Allianz National Football League Division One: Dublin v Monaghan
(Saturday, Croke Park, 7pm, live on Setanta Ireland)
DUBLIN’S dominance over Monaghan has been a long, drawn-out affair.
From their first meeting back in 1908, the Farney county have rarely been able to better their opponents, winning just four of their 24 previous meetings, with the sides drawing twice during that period.
The chances of the Ulster side redressing the balance somewhat at Croke Park on Saturday night looks fanciful as both sides try to hold onto their 100 per cent record. Dublin’s scoring difference may sit at just +8 after the first two rounds, but they delivered two very different performances that bode very well for them.
In round one, they had six points to spare against Kerry, with Paddy Andrews bagging 1-4. In truth, the margin of victory should have been in double figures. Jim Gavin’s side coasted to the two points.
Round two was different. They travelled to Castlebar and battled through the mud against a pumped-up Mayo side. It seemed a million miles from the comfortable surroundings of Croke Park a week earlier but, in the end, it was still Dublin who came out on top. In a shoot-out or a scrap, they have been the team still left standing.
Monaghan boss Malachy O’Rourke has been in charge for three of those 18 losses against Dublin and he must come up with a strategy to grab his first win against them, and the county’s first win in this fixture since 2006.
Much of that strategy will involve getting Conor McManus on the ball as much as possible. The Clontibret man, with 1-21 in all in six appearances against Dublin, has managed seven points from play in the last three meetings between the counties and, once again, he will carry a significant threat from play as well as frees.
That’s something the Dublin defence will expect, but they must be wary of a more unfamiliar face in the form of Shane Carey. The Scotstown man is coming off the back of a red-hot Sigerson campaign with DCU, hitting 4-22 in four games, and he will be hoping to build on a couple of solid showings in round one and two of this year’s league.
O’Rourke has also been able to welcome back two other stars from the Sigerson, UU’s Kieran Hughes and UCD’s Ryan Wylie. Both men are named in the first 15 having come off the bench in their two-point win against Down last time out.
Dublin are also going to be facing a Monaghan side who will have little or no pressure on their shoulders. Battling wins over Roscommon and the Mourne county ensure that defeat here isn’t going to derail their campaign.
Safety is very likely only one win away and they have five chances to achieve it. That lack of panic should transfer to the players and O’Rourke will be hoping they can play with a bit more freedom than they would have if points were a necessity.
Despite all that, they are facing the best team in the country. Jack McCaffrey and Paul Mannion should be available for selection despite recent knocks and Gavin has a very strong hand to pick from.
Monaghan will also be without the three players - Paul Finlay, Vinny Corey and Stephen Gollogly - who played in Monaghan’s last win over Dublin 10 years ago, and that is some vital experience they could have been doing with.
It’s likely to be too much of an ask for Monaghan on Saturday night, but unless they take an almighty hammering, the wound isn’t going to be that deep.
MATCH STATS
Dublin: TBA
Monaghan: R Beggan; C Walshe, D Wylie, R Wylie; K Duffy, F Kelly, K O’Connell; N McAdam, D Hughes; S Carey, D Malone, T Kerr; O Duffy, K Hughes, C McManus
