Allianz National Football League Division One: Monaghan v Cavan (today, 2pm, Clones)
HEADING towards the final two games of the League campaign – two games that will decide whether or not they fall through the Division One trapdoor – January 27 must seem like a long, long time ago for Monaghan.
Coming into the year on the back of a summer campaign that brought them to the brink of an All-Ireland final, the Farneymen posted what looked to be an early statement of intent by downing the Dubs in Clones.
The pacy Stephen O’Hanlon lit up St Tiernach’s Park with a superb solo goal and dovetailed brilliantly with Conor McManus as Monaghan recovered from a slow start to send the masses home happy.
As false dawns go, though, that was right up there. Four defeats have followed, leaving them fighting for their lives as they bid to secure a sixth straight season in the top flight.
Of course, Malachy O’Rourke wouldn’t have been foolish enough to read too much into that opening day success against a Dublin side not long back from a team holiday that left them playing catch-up.
The margins between success and failure are minimal at the top are also razor thin, a contrast with last year’s League campaign proving that point. In 2018, three of their five wins (against Kildare, Tyrone and Dublin) were by a single point, while a late charge saw them beat Kerry by two in Inniskeen.
This year they lost by two to Roscommon, courtesy of a late Enda Smith penalty, and one to Galway, while they were well in the game against Kerry before the Kingdom pulled away in the final 10 minutes.
There is no doubt though that the Farneymen are struggling to drive home their advantage when on top, and niggly injuries to key men such as Fintan Kelly and Karl O’Connell – as well as the absences of Kieran Hughes and Niall Kearns – have also contributed to some patchy performances.
They will be without the suspended Darren Hughes for today’s derby clash with Cavan in Clones, a game that is now surely must-win for both as they occupy the bottom two spots in the division.
As ever, so much of Monaghan’s success depends on Conor McManus. Despite a bright start against Tyrone, the Farney challenge faded once the Clontibret man’s threat had been neutralised.
Although Killian Clarke effectively shackled Paul Geaney when Kerry came to Kingspan Breffni in February, Padraig Faulkner is likely to be handed the McManus brief.
He was impressive even in defeat to the Red Hands, and has the physical attributes to match Monaghan’s marquee forward.
It is at the other end of the field though where Cavan may need to focus, however, after struggling to make the ball stick in the final third in Omagh.
Padraig Hampsey had the measure of Conor Madden while Niall Clerkin came off a distant second best to Hugh Pat McGeary. When Jack Brady drifted inside he made little impression against Ronan McNamee.
And where Monaghan have struggled without some of their missing men, the same can also be said for the Breffni County.
Gearoid McKiernan has returned to training after undergoing a knee operation before Christmas, but is not expected to feature either today or in next week’s final League game against Mayo.
Caoimhin O’Reilly suffered a broken foot and is still a way off, while a foot injury means the versatile Michael Argue is unavailable to boss Mickey Graham.
Like Monaghan, Cavan could well have found themselves clear of the drop zone by this stage. Strong first half showings against Galway and Kerry weren’t built upon as they slipped to early defeats that could come back to haunt them.
There was a mood of tentative optimism heading to Omagh a fortnight ago having finally ended their Roscommon hoodoo the week previous, but Cavan just weren’t able to hurt Mickey Harte’s men, and struggled to deal with the sheer power of Tyrone’s runners at time.
With so much at stake, there is no longer any margin for error. Monaghan have the greater scope for improvement, and you have to fancy that they will be that bit too strong today.
