Monaghan 1-13 1-12 Derry

Michael McBride of Derry under pressure from Darren Hughes

Derry's All-Ireland hopes are over for 2008 after they lost by a point to Monaghan in Saturday's qualifier.

Monaghan were 1-7 to 0-4 up in the first half with Dick Clerkin netting.

But an Enda Muldoon point and Eoin Bradley goal just before the break lifted the National League champions and they cut the gap to two points.

Derry led through Championship debutant Christopher McKaigue but Thomas Freeman was Monaghan's star man and his fifth point clinched the narrow victory.

It was a tight contest but Derry will be desperately disappointed about the manner in which their season had disintegrated.

After winning the league crown, they were favourites to take the Ulster Championship.

But they were out-fought by a hungrier Fermanagh in the provincial semi-finals and now have fallen at the first hurdle in the back-door system.

Paddy Crozier's side did get the first two points against Monaghan through Paddy and Eoin Bradley.

But a couple of points from both Ciaran Hanratty and Thomas Freeman, and then Clerkin's left-footed goal, turned the match in Monaghan's favour.

Derry replied strongly in the second half and were briefly a point in front but scores from Hanratty, Shane Smyth and Freeman got Monaghan over the finishing line.

Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney:

I was conident of a serious performance from these players. We were up for it and I felt we were the better team overall.

You do not write this group of fellows off. We are a strong unit and it is going to take a decent team to crack us.

Derry boss Paddy Crozier:

We came out all guns blazing in the second half and got in front and the game was in the melting pot.

Their final point was a real sickener. I did not think it was a free as it looked like the two players slipped and it also looked as if we had a point which was not given.