Brendan Rogers hammers home another three goals as Derry head back to Croke Park
AS expected, Derry breezed through to the Nicky Rackard Cup Final after Collie McGurk’s side easily accounted for Monaghan on Saturday at Inniskeen. Goals from Brian Cassidy and a penalty from Alan Grant opened up a 2-6 to 0-5 lead with half-time approaching.
Monaghan had the breeze in the opening half and gave as good as they got, but were guilty of poor shooting. Derry tended to over play the ball and could have tagged more scores but still led 2-7 to 0-5 at the break.
Derry introduced Chrissy McKaigue, Brendan Rogers and Ruairi Convery five minutes into the second-half. Rogers left the Monaghan defence in his wake as they waltzed through to blast an unstoppable shot to the net.
Convery also scored a point with this first touch and Rogers added two more goals to complete a hat-trick, adding to the one he scored in the last round against Longford.
Monaghan fought back through a Tadhg Campbell goal and points from Stephen Lambe, PJ Boyle and Mark Treanor. Derry were already home and dry by the time Ruairi Convery smashed a 21 yard free to the net late on.
Derry's opponents in Croke Park on Saturday, June 10 will be Armagh after their 2-25 to 1-14 victory over Tyrone.
Derry: Daryll McDermott, Sean McCullagh, Sean Cassidy, Darragh McCloskey, Paul Cleary, Oisin McCloskey, Liam Óg Hinphey (0-1), Conor McAllister, Kevin Hinphey, Gerald Bradley (0-2), Meehaul McGrath, Alan Grant (1-4, 2f, 1 pen), Aaron Kelly (0-1), Brian Cassidy (1-0), Darragh Cartin (0-2).
Subs: Chrissy McKaigue for (0-1) K Hinphey (40), Brendan Rogers (3-3) for B Cassidy (41), Ruairi Convery (1-3, 1-2f) for A Grant (43), Naoise Waldron for P Cleary (49), Brian Óg McGilligan (0-1) for M McGrath (55).
Monaghan: Patrick Bermingham, Jamie Guinan, Peter Treanor (0-1), Brian Flanagan, Colm Meegan, Martin Murphy, Niall Garland, Mark Treanor (0-1), Éanna Mac Suibhne (0-1), Conor Boyle, Seán Leonard, Stephen Lambe (0-4, 1f), Donal Meegan (0-3, 2f), Brian McGuigan Tadhg Campbell (1-0).
Subs: PJ Boyle (0-1) for É Mac Suibhne (37), Pádraig Garland for C Boyle (48), Jamie Dooley (0-1) for D Meegan (57), Bernard O’Connor for B Flanagan (65), Shane McNally for T Campbell (68).
Ref: Patrick Murphy (Carlow).
Full report in Tuesday's County Derry Post.