RORY Beggan was the hero for Monaghan on Saturday evening as they qualified for their first Ulster final since 2021, and boss Gabriel Bannigan hailed the Scotstown shot-stopper as “one of the best players ever to play the game”.

Beggan not only landed the last-second two-point free that broke Derry hearts and confirmed Monaghan’s passage to the decider, but his performance delivered much more than that.

Some of his kickouts were outrageous while he pushed up on the Derry restart and provided the assist that resulted in Micheal Bannigan’s goal that really turned the tide in Monaghan’s favour.

With the game on the line, Beggan stood over the ball knowing he had the chance to win it. Bannigan never doubted him. “I never doubt Rory, never doubt Rory. He’s the best goalkeeper in the game and he proved it again.”

Asked if he was the best goalkeeper of all time, the Aughnamullen clubman hesitated to make such a bold claim, with a certain Stephen Cluxton still number one in that regard, but hailed Beggan as “one of the best players ever to play the game”.

“I think in fairness Stephen Cluxton would have a thing or two to say about that,” Bannigan responded. “Cluxton revolutionised goalkeeping and was an incredible goalkeeper and leader on that Dublin team that won six in a row.

“I think I’d have to be the most biased Monaghan person to claim that, but he’s certainly right up there as one of the best players ever to play the game, not just a goalkeeper. Absolutely phenomenal player.”

Substitute Sean Kearney nudged Derry ahead inside the final seconds of extra time in what was an extraordinary contest, but Bannigan still believed his men could pull it out of the fire.

“Obviously when Derry got the lead point with 40 seconds left, you fear the worst but we still had 40 seconds and when you have been on the pitch like we have, I knew we could work the ball up the pitch and work the scoring opportunity,” he continued.

“At that stage, I was probably hoping we could work a score a bring it to penalties, but of course we won the free outside the arc and I just said a wee pray to a couple of very important men up above and Rory stroked it over.”