Rory Beggan nailed a pressure two-point free at the end of extra time for Monaghan to edge Derry by 1-30 to 3-23 in a cracking Ulster SFC semi-final at the Box-It Athletic Grounds.

Gabriel Bannigan’s side showed their resilience by coming from behind in normal time and again in extra time to eventually defeat Oak Leafers by the minimum and book their place in the northern province’s decider against either Armagh or Down on May 17th.

It was Derry that had dominated long portions of the opening 35 minutes, with goals from Niall Loughlin and Eoin McEvoy helping them towards a 2-10 to 0-6 lead at the break.

Beggan floated over a free from beyond the arc early in the restart for the Farney men and, after Shane McGuigan hit three unanswered points at the other end, back-to-back two-pointers sailed over Derry’s crossbar via Micheál McCarville and Andrew Woods.

Loughlin’s second goal looked to knock the stuffing out of Monaghan after that, but the trailers hung in with a few scores, including Conor McCarthy’s two-pointer, and Beggan would set-up Micheál Bannigan for their goal to keep them right in the hunt.

A Jack McCarron free made it a two-point game and, as Derry looked to run out the clock on their opponents in the two minutes that remained, Monaghan would get a turnover with a sideline ball in the last minute. Referee Noel Mooney blew the full-time whistle as McCarron stood over the kick before the Cavan official allowed the kick to be taken and McCarron would curl it over superbly to force the added periods.

Bannigan (free) moved Monaghan in front after two minutes of extra time prior to Lachlan Murray sailing a two-pointer and Derry hit more points through Conor Doherty and Niall Toner in the run up to the break.

McGuigan’s point made it 3-21 to 1-24 with eight minutes left to play and Monaghan’s response was brilliant, with Dessie Ward (two-pointer), Oisin McGorman and Bannigan sending over unanswered scores.

Eoin McEvoy levelled things up for Ciaran Meenagh’s men and substitute Sean Kearney looked have won it for them prior to McCarthy getting fouled from 50 metres out in front of the posts. Beggan stepped up to win it for Monaghan from there as they advanced to their first Anglo-Celt Cup decider since 2021 in dramatic fashion.

It's all over here in the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds after a very dramatic end to extra-time, but it was Rory Beggan with an incredible final score to bring @monaghangaa to an Ulster final👀👏😎

FT SCORE:@Doiregaa 3-23@monaghangaa 1-30#DERvMON pic.twitter.com/uDhLQkNKv2

— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 2, 2026

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