Saturday June 24

Ulster SFC Semi-Final

Monaghan v Down, Athletic Grounds, 7pm

A year ago when Monaghan exited the Ulster SFC at the Semi-Final stage following a loss to Donegal a further blow followed.

Longford took what is now correctly deemed a prize scalp in the Qualifiers. A wretched stint for Monaghan concluded offering a reminder of the harsh summer realities in Gaelic Football.

Things can change pretty quickly. Down will certainly testify to that following an encouraging victory over Armagh. Suddenly a dollop of hope is back in Down, who will be anxious to examine Monaghan’s resolve at the Athletic Grounds.

The Donegal and Longford defeats ensured Monaghan watched the remainder of 2016 unfolding, waiting and worrying.

When the Allianz Football League recommenced Malachy O’Rourke’s team were primed for action. Away wins over Mayo and Kerry hinted at the resilience that is still evident in the Monaghan panel.

Gavin Doogan and Jack McCarron are knocking around the Monaghan panel long enough not to be classed as finds, but their contribution has undoubtedly increased.

Ultimately there appears to be more depth to the Monaghan panel with the victories over Fermanagh and Cavan featuring some excellent cameos from substitutes.

For this Saturday’s encounter the convalescing Darren Hughes, Dessie Mone, Shane Carey, Conor McCarthy are all on the bench – willing and able to make an impact.

“We have options,” the prolific Conor McManus admits. “When you see the likes of Darren Hughes and Dessie Mone and even Owen Duffy who came off the bench against Fermanagh and Conor McCarthy who came on against Cavan at the weekend.

“There’s a few good lads there, and quality too. There’s a few young lads in Monaghan and there’s been good success in Monaghan over the last few years so hopefully it will filter through, and the more of that we get, the better.”

Satisfied to have survived in Division Two of the Allianz Football League, Down produced a gutsy performance to beat Armagh.

Darragh O’Hanlon and Caolan Mooney are adept at advancing into threatening positions scoring six points between them in that triumph.

Down restricted a highly rated Armagh attack to 2-7 and a similarly defiant display will be required according to manager Eamonn Burns.

“We realise that we have a massive task in front of us,” Burns says.

“Monaghan have been one of the top teams in Ulster over the past few years, they played very well in the last round to get over Cavan and they had a very successful League campaign.

“They are red-hot favourites and rightfully so. We know that if we are going to make progress we will have to be playing at the top of our game for 70 minutes or more.”

Monaghan overpowered Down by 2-22 to 0-9 in their most recent Championship collision last year with Malachy O’Rourke’s charges eager to reach a fourth provincial decider since 2013.

**MONAGHAN: **Rory Beggan; Fintan Kelly, Drew Wylie, Ryan Wylie; Colin Walshe, Vinny Corey, Neil McAdam; Kieran Hughes, Karl O'Connell; Gavin Doogan, Kieran Duffy, Owen Duffy; Dermot Malone, Jack McCarron, Conor McManus.