Derry landed the 2023 All-Ireland minor championship with a deserved victory over Monaghan the Box-IT athletic grounds.
Derry ran out 1-13 to nine point’s winners, even finishing with 14 men after Cahir Spiers was sent-off, 19 minutes from time.
It was the Derry side that settled quicker. Conall Higgins and Ger Dillon putting Derry two points up with seven minutes played.
Matthew Finn responded immediately for Monaghan, their opening score. Derry’s Eammon Young and Max McGinnity exchanged scores in reply.
Derry made it a four-point game on 17 minutes. Two frees from Ger Dillon moved Derry six points to four ahead.
Finn claimed Monaghan’s third point on 19 minutes. However, Oisin Doherty restored the four point lead with fisted point.
McGinnity and Sean Og McElwain brought the game back to two points. Dillon moved Derry three points ahead with his third free.
Finn sent a brilliant free-kick over the bar as Derry lead by two at half-time. Six points to eight.
Derry exploded from the blocks in the second-half. Another Dillon free and a point from Conall Higgins moving Derry four clear.
Red Card
The game looked to have swung toward Monaghan. Cahir Spiers was rightfully sent-off for kicking a Monaghan player in the face while on the ground.
Conor Jones sent over a Monaghan point their first of the second-half. However, the Monaghan recovery never occurred.
Oisin Doherty restored Derry’s four point lead. Doherty found plenty of space in the Monaghan backs on 47 minutes. Doherty teed-up James Sargent who palmed the ball into the net.
Conall Higgins added another point to make it 1-12 to 0-7 with 10 minutes to play.
Max McGinnity converted a Monaghan free two minutes later, but Ger Dillon cancelled the point with a fourth free of the day.
Matthew Finn scored what proved to be the final point of the day.
Monaghan did hit the post in additional time, but it was not to be.
Derry are deserved All-Ireland minor champions for 2023.
Watch the Full-time highlights of Derry v Monaghan in the All Ireland Minor Football Final here!#GAANOW pic.twitter.com/nbEkvVJTXT
— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 9, 2023
