Over the past dozen years or so, Monaghan has met Derry in the Ulster and All-Ireland Senior Football Championships on more occasions than any other Ulster county, and, when the draws were made for the 2009 provincial championship, Monaghan were once more pitted against the Oak Leaf county. By Seamus McCluskey There was an almost audible groan of 'Not Again' from the vast majority of viewers watching, with so much interest, as the Ulster draws were taking place live on RTE television. Not because Monaghan have any fears of the white-and-red brigade, nor that they are in any way overawed by opposition from the Oak Leaf county, but simply for the fact that a 'change of scenery' would have been so much more welcome, in the eyes of most Monaghan folk. The sides have met so often in recent years that the players from both sides must surely have the phone numbers of their opposite numbers at this stage. Last time out it was victory for Monaghan when they overcame the much fancied Derrymen in the 2008 All-Ireland 'back door' system of 'Qualifiers'. Their recent clashes are so fresh in the memory of most followers of the county, that this article dispenses with the modern era and takes a look back at the earliest meetings of the sides in the Ulster SFC series, right back to the early years of the last century, in fact - and there were no 'back doors' in those days. Monaghan's first three victories over Derry were all 'bloodless' victories as they received 'walk-overs' from the Derrymen in 1904 (first round), 1906 (semi-final) and again in 1907 (Final). The first 'on the field' meeting of the counties came in 1914 when Monaghan travelled to the Maiden City on Sunday 21st June of that year and came home victorious on a 3-2 to 0-2 score-line. Prior to that particular game there was a huge demonstration by several thousand Irish Volunteers, who marched in full regalia through the city, both to and from the game. The Monaghan team was also given a tremendous welcome by the Derry people, but there were many others who took a rather dim view of the entire proceedings, as they were in no way sympathetic to the Nationalistic cause or to anyone 'breaching the Lord's Day' with a game of football. Monaghan led by 2-1 to nil at half-time in that one, and lined out as follows:- J. Costello (gls.), P. Cassidy, James Downey, George McEneaney, Packie Cumiskey, Jess Connolly (capt.), Jack Cumiskey, Paddy Gartland, Frank O'Duffy, Johnnie McKenna, Owen Marray, Joe Kiely, J. McCarville, Ignatius ('Nig') McCaffrey and John Flanagan. Two years later the counties would meet again in the Ulster Championship first round, and again Monaghan came out on top, this time winning by 2-5 to 0-1 on Sunday 7th May 1916, and again at the Derry venue. Monaghan went on to win the provincial title that year, but then lost out to reigning All-Ireland champions Wexford who were then on their way to winning an historic four-in-a-row of All-Ireland titles. Great sportsmen that they were, Wexford agreed to travel to Monaghan territory for the game, and, for the only time in GAA history, an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final was played in our county - at Carrickmacross on Sunday 22nd October 1916 - with the Leinster and All-Ireland champions winning by 0-9 to 1-1. But Monaghan and Derry would meet once more in that most historic year of our country's history. In the Ulster Council's efforts to promote GAA games in the Maiden City, Monaghan travelled to Derry for a 'Friendly' on Sunday 12th November 1916. As Ulster champions they would be assured of a warm welcome and that's exactly how it turned out. The occasion is brilliantly described by 'Sentinel' in the Saturday 25th November 1916 issue of the 'Dundalk Democrat' when he stated that - 'the Gaels of Derry were not slow to take advantage of the visit of Monaghan county team to their city to give them a reception and entertainment that will not soon be forgotten'. Describing the journey northwards, 'Sentinel' wrote:- 'At three o'clock on Saturday evening Captain Downey mobilized his men in the Farney capital (Carrick) for the 'Black North'. It was an easy task - they tasted Derry before and were delighted at the prospect of getting there again. With Jim Downey, Jess Connolly, Jim Farrelly, Jim Cooney, Syl Califf, Paddy Gartland and Paddy McCartney aboard, the train made its exit for 'far and distant Derry on the banks of the Foyle'. Master Frank O'Duffy joined the crowd at Culloville, and at 'Blayney, Johnny Marray and Jim Burns were taken in. At Ballybay the party were reinforced by custodian Larry Reilly, and at Newbliss Johnny McKenna entrained. At Clones Junction the team was completed when Joe Kiely, Standish O'Grady, Matt Finnegan and George McEneaney, who had just arrived by the branch line from Monaghan, lined up. When all appeared 'right for Derry', and Mr. O'Duffy in charge, the train slowly moved out leaving dear old Monaghan behind'. There follows a wonderful account of the 'craic' the Monaghan players had among themselves on the journey, which finally ended with their arrival in Derry, where they were greeted on the platform by over a hundred local Gaels, then to the hotel of Miss Conlon in Foyle Street, which writer 'Sentinel' describes as 'a home from home'. An impromptu concert followed, then bed, and then an early rise for Mass in the Cathedral on Sunday morning. A tour of the city and its famous walls followed. Togged out in the hotel, Monaghan then drove to Celtic Park where over a thousand spectators awaited their arrival. Monaghan were first out on the pitch and received a tumultuous welcome from the home crowd. Despite the 'Derry Journal' reporter's tribute to Monaghan on their display, when he later wrote:- 'One wants to see Monaghan oftener, for they leave a grand impression, and must tend to intensify interest in this manly Irish game by teaching us to appreciate its superior merits', it was Derry who finally won the day on a 4-3 to 3-4 score-line. Monaghan had led by nine points at half-time but the home side rose to the occasion in the second period and really surprised the Ulster champions with their enthusiasm and their ability to score goals. During the evening after the game, Mr. Henry Morris, no stranger to the Monaghan men, delivered a most interesting lecture in St. Columba's Hall, while Dean McGlinchey, President of the Derry Co. Board, also gave 'a very forcible discourse on Gaelic Games', while Eoin O'Duffy replied on behalf of the Monaghan County Board and the Ulster Council. A most enjoyable night of song and dance followed and the Monaghan team returned to their home county on the Monday. The next Ulster Championship clash of the counties came in 1921 when both counties reached the Ulster Final, but what a story that one would create in the GAA history of Ulster. 'Troubled Times' were very much in vogue at that period, and when the semi-final with Cavan ended in a draw on 11th December, the replay was fixed for New Year's Day 1922, with Monaghan finishing in front at the final whistle. For the Final, fixed for Derry on Sunday 15th January, but then postponed to 22nd January, Monaghan prepared as best they could under the circumstances, and on Saturday 21st January, six cars left to take the team to Derry for the Final. Many of the travelling party were members of the IRA and, although hostilities had already officially ceased, some travelled with their usual revolvers in their coats. Stopped and searched at Dromore, Co. Tyrone, by the newly formed 'B Specials', the arms were discovered and ten members of the Monaghan party were arrested. They spent the next six weeks in Derry jail. The ten were Dan Hogan, Thomas Quigley, Edward O'Carroll, James Murphy, James Winters, Thomas Donnelly, Joe Brannigan, Johnny McKenna, Thomas Mason and Patrick McGrory. That 1921 Final was eventually decided on the 29th of October 1923, some two years behind schedule. Monaghan took their seventh Ulster title, winning by 2-2 to Derry's 0-1. Monaghan were nominated by the Central Council to play Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final on 18th June 1922, despite the fact that the Ulster Final had not even yet taken place. Dublin won that one by 2-8 to 2-2. Monaghan and Derry would not meet again in the Ulster Championship until 1948 when Monaghan again proved superior, winning by 2-9 to 2-6, with a team that was backboned by such great players as the O'Rourke brothers, the Moyna twins, Vincent O'Duffy, Eugene McDonald, Hughie McKearney and Eddie O'Connor. Strangely enough, Derry would not record their first Ulster Championship win over Monaghan until 1951, although Monaghan got revenge for that one the following year. Thus the only time that Derry defeated Monaghan in the first half of the last century was that 'Friendly' game at Derry on 12th November 1916. Derry would prove particularly strong in the 'seventies and again in the 'nineties, but Monaghan have more than held their own during the past decade, so who's to say what will happen when the sides cross swords again in the first game of the 'first round proper' of the 2009 Ulster Senior Football Championship. Naturally we look forward to Monaghan repeating the dose of 2008. There's quite a lot at stake when we visit Celtic Park in Derry on Sunday 24th May next. Tweet

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