A few last-dayisms to get out of the way first. If Monaghan give up 1-15 like they did the last day against Down, they'll more than likely be in the qualifier draw this evening. If Derry put in a first half as tepid as the one against Antrim, they'll take somewhere in the region of a five-point deficit into the second half and will need something special to turn it around. Pulled-up socks required on all sides, so.

Monaghan have shown all the signs of being well aware of this.

When the game in Newry finished a fortnight ago, there were embraces and backslaps but no running to the crowd or anything raucous like that. Instead they stayed out on the pitch where trainer Martin McElkennon ran them through a warm-down so extensive that the ground was practically empty by the time they got back to their dressing room. The wish for an Ulster final appearance has become an ache and there's no doubt but that they feel it's within their grasp.

Paddy Bradley (right) has been named at wing-forward for Derry but that's surely a cod; after the way he sliced and diced the Monaghan full-back line in this fixture two years ago, it would make no sense to play him anywhere other than the inside line. Especially since that's where it's thought Monaghan's weakest point is. Vincent Corey grew into the role of full-back against Down, however, albeit after a shaky start. Expect Monaghan to continue with the ploy of dropping Dick Clerkin back into the half-back line to protect Corey and the rest.

Jarlath Burns said on BBC2 a fortnight ago that there's a massive gulf in class between these two teams but in truth it's hard to see where that gap lies.

Fergal Doherty has the potential to carry a game alone at midfield but Dan Gordon had that too and Monaghan found a way to limit the damage he could cause by surrounding him and snaffling either breaks or frees for overcarrying. And Sean Marty Lockhart has been on the road an awfully long time at this stage to be up for following someone as tireless as Stephen Gollogly around the place all day.

Monaghan are supremely fit, keep possession like it's water in a desert and, in Ciaran Hanratty, finally have an inside forward to lighten Tommy Freeman's load.

They're a better side than two years ago. It's hard to say the same for Derry.

Verdict Monaghan DERRY B Gillis; M McGoldrick, K McCloy, G O'Kane; Patsy Bradley, SM Lockhart, C McKeever; F Doherty, J Conway; Paddy Bradley, C Gilligan, J Diver; R Wilkinson, E Muldoon, M Lynch MONAGHAN S Duffy; D Mone, V Corey, C Flanagan; D Freeman, G McQuaid, D Morgan; E Lennon, B McKenna; D Clerkin, P Finlay, S Gollogly; C Hanratty, S Smyth, T Freeman