Cadbury’s Ulster Under-21 Football Championship Quarter-Final

Derry  3-12 Monaghan 1-3                            21/3/12

 

Monaghan were dumped out of the Ulster Under-21 Football Championship by Derry in a one-sided quarter-final at Celtic Park on Wednesday night. Monaghan were outclassed by a Derry team who were in control from start to finish, helped by goals from captain Emmet McGuckian (two) and livewire corner-back Fergal Duffin, who was one of three of the home side’s defenders to get on the scoresheet. Duffin, McGuckian, Conlan Bradley, Ryan Ferris and Ryan Moore played key roles for Derry, while Pete Dooney was the only Monaghan player consistently on top of his direct opponent, although the half-back line worked hard under fierce pressure.

Benny Herron tapped over a 13-metre free for a foul on Kieran Conway to get Derry off to a good start, before Conlan Bradley linked up with Benny Quigg to double their lead. Quigg had a shot turned around the post by Monaghan keeper Rory Beggan, but Emmet McGuckian converted the resulting ’45 to make it three-nil to the hosts. Thomas Kerr got Monaghan off the mark when he sent over a 20-metre free after a foul on Keith McEnaney and although Herron missed a goal chance on eight minutes, Derry didn’t have long to wait to find the net.

Corner-back Fergal Duffin raced the length of the field to beat Beggan to a McGuckian pass and slot home. Herron tapped over another 13-metre free after a foul on Aaron Devlin, before combining with Quigg to set up Chris Spiers for a point from play. Monaghan did make a couple of chances at the other end, but Keith McEnaney was blocked down by Ryan Ferris, before Thomas Kerr sent a shot straight at Derry keeper Kevin Farren when he had options to pass it. Ryan Moore landed a good point from distance, as did Devlin from a 45-metre free following a foul on Herron.

McGuckian smashed home Derry’s second goal at the end of a well-worked move involving Duffin, Herron and Quigg, and even though Pete Dooney finally got Monaghan’s first point from play in the 28^th minute, their woes were summed up when substitute Daniel McKenna overhit a pass intended for Keith McEnaney when he might have gone for goal himself. Derry led by 2-7 to 0-2 at half-time.

Monaghan had two opportunities in the early minutes of the second half, but Kerr sent the first one wide from close range and Keith McEnaney sent a shot off the post, before it went from bad to worse when Herron set up McGuckian to flick home his second goal. Daniel McKenna replied with a point, but Benny Quigg hit two in a row, before Ryan Ferris bombed forward from full-back to split the posts after good approach play by Duffin and Devlin.

Monaghan got a consolation goal when Stephen Sherry punched into an empty net from point-blank range after good work by Dooney and McEnaney. Another lightning-quick break by Duffin set up a point for Spiers, before substitute Fintan Bell became Derry’s tenth scorer on the night. McEnaney had a tame effort saved by Farren late on, as Derry cruised through to a semi-final meeting with defending champions Cavan.

 

Derry: K Farren; K McKeague, R Ferris (0-1), F Duffin (1-0); K Johnston, R Moore (0-1), K Conway; C Bradley (0-1), D Johnston; C Spiers (0-2), B Herron (0-2f), E McKillion; B Quigg (0-2), E McGuckian (Capt., 2-1, 0-1 ‘45), A Devlin (0-1f).

Subs: N Rocks for Moore (40 mins), F Bell (0-1) for Herron (47), G O’Neill for D Johnston (49), C Kearns for Quigg (57).

 

Monaghan: R Beggan; N McKeown, K Duffy (Capt.), C Boyle; D McArdle, J McGuigan, O Coyle; P Dooney (0-1), S Sherry (1-0); S Sheridan, P O’Hanlon, T Kerr (0-1f); S Coyle, K McEnaney, S Carey.

Subs: R Courtney for McKeown (16), D McKenna (0-1) for S Coyle (23), P Boyle for McArdle, B McElroy for Carey (both 49), A Mulligan for Kerr (57).

 

Referee: S McLaughlin (Donegal).