“You just cannot give up at any stage” – Ward relieved after Monaghan’s dramatic win over Derry

Monaghan’s resilience paid off at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds as they came from as far as ten-points behind to defeat Derry after extra time and secure their spot in the Ulster final.

An amazing Jack McCarron sideline earned the Farney men a draw at the end of normal time while Rory Beggan stepped up to nail the last second two-pointer that confirmed the victory.

Even when the game looked beyond them, they never gave in. They couldn’t. To throw in the towel and give up is not the Monaghan way

With the introduction of the new rules, the game is never done and even when it looked impossible, Dessie Ward still believed.

MATCH PREVIEW: Crunch time at Clones for Armagh and Down

“With the new rules, the game’s never done,” said the Ballybay clubman as Gabriel Bannigan’s charges recorded a 1-30 to 2-23 triumph.

“I said at half time that it’s just five scores, essentially we’re five-points down. If we can chip away and get a couple of turnovers but the thing is just not to give up.

“We just fought tooth and nail to the very, very death. Even the last play of extra time, it was tipped over the bar, I think there was 40 seconds left on the clock, we turned around, got the ball up the field and worked a score.

“You just cannot give up at any stage in Gaelic Football the way the rules are now. It’s just pure relief to get there to be honest.”

Ward never doubted McCarron or Beggan. Monaghan were in safe hands on both occasions when they were awarded the chance to tie and win the game respectively.

“I never seen a score like it. It was unbelievable. Jack just has that in the locker and it’s incredible but there’s absolutely nothing won yet.

“It’s very hard to put it into word. It was a rollercoaster if ever there was a rollercoaster but it’s a relief to get to this stage. Obviously nothing is won now, that is the big thing.

“The feeling is fantastic to get over that hurdle but there’s no silverware here yet. We’ll go and get our head down and we’ll go after it in the next couple of weeks.”

Monaghan await the winners of tomorrow’s semi-final, with Armagh hoping to book their spot in a fourth consecutive provincial decider while Down, following their shock win over Donegal, will be aiming to back up that display at Clones.