Another year, another Championship campaign and another chance to reach the promised land. Few deserve it more than Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney.
Banty, as he’s more affectionately known, is halfway through the third year of his second stint in charge of his native county.
He’s been knocking on the door for so long and heartbreak after heartbreak has failed to dent his drive for provincial glory.
The Ulster titles that Monaghan captured in 2013 and 2015, under Malachy O’Rourke, were just rewards for Farney legends such as Tommy Freeman, Paul Finley and Dessie Mone.
O’Rourke enjoyed the glory days while McEnaney cheered on from the stand, a supporter rather than the warrior in the arena, where he is much more comfortable. He was the man that kick-started a decade to remember for Monaghan.
It was Donegal who eventually broke the Armagh-Tyrone stranglehold on the Ulster Championship, which lasted from 1999-2010, but McEnaney’s side constantly challenged. Fist clinched, chest out, the Corduff man brought a harder edge to the Oriel county.
He developed a team that was always ready and willing to go to war, to contest every ball. He lined his side with monsters and warriors in the shape of Owen Lennon, Dick Clerkin and Vinny Corey.
They pushed the great Kerry team of the Noughties to the brink, twice. And yet, they couldn’t get over the line. They reached a first Ulster final in 19 years during McEnaney’s first reign in charge back in 2007.
Three seasons later they were back on the big stage and failed to deliver once again. And no one needs reminding of last year’s crushing, one-point defeat in Croke Park.
There’s a consistant theme that runs through Banty’s Ulster Championship history and one team that has denied him the satisfaction he chases. Tyrone.
In the three finals McEnaney has patrolled the sideline, it’s been the Red Hands that have travelled home with the Anglo Celt gleaming at the front of the team bus.
His tenure hasn’t been trophyless, however. He oversaw their success Division Two campaign in 2005 when they beat Meath in the final to clinch Monaghan’s first League title since the glory days of the 1980s.
Incredibly, McEnaney would wait 17 years to win another piece of silverware with the senior side. That came at the beginning of this season in the form of a Dr McKenna Cup title, their first since 2003.
In the intervening years he tried his hand with a few different counties. Meath came calling in 2010 while he also experienced a year in Wexford.
They say you should never go back, but the lure of Monaghan, the thrill of Championship Sunday’s in Clones, the pride of pulling on the blue and white enticed McEnaney back in. He’d have another go.
It started with the minors. McEnaney guided the youngsters to an Ulster title in typical Banty fashion. Against the odds, Monaghan blazed their way through the back door after a narrow one-point defeat to Derry in the preliminary round.
Victories over Antrim, Donegal, Down and Cavan saw Monaghan qualify for the decider where they faced, you guessed it, Derry.
Aaron Mulligan and Sean Jones, who have since progressed to senior level and are two of McEnaney’s most trusted lieutenants, scored 0-8 of Monaghan’s 1-9 to claim a fifth ever Ulster title at that age grade.
McEnaney’s belief and desire is truly unwavering. Traits he has instilled into his team, most evident in the way they have secured their Division One status over the past two seasons.
He thrives off being the underdog, the never-say-die attitude that surrounds Monaghan football and he’ll continue to power his men forward until they reach their deserved destination.
Saturday’s opening round should be straightforward and a win over a Down team in disarray is expected.
If Monaghan are to reclaim their throne as Ulster’s best, they’ll have to overcome reigning All-Ireland champions Tyrone or a rejuvenated Derry in the last four.
Banty won’t be looking past this weekend though. He’s been around long enough to know nothing is guaranteed in the Ulster Championship. But he’ll expect the win. He’ll demand it.
The passion, the glory, the constant yearning to press forward and punch above their weight has guided Monaghan to the top table. Led by McEnaney, back where it all started with the pursuit of glory once again within his reach.
