Derry 2-14

Monaghan 2-13

(After extra-time)

Johnny McErlain's last-minute goal in extra-time handed Derry a dramatic victory over Monaghan in an absorbing Ulster U17FC preliminary round clash at Celtic Park.

Trailing by seven points at half-time, last year's All-Ireland MFC runners-up battled back to force extra-time and then came from four points down at the end of the first period to pull off an unlikely win.

Buoyed by their Ulster MFL final win over Donegal last weekend, 'Banty' McEnaney's charges looked set for a comfortable victory when they led by 0-8 to 0-1 at the interval thanks to scores from Karl Gallagher (two), Jason Irwin (two), Lochlainn Power, Aaron Mulligan, Joel Wilson and Donnach Swinburne. Derry's only point of the half was scored by Iarlaith Donaghy.

The Oak Leafers resumed with five unanswered points per Eoghan Hawe, Conleth McGuckin and Sean Kearney before a Jordan McGarrell goal in the 42nd minute left Monaghan 1-8 to 0-6 in front. But the winners staged another fightback which culminated in Dara Mooney's late point sending the game to extra-time, 0-12 to 1-9.

Monaghan looked to have finally broken the home side's resistance when goals from Jordan McGarrell and Aaron Mulligan helped them to a 2-12 to 0-14 lead at the end of the first period of extra-time, but an Eoghan Hawe penalty reduced the deficit to the minimum before a Sean Jones free put the Farney County two up.

But McErlain had the final say for a never-say-die Derry side. 

Derry - A Gillen; R McFall, T Woods, O McLarnon; A Canavan, C Milne, A McCluskey; N Doyle, I Donaghy (0-1); J McErlain (1-0), E Hawe (1-3, 1-0pen), E McElhennon; E Doherty, E Downey (0-3), C McGuckin. Subs: S Kearney (0-3) for A McCluskey, PJ McAleese (0-1) for A Canavan, C McAteer (0-2) for N Doyle, D Mooney (0-1) for E Doherty, E Doherty for C McGuckin, O McMenamin for C McGuckin.

Monaghan - R Farrelly (0-1); R Grimes, J Doogan, S Hanratty; C Flood, B Og Dufaigh, J McGarrell (1-1); A Moore, J Wilson (0-1); A Mulligan (1-1), S Jones (0-2), K Gallagher (0-2); D Swinburne (0-1), L Power (0-1), J Irwin (0-2). Subs: M Meehan (0-1) for J Wilson, R Hanratty for K Gallagher.

Referee - K Doherty.

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