fouled for Shane McGuigan to knock over the free and Derry had a sensational 2-4 to 0-2 on 25 minutes.
McGuigan was superb, particularly in the first half, finishing with seven points, including two from play and a mark, from his eight shots.
“In the first half we got ourselves into a good position,” said Gallagher.
“Monaghan threw the kitchen sink at it but I felt we were always going to win the game.
“There wasn’t a stage where they were ahead or close to getting level.
“We knew they were a brilliant team and were going to throw everything at it, but delighted.”
Derry lost five out of 10 of their own kickouts in the first half, and it was worse in the second half.
This usually spells disaster, but their trojan efforts to get goal side of the ball and apply pressure was a huge factor in gaining and retaining control of the game.
“I suppose some of them (Derry kickouts) were kicked out towards the end when we weren’t too bothered,” countered Gallagher.
“Would I be overly happy about losing any kickout? Probably not.
“No matter what you do on Rory Beggan, he is going to come out with 85 to 90percent.
“You have to make it a battle. The same as Niall Morgan. You put a bit of uncertainty into them.
“It’s a war with Rory Beggan and his kickouts. It’s a war on your own (kickouts). We still felt that if we were able to compete, we would be okay.”
Derry’s efficiency was incredible at 75 percent with 20 shots and 15 scores. They had just five wides to Monaghan's 11.
Monaghan still managed two more scores than Derry, but the goal count was 3-0, while Beggan also produced a fine stop from Conor McCluskey who combined with Conor Doherty in a lightning Derry second half raid.
“Goals are massive,” said Gallagher. “It’s very hard to get inside the 14 (yard line) in county football. We threatened it a lot and we were pulled down.
“I know Monaghan got a few frees inside but never looked like getting a scoring chance.
“We could have had five goals. We felt we were matched up well against Monaghan that way and it suited us.”
Monaghan penned Derry in for most of the second half after Derry had built a 2-7 to 0-6 half-time lead.
The Oak Leaf men were under serious pressure but stood tall with Ethan Doherty and Conor Glass getting through an outrageous amount of hard work.
The game’s defining moment came on 61 minutes as Derry struck for their third goal.
Glass delivered one of the few foot passes inside in the game, the irrepsressible Doherty did the spade work and Benny Herron kept his head to shoot to the net.
That put Derry 3-12 to 0-13 ahead and there was no way back for Monaghan.
Ethan Doherty was magnificent, thwarting two Monaghan goal chances with last ditch retreating tackles, while the likes of Glass and Brendan Rogers covered every inch of the Athletic Grounds.
Gary Mohan’s head must have been spinning from Rogers relentless positive, hard running as Derry kept Monaghan at arm’s length to win the day.
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