Rory's verdict

By Rory Gallagher BBC sideline analyst

Congratulations to both Derry and Monaghan - they served up the best game of the championship to date.

Paddy Bradley shields the ball from Monaghan defender Dessie Mone

After the battle of Celtic Park six weeks ago, nobody could have expected this open, free-flowing spectacle.

In a week that was dominated from start to finish by Paddy Bradley, it was fitting that he produced an absolute master-class on Saturday.

The pressure on Paddy going into the game must have been immense and yet it never showed.

I hope for Paddy and the Derry team that they can now push on from this and get back to Croke Park and test themselves on the biggest stage again.

Damien Cassidy also deserves tremendous credit. The Derry supporters, or lack of them, are some of the harshest in the country and some of the stick he got after the Tyrone game was personal and that is unfair.

From what I can see Damien is genuine, honest and deeply committed to the Derry cause.

He is also intelligent and brave enough to accept that Derry got it wrong and were easy pickings for Tyrone.

He clearly has the respect and backing of his squad, otherwise they would not have produced such a good performance.

It would be easy to criticise and pick holes saying that Derry conceded 20 points but in fairness five of those were in the last ten minutes when Derry took the foot off the pedal as they were coasting.

You also have to realise that Monaghan are a damn good team who were fighting for their lives and produced some sensational football.

I hope Derry avoid Kerry in the qualifiers stage as I think they can build on this and make the last eight.

Saturday was probably Banty McEnaney's last game in charge of this current Monaghan team.

He has done a brilliant job over the last five years and got Monaghan to a level were I believe they are maximising their ability.

The team are probably just that two or three players short of being capable of winning the Ulster or All Ireland championships.

I hope that if Banty does go, he will not stay out of football long and either takes another county job or comes back with Monaghan in a few years.

While Kerry only beat Longford by four points they never looked in danger and will still be the team to beat in the qualifiers. Rory Gallagher

Once again Wicklow are the big news of the weekend qualifiers, after easily defeating Cavan.

Tommy Carr will be lucky to hold on to his job. Two totally inept displays against Division Four teams Antrim and Wicklow is simply not good enough.

I don't believe Wicklow are that good, you have to remember that they could not get out their league division and they lost to Westmeath in Leinster.

A Westmeath team who Meath beat by 10 points yesterday and who Dublin defeated by 27.

There was good news for both Down and Donegal as they both won with the Mourne side's victory being more impressive.

On a dreadful night they easily defeated Laois and dominated the game throughout with Benny Coulter and Paul McCommisky scoring the goals.

Donegal, on the other hand, laboured to a three-point win over a very poor Clare team and unless they improve on Saturday they could be out of the championship.

Sligo pulled off a super win away to Tipperary and proved that they are a very dangerous team.

Wexford and Roscommon played out a low scoring draw but its hard to see either of these two teams making much progress.

While Kerry only beat Longford by four points they never looked in danger and will still be the team to beat in the qualifiers.

They looked very good at times in the first half but they need Kieran Donaghy fit.