All-Ireland SFC: Monaghan earn deserved draw against Derry after Armagh snatch win

Karl O'Connell's last-gasp point earned Monaghan a deserved 0-14 to 0-14 draw against Ulster champions Derry in the All-Ireland SFC after Armagh snatched a 1-13 to 1-12 win over Westmeath.

Despite a flat Derry display, Shane McGuigan's ninth point seemed to have won it before O'Connell's equaliser.

Derry's fellow Ulster finalists Armagh also struggled before Conor Turbitt's 67th-minute goal turned their game.

Ronan O'Toole's goal helped Westmeath lead 1-7 to 0-7 at half-time.

The Lake County were still two ahead with three minutes of normal time remaining at the Athletic Grounds after their keep-ball tactics had frustrated Armagh but a Rian O'Neill long ball then broke to substitute Turbitt who fly kicked directly to the net.

John Heslin levelled for Westmeath a minute later but injury-time points from Andrew Murnin and Ciaran Mackin - the latter after a superb long pass from Armagh keeper Ethan Rafferty - proved enough for the Orchard men despite another Heslin free.

Armagh trailed by three points at half-time but fought back to beat Westmeath in the All-Ireland Football Championship opener

For most of the Athletic Grounds contest, Armagh appeared to be suffering a hangover from their heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat by Derry in the Ulster Final two weeks ago.

Last season's Tailteann Cup winners Westmeath were big underdogs heading into the game but with O'Toole their playmaker in attack, they caused huge problems for the Orchard men.

O'Toole's goal put Westmeath 1-1 to 0-2 ahead after 14 minutes after Stephen Smith had flicked on a long ball from Heslin.

Further scores from Sam McCartan and Luke Loughlin extended the visitors' advantage to four and while three points in as many minutes around the half hour mark cut Westmeath's lead to the minimum, efforts from Heslin and Sam Duncan left the underdogs three up at the interval.

Westmeath still looked in a strong position after 56th and 60th-minute scores from Loughlin and David Lynch put them three up.

However, Heslin then missed a great chance to extend the advantage to four and after O'Neill's fourth point had cut the margin to two, Armagh were suddenly ahead after the Crossmaglen man's long ball broke to Turbitt who finished to the net emphatically.

While Heslin equalised a minute later, the injury-time points from Murnin and Mackin proved enough for Armagh despite a further point from the Westmeath talisman.

Kieran McGeeney will know his Armagh side will need to produce better in next weekend's game second Group Two game against Tyrone in Omagh with Westmeath facing the task of regrouping for their tussle with Galway in Mullingar.

Monaghan get tactics right at Celtic Park

Only a month after being outclassed by Derry in their Ulster semi-final, Monaghan got their tactics spot on at Celtic Park as they pushed up on the Oak Leafers' kickouts and got their key match-ups right.

Karl O'Connell was handed the job of marking Brendan Rogers and performed the task brilliantly which Gary Mohan's efforts contributing to Conor Glass being a subdued presence in Derry's midfield.

Ryan O'Toole also was able to curb McGuigan for much of the contest although the Slaughtneil man finally escaped his clutches in the final quarter.

With Monaghan not making the mistake of dropping deep as they had a month ago, they worked hard to disrupt Derry's running game but there was also a noticeable lack of drive from the Oak Leafers.

And with Conor McCarthy bursting forward at every opportunity, which included two first-half points, Monaghan were finding gaps in Derry territory, with Mohan, Dessie Ward and Shane Carey all scoring from play as they led 0-7 to 0-6 at the break.

Monaghan deployed Ryan O'Toole to mark Derry's dangerman Shane McGuigan

Monaghan boss Vinny Corey had opted not to start Conor McManus in a championship contest for the first time in 15 years, with Jack McCarron also on the bench, and the changes worked for a treat for the Farneymen.

Derry were unable to get on terms in the 15 minutes after the resumption with a Rory Beggan free putting Monaghan 0-10 to 0-8 after 48 minutes and they looked in a strong position when another Carey point and Micheal Bannigan's second free left them 0-12 to 0-9 ahead after 55 minutes.

Monaghan's resolve was even more impressive at that stage as they had outscored Derry by 0-3 to 0-2 during following Mohan's black carding which had come following a challenge on Gareth McKinless.

Beggan's second successful placed ball on 63 minutes as he slotted a superb 45 had the look of a potentially decisive score as it restored a three-point lead for Monaghan after Derry substitute Lachlan Murray had pointed at the other end.

However, a McGuigan free cut Monaghan's lead and a botched short kickout by the Monaghan keeper then forced the concession of another placed ball which left the minimum between the teams as the match entered injury-time.

Ethan Doherty, hitherto quiet, levelled for Derry in the 71st minute before McGuigan appeared to have stolen victory for the Oak Leafers with a nerveless 38-metre free.

The game seemed to be up for Monaghan as they made little headway with the ball with time seemingly up but O'Connell took the responsibility to make an incision into the Derry defence before floating over the equaliser from 35 metres. It was the least Monaghan deserved.

Derry will be back in action in Group Four against Donegal in Ballybofey next Sunday with Monaghan facing Clare at Clones on the same afternoon.