Derry Emerge from Celtic Park Cauldron

It was cynical, nasty and at times, downright hateful, but Derry fans will have left Celtic Park yesterday afternoon absolutely delighted.

Because that is what the Championship is about. Winning football games. You can complain about the quality of football, the number of fouls and constant off-the-ball behaviour, but what it boils down to is the result, and in this regard Derry produced the goods against Monaghan.

We're probably hearing it in our sleep at this stage, but Derry needed to stand up and be counted yesterday in order to eradicate the memories of two successive defeats to the Farney men.

This meant fighting fire with fire.

And when Monaghan had finished swallowing the final dose of their own medicine, they could only watch as 14-men Derry turned the screw and showed the necessary quality to close out a victory in the championship melting pot. The dosage was bitter for Banty's men.

Derry started the brighter, but with Paddy Bradley's goal helping create a four point cushion after ten minutes, they couldn't build a match-winning lead. Instead, it was Monaghan, led by Vinny Corey, that began to impress themselves on the game.

The wind in Monaghan's favour was a factor, as the Farney-men set about eating into Derry's lead. McBennett constantly found his men with short kick-outs, and Derry conceded a wealth of possession. Derry's half-forward line struggled to contain the running game of Damien Freeman and Conor McManus, while Stephen Gollogly was proving to be a constant thorn.

Enda Lynn and Paul Murphy had quiet games, and couldn't affect their play-making skills in the tight and intense middle third. Lucky enough, Monaghan missed some gilt-edged scoring chances, and by half-time Derry could count themselves lucky to be going in level.

It had been a dour and nasty struggle, but few of the 10'000 spectators in attendance would have been surprised. Dessie Mone and Dermot McArdle opened with their usual application of jibing and jabbing on the two Bradleys. Thomas Freeman seemed more intent on getting his hands on Kevin McGuckin than the ball, eventually resorting to an apparent head-butt on the Ballinderry man. Dick Clerkin and Fergal Doherty picked up where they left off last July by wrestling and grappling before they both saw yellow cards. Even at the half-time whistle Clerkin decided to continue his antics, and should have received a second yellow-card for a high challenge on Paddy Bradley.

Had these incursions been dealt with, some of the unseemly incidents witnessed later in the game could have been prevented.

Monaghan's players have been programmed to systematically foul and spoil (it's gone that far with them that Darren Hughes even thought he could push a Derry spectator off the ball!), but Derry stayed in their faces and did not lie down in the confrontational battles.

After the break, Derry knew that the strong breeze could enable them to strike for long-range scores (Eoin Bradley and Barry McGoldrick the early suppliers). But the Monaghan nut still needed cracked. Gerard O'Kane switched to the sweeper role as Barry McGoldrick went man-for-man on Paul Finlay. O'Kane had attacked well in the opening half, but this change provided him with a further licence to roam forward in support of the Derry attack.

Derry were losing the breaking ball battle, but the defence held firm, allowing O'Kane, Chrissy McKaigue and Sean Leo McGoldrick to hit on the counter-attack. Gerard O'Kane in particular was superb in carrying the ball and helping to set up crucial scores.

When Fergal Doherty received his marching-orders with 15 minutes remaining the scores were level. Worrying times. Monaghan brought on Hanratty and Downey in the forwards, but when the chances came their way they were found wanting. Derry raised their game.

The defining score came with seven minutes left on the clock. James Kielt's deadly accurate boot lobbed one between the posts from over 45 yards. The Kilrea man may have been making his championship debut, but he showed quality and composure in the most intense struggle.

The Oakleafers could smell victory. Monaghan continued to double team and spoil runners, but they needed to attack. Derry had snuffed out their Plan A.

Points from Joe Diver and Paddy Bradley gave Derry a three-point cushion heading into stoppage time and the game was up for Banty and his side.

Derry put up a wall to cope with Monaghan's questionable tactics. It is disappointing that they crossed the line themselves, let's not lose sight of that. But Monaghan could not be allowed to walk over this Derry side, and eventually the Oakleafers showed the limits of Seamus McEnaney's team.

Damian Cassidy's senior managerial debut had ended in victory, and in the face of criticism regarding Derry's tactics he offered no apology:

"It was a battle but it was not going to be anything else. People sitting at home may be complaining about the quality of football but we are not in the buisness of entertaining people. We showed the football we can play in the last 15 minutes but up until then it was a physical game and that's what we expect. All we care about is the result and that's all that matters in this game."

There will be more to come from this one. Those sitting above us on that most moral of high grounds will ensure that the necessary bans and fines are handed out. But if the dust ever settles on this particular Ulster SFC clash, we will see that in the end, the team with the greater footballing ability showed the character, determination and quality required to produce a winning result on an extremely hostile playing field.

Surely it can't be as bad the next day?!