Ulster SFC semi-final replay: Donegal 0-17 Monaghan 2-10
LIKE some sort of mythical undead creatures, a special piece of wood played its part in knocking Monaghan out and off their provincial perch on Saturday night.
There was no doubting Donegal fully deserved this victory, but they also needed the silver bullet scoring power of the mercurial Martin O'Reilly and their own indestructible skipper Michael Murphy to finally kill off the Farney men.
This second act was not quite as hard-hitting as the drawn game, but it was still a thriller, an enthralling spectacle, one you couldn't take your eyes off for a split-second of the 78 minutes played. Donegal dominated from the outset, particularly before the break, but were pegged back by sucker punch goals from Shane Carey and Conor McManus, the Monaghan skipper converting a penalty to make it 0-8 to 2-2 in the 33rd minute.
Even then, Rory Gallagher's side responded to force a two-point lead at the interval and did enough - just - in the seconnd-half to maintain a winning advantage and ensure their sixth consecutive Ulster final appearance.
Perhaps this was the hardest win of them all, even after tight tussles with Tyrone (twice), Down and Derry on four of the previous five occasions. This, after all, was still in doubt into the fifth minute of added-time at the end of this replay.
Kieran Duffy had the last-gasp opportunity to extend the drama, but his shot dropped just short, Donegal keeper Mark Anthony McGinley rising high to claim the ball and, with it, passage to the decider.
MATCH STATS
Donegal: MA McGinley; P McGrath, K Gillespie, E McGee; R McHugh, K Lacey, F McGlynn (0-1); R Kavanagh (0-1), O Mac Niallais; A Thompson (0-1), M McElhinney (0-1), E McHugh; P McBrearty (0-4, 0-3 frees), M Murphy (capt.) (0-5, 0-1 45, 0-4 frees), M O'Reilly (0-3); Substitutes: M McHugh (0-1) for Thompson (black card, 34); C Toye for McElhinney (53); McElhinney for Mac Niallais (70); E Gallagher for O'Reilly (74, inj.); Yellow cards: Kavanagh (49 and 66); McElhinney (75); Black card: Thompson (32, replaced by M McHugh); Red card: Kavanagh (two yellows, 49 and 66).
Monaghan: R Beggan; C Walshe (0-1), D Wylie, R Wylie; K Duffy, V Corey, F Kelly; D Hughes, K O'Connell; O Duffy (0-1), R McAnespie, S Carey (1-1); D McKenna, K Hughes, C McManus (capt.) (1-4, 1-0 penalty, 0-1 free, 0-1 45); Substitutes: N McAdam for D Wylie (h-t); D Malone for McKenna (h-t); C Boyle (0-1) for R Wylie (46); C McCarthy for Carey (49); J McCarron (0-2) for K Hughes (54); D Mone for Kelly (64); Yellow cards: D Wylie (13); D Hughes (21); McManus (24); R Wylie (43); Black card: O'Connell (69, unable to be replaced).
Referee: M Deegan (Laois).
Attendance: 17,174.
