Follow our live blog as Monaghan bid for their second win of the Allianz League campaign when they travel to Derry.
Derry are looking for their third win on the trot season following victory over Kerry and Tyrone. While Monaghan beat Dublin and lost to Kerry.
Throw-in at Celtic Park is at 5pm.
Welcome
Welcome along to our afternoon coverage of Monaghan and Derry in Round 3 of the Allianz National football league Division 1 - Similar to the damp conditions in the Northern Sound region, it is similar in Celtic Park which will make it difficult underfoot.
We have live coverage on Northern Sound with Fergal Monaghan and Dessie Mone,while Sean Mc Caffrey will keep you updated on the blog.
Team News
We have not heard of any changes as of yet so the teams as per match programme are as follows
MONAGHAN :- Darren McDonnell, Ryan Wylie, Killian Lavelle, Ryan O'Toole, Ryan Mc Anespie, Kieran Duffy, Kevin Loughran, Joel Wilson, Gary Mohan, Stephen O'Hanlon, Ciaran McNulty, Michael Hamill, David Garland, Jack McCarron, Jason Irwin.
DERRY :- Ryan Scullion, Conor McCloskey, Christopher McKaigue, Diarmuid Baker, Conor Doherty, Eoin McEvoy, Padraig McGrogan, Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers, Ethan Doherty, Ciaran McFaul, Paul Cassidy, Niall Loughlin, Shane McGuigan, Lachlan Murray.
Team Changes
We have a number of changes for the Monaghan team.
Colm Lennon is in for Kilian Lavelle, Thomas McPhillips for Kevin Loughran and Michael McCarville for David Garland.
Dessie Ward is named on the bench along with Darren Hughes.
Throw in at 5pm
Game on
We are underway with Niall Cullen from Fermanagh our referee for this afternoons game.
Derry open the scoring
It is Derry and Shane Mc Guigan who raise the first white flag as the Oakleaf sharp shooter has his eye in with an early free
Mon 0-00
Derry 0-01
Monaghan level matters up
Darren McDonnell continuing to ease himself into the goalkeeping role in the absence of Rory Beggan and he opens the account for the visitors with a free
Mon 0-01
Derry 0-01
Monaghan take the lead
Michael Hamill with a great score, the Emyvale man showing no big match nerves as he gives Monaghan the lead
Mon 0-02
Derry 0-01
We are level again
Shane Mc Guigan doing Shane Mc Guigan things as he nails another free for Derry
All square
Mon 0-02
Derry 0-02
Conditions update
Monaghan are playing against the wind here and would be happy with their opening10 minutes. Stephen O'Hanlon is once again proving a thorn in the sides of the defence as he continues this direct running
Derry go 1 up
Stephen O'Hanlon with his direct running is turned over and it is a sweeping move up the field and Shane Mc Guigan with his first from play
Mon 0-02
Derry 0-03
Shane Mc Guigan again
Ah this is a great show from Shane Mc Guigan, a beautiful strike described by Dessie Mone on commentary as Derry go 2 up
Mon 0-02
Derry 0-04
11 mins gone 1st half
He does it again does Mc Guigan
Another one for Mc Guigan from a free. That is 5 points, 3 frees and 2 from play. He is the main man for the Derry
Mon 0-02
Derry 0-05
14 mins gone 1st half
Derry are are starting to motor
Another sweeping move for Derry and Ciaran McFaul pops it over. It could have been a goal chance.
Mon 0-02
Derry 0-06
14 mins gone 1st half
Just to note Derry have the wind on their backs in this first half
Derry are are starting to motor
Another sweeping move for Derry and Ciaran McFaul pops it over. It could have been a goal chance.
Mon 0-02
Derry 0-06
14 mins gone 1st half
Just to note Derry have the wind on their backs in this first half
Ciaran Mc Faul again
Derry are pulling away here - bit like the buses Ciaran Mc Faul waited for almost 15 minutes for his first point and now he has 2
Mon 0-02
Derry 0-07
16 mins 1st half
Derry and Mc Guigan again
Shane Mc Guigan probably has his name on the man of the match already.. he has his 6th point for the afternoon that is now 3 frees and 3 from play
Mon 0-02
Derry 0-08
17 mins gone 1st half
Monaghan find the posts
It is taken quite a while, but Monaghan have found their range again and it is Joel Wilson
Mon 0-03
Derry 0-08
20 mins 1st half
Monaghan been patient
Playing against the strong wind, Monaghan are been patient in holding the ball, they really do have to work it well inside the 20 metre line before considering a shot
Jack Mc Carron opens his account
Michael Hamill with a lovel direct running style of his, is given an advantage, nothing comes from it and we go back for the free and Jack Mc Carron duly slots it over
Mon 0-04
Derry 0-08
25 mins 1st half
Been a good couple of minutes for Monaghan as they take it back to 4 points
Goal for Derry
Derry raise the green flag and again it is another great team move with Conor McCluskey blasting it to the net
Mon 0-04
Derry 1-08
27 mins 1st half
Sucker blow for Monaghan after their 2 unanswered points
Derry extend their lead
Paul Cassidy was very nearly in for a 2nd goal for the homeside but fists it over the bar.
Mon 0-04
Derry 1-09
28 mins 1st half
Already looking like an uphill battle for Monaghan
They will have the wind in the 2nd half but could do with a few more scores before the short whistle
Monaghan change
Vinny Corey goes to the bench and Kevin Loughran comes in for Ryan Mc Anespie who was making his return after an injury
Monaghan grab a point
Stephen O'Hanlon is fouled once again as his direct running is causing a problem for the Derry defence and Jack Mc Carron pops over the resulting free
Mon 0-05
Derry 1-09
33 mins 1st half
The rain is pouring down here just making it more difficult and the flood lights are on
2 additional minutes to be played
2 minutes to be added at the end of this first half
Players will be glad to get to the dressing rooms for a break from the tough weather conditions
Mon 0-05
Derry 1-09
35 mins 1st half
Monaghan claim another point
Jack Mc Carron with his 3rd point of the afternoon from a free
Mon 0-06
Derry 1-09
37 mins 1st half
Half time - Derry lead by 6
Niall Cullen blows the half time whistle and it is a 6 point lead for the homeside
Mon 0-06
Derry 1-09
It is a strong wind that Monaghan will have in the 2nd half, just not sure it is a 6 point swing.
Back underway
We are back underway
Mon 0-06
Derry 1-09
Monaghan change at half time
Andrew Woods has come in for Stephen O'Hanlon, so maybe a slight change of tactic for Monaghan in this 2nd half.
Derry open up the scoring
Derry open their account for the 2nd half and a wonderful point from Niall Toner from out on the side line
Mon 0-06
Derry 1-10
2 mins 2nd half
Jack Mc Carron with another free
Jack is keeping Monaghan just about in touch. That is his 4th free of the evening
Mon 0-07
Derry 1-10 (13)
4 mins 2nd half
Derry reply at the other end
Derry doing what they need to do by keeping the scoreboard ticking over
Shane Mc Guigan with his 7th point this time from a free
Mon 0-07
Derry 1-11(14)
6 mins 2nd half
Changes on both sides
Stephen Mooney comes in for Monaghan and Emmet Bradley has been introduced for Derry
Jack Mc Carron from play
Jack Mc Carron claims one from play a "Worldlie" is how Dessie Mone on co-commentary describes it
Mon 0-08
Derry 1-11 (14)
9 mins 2nd half
Jack again
Jack Mc Carron off his right and it is back to back scores for the Scotstown forward
Mon 0-09
Derry 1-11(14)
12 mins 2nd half
Goal for Derry
Derry are well on their way to picking up the league points here and remaining unbeaten.
A turnover in their own half back line and they sweep up the field with Padraig McGrogan finishing to the net. Those back to back scores from Monaghan just wiped out
Mon 0-09
Derry 2-11 (17)
14 mins 2nd half
Shane Mc Guigan with another point
Shane Mc Guigan is just proving that he is the best forward in the country at the moment as he claims his 8th point
Mon 0-09
Derry 2-12 (18)
16 mins 2nd half
Going to be a long 20 minutes
Shane Mc Guigan has 9
Another one for Shane Mc Guigan as he claims his 9th point and surely the man of the match.
Mon 0-09
Derry 2-13 (19)
18 mins 2nd half
Monaghan change
Dessie Ward makes his first start of 2024. Good to see the Ballybay man back as he replaces his club team mate Colm Lennon
Guess who for Derry
It is double figures for Shane Mc Guigan as he now has 5 from play and 5 from frees. Maybe Mickey Harte will have some sympanthy for Monaghan and now take the full forward off.
Mon 0-09
Derry 2-14 (17)
21 mins 2nd half
Andrew Woods grabs one for Monaghan
It is just a consolation at this stage but Andrew Woods with a great point from play
Mon 0-10
Derry 2-14(17)
22 mins 2nd half
Another one for the Derry man
Shane Mc Guigan on a one man crusade at this stage as he registers his 11th point.
There is 11 between them
Mon 0-10
Derry 2-15 (21)
24 mins 2nd half
Goal for Derry
For the 2nd game in a row Monaghan concede 3 goals and this is getting tough to watch now.
Conor Doherty with the 3rd green flag for the homeside
Mon 0-10
Derry 3-15 (24)
Already Monaghan will have to try and retain their Division 1 status by getting points because the scoring difference is out the window
Point for Monaghan
A rare scoring opportunity for Monaghan and Jack Mc Carron takes a point from a free.
Mon 0-11
Derry 3-15 (24)
28 mins 2nd half
Dessie Ward with a point
A bright moment in a tough evening with Dessie Ward getting a point.
Mon 0-12
Derry 3-15 (24)
31 mins 2nd half
Every point Monaghan can get now could be important to try and bring back the scoring difference.
Derry are ruthless
They might have conceded one at one end but they move up the field and claim a free which Niall Toner pops over
Mon 0-12
Derry 3-16 (25)
34 mins 2nd half
4 additional minutes
4 added minutes as if we needed it but anyhow
Tough opening round of games
It must be noted that it was always going to be a tough opening 3 games for Monaghan. They faced the All Ireland champions, the All Ireland runners up and the All Ireland semi finalists in Dublin, Kerry and Derry. With all 3 teams also provincial champions, so to have taken 2 points from those 3 games with a number of the more experienced players due to return is not bad. Just a pity that that the 2 defeats have been so heavy
Jack Mc Carron with another one
Jack Mc Carron with a nice score as he was falling over
Mon 0-13
Derry 3-16 (25)
37 mins 2nd half
There you go again - Derry another point
Fergal Monaghan on commentary describes it as "Relentless" and it truely is. Monaghan with a point and Derry just go up the other end and cance it out. It has been some start for the Mickey Harte era in the Oakleaf county as they are unbeaten this year and look good for the league title already
Mon 0-13
Derry 3-16 (26)
38 mins 2nd half
Full time - Big Derry win
It is over
Derry make it 3 from 3 with a comfortable win over Monaghan in Celtic Park
Mon 0-13
Derry 3-16 (26)
Safe journey home to all supporters
Next up for Monaghan is a trip away to Roscommon.
That game is now a must win.