New Derry boss Ciaran Meenagh admitted the Oak Leaf players “have been through a lot” in recent weeks as he reflected on a point gained and a point dropped at Celtic Park.
In their first home game since the departure of Rory Gallagher, Derry were flat and trailed by three points with 10 minutes to go in their All-Ireland series opener.
Monaghan were the better side for long spells but Derry showed the character which has made them back-to-back Ulster champions and reeled off four points on the bounce, including three from Shane McGuigan.
Read more: “Rian O’Neill carried us” - Kieran McGeeney laments Armagh’s reliance on Crossmaglen star
It would have been harsh on Monaghan to leave Derry with no points and Karl O’Connell ensured they didn’t, nailing a long range point in the fifth minute of stoppage time to rescue a deserved draw.
“I would have taken a point with 10 minutes to go but disappointed as well we didn’t see it out,” said Meenagh.
“There has been a lot of emotion in the last two games. You have to take all that into consideration.
“The emotion of that Ulster final (Derry beating Armagh after a penalty shootout) and the comedown of that… the players have been through a lot.
“The nature of these last two games has been tough but the character of the players can’t be in doubt because everything looked like it was going against us.
“It wasn’t looking good but to into the lead and time nearly up, if we had got our hands on the ball one more time, but look, we’d be relieved as well to get a point.
“Just disappointed with elements of our performance.”
While Derry were a shadow of the side that destroyed Monaghan by eight points in the Ulster semi-final only a month ago, this was a Monaghan team that had its mojo back.
They could have led by more than 0-7 to 0-6 at half-time, but they easily absorbed the blow of Gary Mohan’s second half black card and actually extended their lead while down to 14 players.
While McGuigan’s monster free looked like it could be the winner in the 73rd minute, Monaghan boss Vinny Corey hailed O’Connell’s impressive equaliser.
“Karl has been brilliant all year. For a man of 35 or 36, he owes Monaghan nothing," said Corey.
“To pull out a score like that in the 75th minute, it wasn’t just any score, it was a big score with a hostile crowd and plenty of noise.
“He took it on and what a season he has had. He deserves an awful amount of credit.”
Corey admitted it was mixed emotions after a game with many momentum shifts.
“We are a bit disappointed,” he said.
“When you put yourself in a position to win the match, you are not disappointed not to win the match.
“In this league format it is a point on the board.
“We could have been going down the road after being sucker-punched with zero points, so we are happy to talk about the positives.”
READ NEXT:
Armagh GAA issue update after medical emergency at the Box-It Athletic Grounds on Saturday
Recap as Derry are crowned Ulster Minor champions following a penalty shootout win over Monaghan
- Shane McGuigan bemoans lacklustre showing as Derry are held to a draw by battling Monaghan
Derry 0-14 Monaghan 0-14 score recap and result from the All-Ireland Championship tie
- Recap as Armagh survive Westmeath scare thanks to late goal from substitute Conor Turbitt
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox
