'You're in sport for days like this' - Bannigan
Monaghan's extra-time win over Derry produces drama that will be hard to surpass for the rest of the championship.
It was supposed to be the low-key Ulster Senior Football Championship semi-final, but Monaghan's extra-time win over Derry produced drama that will be hard to surpass for the rest of the championship. It came down to a two-point free by Rory Beggan to settle what was a remarkable game which the Oak Leafs thought they had won as the hooter sounded in normal time, only for the fans who had come onto the Athletic Grounds' pitch to be ushered off as there was still a sideline kick to be taken with Monaghan two behind. Jack McCarron held his nerve amid the chaos to split the posts with a wonder strike and send it to extra-time where, with 40 seconds left, Derry edged ahead.
There was still a slight gimmer of hope for Monaghan and a superb kick downfield by Dylan Byrne found Conor McCarthy, who was fouled 50 metres from goal. Up stepped Beggan to stroke over the winning two-pointer and send them into the final on 17 May. "You're involved in sport for days like this and for moments like this," said Monaghan manager Gabriel Bannigan as he tried to make sense of it all.
"There's plenty of days when you're coming on the wrong side of it, but we came out on the right side this time. "It was an absolutely incredible game of football. It's fair to say it could have gone either way.
"Hard luck to Derry but credit to them for their part in it. I don't think any team deserve to lose that game. " Without going full Al Pacino from Any Given Sunday, Bannigan referenced the "inches" that helped his side get over the line.