Malachy O Rourke and Rory Gallagher share a joke during the 2016 Allianz Football League clash between Monaghan and Donegal at Castleblayney.
Sunday March 26
Allianz Football League Division One
Donegal v Monaghan, Ballyshannon, 3pm
A bumper Ballyshannon crowd is expected for a game between two counties, who have developed a healthy rivalry and respect in recent years.
The Ulster Final pairing in 2013, 2014, and 2015 Donegal also shaded a tight provincial Semi-Final replay last year.
Critical matches have arrived thick and fast between Donegal and Monaghan with the winner of Sunday’s game ideally placed to earn a place in the Allianz Football League decider.
Donegal and Monaghan are both content to have put seven points into their respective accounts after five matches, but this game is vital.
In the last round of fixtures Monaghan welcome Dublin to Clones, while Donegal travel to Castlebar for a clash with Mayo.
Rory Gallagher has stressed that Donegal have ‘set no targets’ about what they wanted to achieve in the Allianz Football League. “We set no targets at the start of the year in terms of survival or reaching a League Final.
“We just wanted to be better at the end of the League than we were at the start. That will continue against Monaghan next Sunday.”
Monaghan have been assisted by the excellent form of Jack McCarron, who is a capable finisher alongside Conor McManus in attack.
Manager Malachy O’Rourke was delighted with how McCarron performed in the convincing win over Roscommon. “Jack has had a couple of very tough years, he has worked really hard, he’s a good finisher and he uses the ball well. He’s taken some of the scoring burden off Conor and a couple of other forwards chipped in to get us a good tally.”
The next Donegal and Monaghan instalment will be hard fought according to O’Rourke. “They have been very strong at underage, they have a conveyor belt of talent coming through and they have the luxury that a lot of them are big players as well.
“There’s been a good rivalry built up between the teams over the last few years. It will be an interesting game and both teams will want to win it to progress in the League.”
MONAGHAN: Rory Beggan; Fintan Kelly, Drew Wylie, Ryan Wylie; Ryan McAnespie, Neil McAdam, Karl O'Connell; Darren Hughes, Kieran Hughes; Dessie Ward, Shane Carey, Gavin Doogan; Kieran Duffy, Jack McCarron, Conor McManus.
