Derry 3-16 Monaghan 0-20:Derry moved into the third round of the SFC qualifiers with a polished performance against Monaghan at Clones that will have most sides hoping against drawing the Ulstermen when the teams are pulled out of the hat tomorrow. One of those names will be that of Sligo, who edged out Tipperary by one point at Semple Stadium, but even extra-time could not separate Wexford and Roscommon.
Monaghan put up brave resistance for much of the game but the loss of Tommy Freeman, suspended for two games for his part in the ugly scenes that marred he previous meetings between the two sides, proved a bitter pill.
Derry’s top guns, on the other hand, were on the pitch and in ruthless form. The Bradley brothers, Paddy and Eoin, were linked up brilliantly and the former contribute two goals and eight points.
The first half was a world away from the previous episode that landed both counties in trouble during the Ulster championship earlier in the summer.
This time the crowd was treated to a clean flowing encounter that threatened to get away from Monaghan but for a brave rally before the break.
Paddy Bradley’s opportunism under a speculative high-ball resulted in him finding the net while on his backside.
The marksman also pointed four times but it was James Kielt’s fisted effort after unselfish work from Eoin Bradley that really put the pressure on Monaghan.
Derry looked well in control with an eight point lead but after the 26th minute they hit the target just once more in the half through Gerard O’Kane.
At the other end, substitute Ciaran Hanratty was orchestrated something of a fightback and pointed four times to drag Monaghan back into the contest.
Rory Woods got his second for fifth in a row for his side and, after O’Kane’s late effort, Damien Freeman closed the gap to three points at the break.
The break probably came at the wrong time for Monaghan but two early points in the second half moved them to within one.
They never achieved parity however, as Paddy Bradley kept them at arms length and ultimately killed off their challenge when finishing off his brother’s ball across the face of the goal in the 56th minute.
When Eoin Bradley added a cheeky point immediately afterwards the writing was on the wall, thanks to a performance that saw Derry score 3-14 from play.
In Thurles, Sligolooked to heading to a comfortable victory over Tipperaryafter leading by 0-10 to 0-04 at the break, thanks largely to the scoring of Adrian Marren and David Kelly.
Stephen Coal then hit the net for a nine-point Sligo lead but Tipp refused to lie down and found their range over the bar before scoring a goal of their own through Brian Mulvihill.
Their efforts fell agonisingly short, however, though John Evans’s side leave this year’s championship with heads held high.
The teams were inseparable at Wexford Park, after both full-time and extra-time.
Ciaran Lyng's early goal gave Wexfordthe advantage but Roscommonnever let them get away, with Donie Shine prominent and Senan Kilbride chipping in with the crucial score to force a replay.