Monaghan staged a brilliant second-half performance to deservedly book their place in the final of the Ulster championship at the expense of a fancied Derry team in Ballinascreen on Saturday afternoon.

The sides were level at half-time - Derry 1-4 Monaghan 0-7 - with Monaghan staging a strong finish to the opening period with four unanswered points to wipe out Derry's lead. A goal from a penalty two minutes into the second half gave Monaghan a great start and they gradually took control. Entering the final 10 minutes Monaghan were ahead by five points and they wrapped up the victory in convincing fashion with five unanswered points as Derry crumbled.

MONAGHAN: J Sullivan; C Flanagan, P Coyle, P McKenna (1-0); P McGuigan, K McQuaid, D Mullen; J McElroy (0-2), D Connolly, S McManus (0-2); P O'Connor (0-1), JP Mone; N Clerkin (0-1), C Tavey (0-8), P Rice. Subs: J Mone (0-1) for P Rice; G McKit terick (0-1) for J Mone; A Callan for P O'Connor.

DERRY: C Gilligan; A Heaney, K McCloy, R Lynch; P O'Kane, P McFlynn, M Kelly; F Glacken, N McCusker (0-1); G Diamond, J Donaghy (0-1), B Kearney; E Farren, G Cassidy (1-4),S McGeehan (0-1). Subs: P Hassan for M Kelly, P Murphy for J Donaghy.

Referee: G Lynch (Fermanagh).