Allianz National Football League Division One: Derry 3-17 Monaghan 0-13
FURTHER notice was served of Derry’s deadly intent as they breezed beyond Monaghan to claim a third Division One victory of the campaign on Saturday night.
Kerry had already come a cropper in Tralee, Mickey Harte’s native Tyrone were a distinct second best a fortnight ago, and the Farney’s scalp was ruthlessly added to that list as the Oak Leafers maintained their winning start to 2024.
Not that there was much need for personal introductions at Celtic Park, with Monaghan present at each stage of a topsy-turvy 12 months for Derry.
It was only last April the Farney fell to an Ulster semi-final hammering in Omagh, followed four weeks later by the dramatic All-Ireland group stage draw when the Oak Leafers’ world had been turned upside down by Rory Gallagher’s exit.
That upheaval feels like a lifetime ago now as they have slipped seamlessly into the new regime under Harte, the clinical nature of Saturday’s display bringing a contented smile to the face of the three time All-Ireland winner.
And while plenty has changed, some things never do – the class of Shane McGuigan on display for all to see once more, the Slaughtneil sharpshooter a study in efficiency as he finished up with 11 points, six from play.
“He’s an exceptional player – we know that, I didn’t need to come tonight to see that,” said Harte.
“His accuracy was critical because some of those early scores he got, they were by no means a gimme, they were tough kicks and you could miss them just as easily as score them.
“He had the dead eye in tonight and it was just super because it gave us the cushion we needed when we were playing with the breeze.”
All too often Monaghan made the cardinal error of kicking possession straight to Derry from promising positions, before falling victim to electric breaks from deep, Ethan Doherty at the heart of absolutely everything, bagging the last score of the night the very least deserved for his efforts.
Three backs – “three footballers,” grinned the Derry boss - scored the goals when they mattered, another symbol of an ever-evolving side that looks increasingly comfortable in its own skin.
Conor McCluskey, tormentor-in-chief in what turned out to be Gallagher’s last hurrah 10 months ago, rifled low past Darren McDonnell with his left to notch Derry’s first as they eased into a 1-8 to 0-4 lead with 28 minutes on the clock.
Paudie McGrogan was equally dead-eyed when another lethal break, once more spearheaded by Ethan Doherty, put paid to a mini Monaghan revival that closed the gap to five – the Newbridge man lashing the ball beyond McDonnell’s grasp on 50 minutes.
It was left to Conor Doherty to complete the rout with nine minutes left, collecting an off-load from debutant Eunan Mulholland before burying to the net.
Of course, there are a few mitigating factors worth considering before everybody gets too giddy.
From the sides that lined out at Healy Park in last year’s Ulster Championship, Derry could call on 12 while Monaghan mustered just seven – the absence of men like Rory Beggan, Conor McCarthy, Killian Lavelle, Conor Boyle, Karl O’Connell, Darren Hughes and Conor McManus impossible to overlook on nights like these.
And while Vinny Corey will have been heartened by the return of Dessie Ward for the final quarter, the sight of the dynamic Stephen O’Hanlon limping out of the action on the stroke of half-time is a headache he could do without ahead of next weekend’s trip to Roscommon.
Yet the 13 point margin of victory did not flatter Derry. When that is the case, things are going alright.
McDonnell is a more than able deputy for Beggan but, in the face of a full-blooded Oak Leaf press, it was only a matter of time before Harte’s men turned the screw with the wind at their backs.
Diarmuid Baker’s performances in the corner have allowed Eoin McEvoy to push further out and, alongside the twin towers of Conor Glass and Brendan Rogers, they either won or successfully broke most of what came their way to hem the Farney in.
With McGuigan on song, and Ciaran McFaul bursting off his shoulder time and again to tie the Monaghan defence in knots, Derry surged into a commanding lead that never looked likely to slip.
Jack McCarron kept Chrissy McKaigue honest throughout but, bit by bit, the fight fizzled out of the Farneymen. The Ulster champions were in no mood to show mercy either, the sum total of three wides amassed an indication of their ruthlessness before the posts.
And for any lingering talk of Derry not possessing the necessary depth to be considered genuine All-Ireland contenders, the evidence suggest otherwise. Ryan Scullion was superb in the absence of regular number one Odhran Lynch, Niall Toner made an impressive impact off the bench, Donncha Gilmore has done well so far, while Emmett Bradley and Eunan Mulholland need no introduction.
Galway boss Padraic Joyce was in the stands at Celtic Park ahead of the Tribe’s clash with Tyrone down the road on Sunday. He will have left in no doubt that, for now at least, Derry are the team to beat.
Derry: R Scullion; C McCluskey (1-0), C McKaigue, D Baker; C Doherty (1-0), E McEvoy, P McGrogan (1-0); C Glass, B Rogers; E Doherty (0-1), C McFaul (0-2), P Cassidy (0-1); N Loughlin, S McGuigan (0-11, 0-6 frees), L Murray. Subs: N Toner (0-2, 0-1 free) for Murray (HT), E Bradley for Loughlin (43), D Gilmore for Cassidy (53), E Mulholland for McFaul (60), M Bradley for Baker (64)
Monaghan: D McDonnell (0-1, free); R Wylie, T McPhillips, R O’Toole; R McAnespie, K Duffy, C Lennon; G Mohan, M McCarville; C McNulty, S O’Hanlon, M Hamill (0-1); J Wilson (0-1), J Irwin, J McCarron (0-8, 0-4 frees, 0-1 mark). Subs: K Loughran for McAnespie (33), A Woods (0-1) for O’Hanlon (HT), S Mooney for Irwin (43), D Ward (0-1) for Lennon (55), B McBennett for Mohan (64)
Yellow card: C McNulty (7)
Referee: N Cullen (Donegal)