Karl O’Connell’s late point salvaged a 0-14 to 0-14 draw for Monaghan at Celtic Park after Shane McGuigan’s sublime nine points almost won it for Derry. 

This was a meeting of the Ulster Championship final, won by Derry a month ago, and a cagey first half reflected just how well these two teams know each other.

Momentum was a rare commodity as Derry and Monaghan regularly nudged into the lead by a point only to be pegged back level, almost immediately.

Ciaran McFaul and Gary Mahon exchanged this pleasantry within six minutes before Derry’s Shane McGuigan tried taking matters into his own hands, hitting a trio of well-taken points.

Sandwiching them though were Monaghan strikes via Dessie Ward, Conor McCarthy, and Michael Brannigan as it 0-4 to 0-4, stalemate after twenty-two minutes.

Brannigan’s brace briefly put Monaghan ahead for the first time, but McGuigan cancelled it out with a fourth point of his own.

Shane Carey and Niall Toner repeated the trick of Derry drawing level after going a point behind, but the home crowd were left wistfully wondering at the break as McCarthy’s second point, bang on half time, sent Monaghan in one point ahead.

Early points from Conor Boyle, McCarthy and goalkeeper Rory Beggan were enough to withstand the one-man siege that was McGuigan who pointed two more in-between in an action-packed second half start.

Still a goal eluded both teams, but Toner brought Derry within one before Carey and Brannigan (with their second and third points, respectively) extended the Monaghan momentum and, more importantly, score lead.

Substitute Lachlan Murray and Beggan swapped points entering the hour when a sublime quickfire double, two points in one minute, by the outstanding McGuigan made it 0-12 to 0-13, setting up a grandstand finish.

Defender Ethan Doherty levelled it up with moments left for Derry before McGuigan, fittingly, looked set to be the match winner, another fantastic point under pressure sailing over.

Monaghan, having led for a long spell, weren’t for lying down though and deservedly took a draw when O’Connell’s aim was true to tie it up at 0-14 each.

A pulsating start to the Sam Maguire tournament for both, McGuigan will haunt the Monaghan defence however having also racked up seven points in the Ulster semi-final.

Next up for Derry is a nearby trip to Donegal who lead the group on points difference, Monaghan host Clare earlier that same next Sunday (June 4^th) as both reflect on a thriller in Celtic Park tonight.