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Stephen O’Hanlon’s sensational display against Monaghan included slamming in one of three goals.
Derry and Monaghan avenged last summer’s All-Ireland semi-final defeats to Kerry and Dublin with a dramatic opening win in the Allianz Football League Division One.
In Tralee, Kerry fought back from six down before a late Shane McGuigan free gave Derry a 0-15 to 2-8 win.
Ciaran McNulty scored the final winning goal in Croke Park as Monaghan defeated the All-Ireland champions 3-9 to 1-14.
Jack McCarron, Stephen O’Hanlon and McNulty scored the goals for Monaghan.
It seemed impossible that the clash between Dublin and Monaghan could bring more drama than the earlier clash in Tralee, but that’s exactly what happened.
Farneyman conceded a goal within four minutes thanks to Cormac Costello’s shot on target, but managed to claw back towards the end of the first half.
O’Hanlon tormented the Dublin defense
Stephen O’Hanlon, who tormented the Dublin defense throughout, found the back of the net as the half-time whistle approached minutes after McCarron’s spot-on goal.
Monaghan have not lost to the Dubs in the league since 2017 but the Sam Maguire Cup holders threatened to pull away after the break.
Paddy Small, Cormac Costello and Colm Buskell hit unanswered three-pointers before McNulty was brought on.
The Inniskeen man calmly slotted a goal into the bottom corner to turn the game on its head and establish a narrow advantage for the visiting team.
Both teams then exchanged scores, with Michael Bannigan of the Ulster team continuing his good form from a dead ball.
Basquel missed a great chance to give Dublin the initiative, but he curled the ball to the wrong side of the post.
In the end, it was McNulty’s breakaway point that proved the difference in giving Monaghan a valuable victory.
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Conor Glass (right), Ethan Doherty and Ciaran McFaul all started for Derry just a week after their All-Ireland club win with the Glen.
Hart’s Derry nervous to beat Kerry
In the Division One contest at Austin Stack Park, McGuigan scored a last-gasp free-kick as Derry marked their return to Division One with a thrilling victory.
The Ulster champions led 0-8 to 4-0 at half-time before Kerry made a strong comeback in the second half.
Saudi got goals from Connor Geaney and Dylan Casey.
However, McGuigan scored his seventh free-time goal in stoppage time to give Mickey Harte his first league win as Derry manager.
It will be Derry’s first top-flight game since 2015 and Hart will field a strong squad featuring the Glen trio of Conor Glass, Ethan Doherty and Ciaran McFaul, who start just a week after their All-Ireland-winning feat with the Glen. was nominated.
Kerry penalized for missed goal chance
In the testing conditions of Tralee, Derry established their dominance from the start, with captain Glass scoring the opening goal after just three minutes.
McGuigan scored four of Derry’s eight points in the first half, with Chrissie McCaig, Conor Doherty and Brendan Rodgers also on the scoresheet.
Sean O’Shea scored three of Kingdom’s four goals in the first half as Kelly was replaced by brothers David and Paudie Clifford.
Derry never trailed Kerry throughout the first half, with McGuigan scoring four points and McCaig, Doherty and Rodgers each scoring one.
Derry looked good early in the second half as they increased their lead to six points, but McFaul drew a black card for dragging Gavin White down.
Kerry fought back brilliantly as Genie took advantage of Derry keeper Odran Lynch’s deflection off his line to raise the green flag, but Casey leveled the score with seven minutes remaining.
From there, Saudi dominated for long periods, but missed a three-goal chance until McGuigan scored a second-half free after substitute Cormac Murphy was brought down, and Derry lost in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final. He got his revenge.