'You're in sport for days like this' - Bannigan

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.

While Rory Beggan's match-winning two-point free highlighted the vital contribution made by the goalkeeper, so too was his reminder to referee Noel Mooney that the game was not over despite the hooter sounding at the end of normal time with Monaghan two down.

With the ball out for a sideline, the kick still had to be taken and it gave McCarron the opportunity he took.

Bannigan was "making my way over to say the same thing" to referee Mooney, but it was the right decision and one he felt his side could kick on from.

"I was a wee bit worried with a lot of people out on the pitch, a lot of drama and then Jack had to take the kick two or three minutes later from away out there - what resolve he showed to bring it to extra time," he said.

"I was convinced we would go on and win it, but when Derry got the lead there with 40 seconds left [in extra time] I feared the worst, but there was still 40 seconds and when you have men like we have, we knew we could work the opportunity.