GAA: Superb Derry book Ulster SFC Final showdown with Donegal
Derry 3-12 Monaghan 0-17
Derry set up an Ulster Senior Football Championship Final showdown with Donegal after another scinitllating display to see off Monaghan in Armagh.
Rory Gallagher's side backed up their 11-point quarter-final win over reigning All-Ireland champions Tyrone, with another supreme performance and an eventual four-point margin of victory.
It puts the Oak Leafers into their first provincial decider since 2011.
Ironically, that day they also played Donegal going down 1-11 to 0-8. The last time the county has lifted the Anglo-Celt Cup was back in 1998 when they got the better of - you guessed it - Donegal, by way of a 1-7 to 0-8 win.
While Declan Bonner's men will still be seen as favourites for this year's showpiece in Clones, especially given the fact the Tir Chonaill men have won the title five times since 2011 and been runners-up another five times in that spell, Derry showcased again why they are firmly a force to be reckoned with.
Benny Heron bagged a goal in each half, with Gareth McKinless grabbing another. In front a huge Athletic Grounds crowd, they led 2-7 to 0-6 at the break. And while Seamus McEnaney's men did claw their way back into proceedings, they never got closer than three points.
When Heron struck the second of his brace shortly after the hour mark, that essentially put paid to any genuine notion of the Farney men overhauling the deficit.
It sparked wild celebrations from the Derry players, management and support on the final whistle.
Having already seen off two Division 1 teams to make the decider, Derry - who were unlucky not to earn promotion to the top flight of the National League this year - now face another in the final.
It's scheduled to take place at St Tiernach's Park, Clones on Sunday May 29 at 4pm.
MATCH STATS
Monaghan: Beggan; Duffy, Ward (0-1), Wylie; Bannigan, Boyle, McCarthy (0-1); Carey, Kearns (0-1); K Hughes, McAnespie (0-1), D Hughes (0-1); McCarron (0-4, 3f), Mohan, (0-7, 5f)
Subs: Woods (0-1) for Carey (33mins), O'Connell for Bannigan (33mins), Garland for K Hughes (55mins), Jones for Mohan (61mins), Leonard for Boyle (70mins)
Derry: Oynch; McKaigue, Rogers, McGrogan; McCluskey, Doherty, Downey; McKinless (1-0), Glass; Paul Cassidy (0-2), Heron (2-0), Doherty; Toner (0-1), McGuigan (0-7, 3f, 1 '45, 1 mark), Loughlin (0-1)
Subs: Bradley (0-1) for Loughlin (42mins), Padraig Cassidy for Doherty (61mins), McCarron for Toner (67mins), McNeill for Downey (70mins), Murray for Paul Cassidy (70mins)
Referee: David Gough (Meath)