NICKY RACKARD CUP SEMI FINAL.

Derry 6-17, Monaghan 1-12.

Super sub Brendan Rogers hammered home another three goals as Derry head back to Croke Park for the final of the Nicky Rackard Cup. As expected, they breezed through their  Rackard Cup semi final as Collie McGurk’s side easily accounted for Monaghan on Saturday at Inniskeen. In fairness to Monaghan though the game at times was not as one-sided as the final score line might suggest but Monaghan always faced a mountain against a side who showed yet again that they should not be competing in the Nicky Rackard Cup. The start of the game was delayed for some 15 odd minutes due to the fact that the Monaghan gear had not arrived at Grattan Park but once matters got underway it took Derry very little time to settle into their rhythm. That said though, Monaghan were competing well in the early stages with Derry leading by just a point, 0-4 to 0-3 after fifteen minutes and Monaghan had missed a number of clear-cut chances that could have changed the complexion of the game at that stage. That though was as good as it got for the home side with goals from Brian Cassidy and one from a penalty by Alan Grant opening up a 2-6 to 0-5 lead for Derry with half-time approaching and the pulled away in the second half. Monaghan finished the game with 14 players following the dismissal of Sean Leonard on a second yellow card fifteen minutes from the end.

Teams and Scorers: Derry: Daryll McDermott, Sean McCullagh, Sean Cassidy, Darragh McCloskey, Paul Cleary, Oisin McCloskey, Liam Óg Hinphey (0-1), Conor McAllister, Kevin Hinphey, Gerald Bradley (0-2), Meehaul McGrath, Alan Grant (1-4, 2f, 1 pen), Aaron Kelly (0-1), Brian Cassidy (1-0), Darragh Cartin (0-2). Subs: Chrissy McKaigue (0-1) K Hinphey (40), Brendan Rogers (3-3) for B Cassidy (41), Ruairi Convery (1-3, 1-2f) for A Grant (43), Naoise Waldron for P Cleary (49), Brian Óg McGilligan (0-1) for M McGrath (55).

Monaghan: Patrick Bermingham, Jamie Guinan, Peter Treanor (0-1), Brian Flanagan, Colm Meegan, Martin Murphy, Niall Garland, Mark Treanor (0-1), Éanna Mac Suibhne (0-1), Conor Boyle, Seán Leonard, Stephen Lambe (0-4, 1f), Donal Meegan (0-3, 2f), Brian McGuigan, Tadhg Campbell (1-0). Subs: PJ Boyle (0-1) for É Mac Suibhne (37), Pádraig Garland for C Boyle (48), Jamie Dooley (0-1) for D Meegan (57), Bernard O’Connor for B Flanagan (65), Shane McNally for T Campbell (68).     Referee: Patrick Murphy (Carlow).