The Ulster Football Championship, famous for its episodes of high drama, has rarely scripted a more enthralling tale than the compelling narrative that unfolded at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds.
Monaghan heroism ran through an almost unbelievable storyline, with goalkeeper Rory Beggan as the central character in his side's stunning semi-final victory over Derry.
It was the 34-year-old who settled an extra-time epic, kicking three two-pointers, including a last-gasp winner, as well as providing a spectacular assist for Micheal Bannigan’s goal to inspire the Farney to a first appearance in the provincial decider since 2021.
And all that after a bizarre end to normal time, which saw the game restarted following a post-match pitch invasion by celebrating Derry fans, giving Jack McCarron an opportunity to bring Monaghan level, sending a gripping tie down the extra stretch.
Beggan was again to the fore in this moment - arguing with referee Noel Mooney that Monaghan were entitled to take the two-point sideline effort despite the hooter having sounded.
Such drama was hard to imagine during an encounter largely dominated by Derry, who led by 10 points at one stage.
Andrew Woods had just brought the Farney men level on 0-02 each when Derry crafted a goal, Gareth McKinless and Conor Doherty creating the opening before Niall Loughlin came charging from deep to collect and rifle the ball to the bottom of Beggan’s net in the sixth minute.
Conor Glass, stationing himself just behind his midfield, found pockets of space to drift in to and pose testing questions of the Monaghan cover, floating over a point as the Oak Leafers established a platform around the middle.
Shane McGuigan and Loughlin stroked over frees as they eased into a five-point lead by the 16th minute
Beggan, forced to go long with his kick-outs, found an outlet in the skies through the high-fielding Micheal McCarville, who also picked off a point, but too often Gabriel Bannigan’s men lacked the penetration to break down Derry’s well-organised rearguard.
McCarville fetched again for Stephen Mooney to bring it back to three, but Derry missed a host of chances to pull clear again.
Ethan Doherty emerged as a livewire threat, posting a couple of points as Ciaran Meenagh’s men went six clear, and they exposed an open channel down the heart of the Farney defence again as centre-back Gareth McKinless pierced through again, and Murray crossed for Eoin McEvoy to punch home a second goal three minutes before the break.
Ten points clear at the interval on 2-10 to 0-06 despite hitting nine wides to Monaghan’s two, the Oak Leafers were well on their way.
Monaghan did have the light breeze in their backs for the second half, and goalkeeper Beggan chipped over a two-point free with his first shot at the posts of the afternoon to narrow the gap.
They had a goal chance when Killian Lavelle picked out Bannigan, whose shot zipped just past a post, while Derry swept forward again for McGuigan to slot over three quickfire points.
And Monaghan once again looked dead and buried when Loughlin palmed home his second goal to restore the ten-point cushion.
The Farney kickers rose to the challenge, with McCarville, Woods, Beggan and McCarthy all raising orange flags as they fought their way back into contention.
Bobby McCaul was sent to the edge of the square as a target man, and brought a magnificent reflex save from Shea McGuckin, whose outstretched boot deflected the shot over the bar.
Beggan drifted out to midfield to face the Derry kick-out, claiming a McGuckin restart to send Micheal Bannigan in to smash home a 65th minute goal.
Substitute McCarron narrowed it to two, but the hooter appeared to have denied Monaghan, before Beggan’s protestations persuaded referee Noel Mooney to restart play, as he had awarded a sideline ball just before the horn.
High drama and immense pressure on McCarron’s shoulders as he sliced over a wonderful kick, his side’s sixth two-pointer of the second half, to tie it up a 3-16 to 1-22.
Monaghan led for the first time when Bannigan slotted a free early in extra-time, but it was the Oaks who led by two, 3-20 to 1-24 at the turnaround, thanks to a Murray two-pointer.
But Monaghan’s courage knew no bounds, Ryan McAnespie, off the bench to make two crucial tackles, making a huge contribution to this remarkable act of defiance as they refused to submit.
Even when Sean Kearney nudged Derry a point in front with his first touch just seconds from the end, Bannigan’s men continued to believe.
And they got their opportunity, Beggan the calmest men in Armagh city as he stroked a 47-metre free between the posts for the match-winner, his side’s eighth two-pointer and the most precious of all.
Monaghan: R Beggan (0-06, 3tpf); K Lavelle, R O’Toole, D Byrne; C Dowd, D Ward (0-03, 1tp), A Carey; M McCarville (0-03, 1tp), L Kelly; K Gallagher (0-01), M Bannigan (1-05, 0-2f), S O’Hanlon; C McCarthy (0-02, tp), A Woods (0-03, 1tp), S Mooney (0-01).
Subs: B McCaul (0-01) for Kelly (h-t), D Garland (0-01) for Mooney (45), O McGorman (0-01) for Carey (51), J McCarron (0-03, 1tpf) for Woods (54), R Hanratty for Gallagher (74), D McElearney for Lavelle (71), R McAnespie for O’Hanlon (81), S Hanratty for Dowd (88)
Derry: S McGuckin; D Baker, R Forbes, C McCluskey; C Doherty (0-01), G McKinless, P McGrogan; E McEvoy (1-02), B Rogers; E Doherty (0-02), C Glass (0-01), P Cassidy (0-01); N Loughlin (2-01, 0-1f), S McGuigan (0-07, 1f), L Murray (0-06, 1tp).
Subs: S Downey for Cassidy (60), N Toner (0-01) for Loughlin (60), P McGurk for Doherty (66), Loughlin for Downey (71), Doherty for McGurk (71), S Kearney (0-01) for Loughlin (88)
Referee: N Mooney (Cavan).
