Conor McManus continues his pick of the best footballers from each Ulster county over the past 20 years with his top 15 from Monaghan...
Monaghan
1Rory Beggan
AN ever-present in the team for the 37 championship games since his debut in 2013, Beggan has become one of Monaghan’s valuable assets. In some ways, he has redefined the art of goalkeeping, taking off where Stephen Cluxton laid the marker and bringing more attacking ideas to a position that never knew of them before. At his very best in his Allstar year of 2018, the Scotstown man is an effortless free-taker. An imposing figure who fills the frame of the goal, Beggan is at the top of his trade.
2Drew Wylie
HAS developed the same kind of cult hero status in Monaghan that’s reserved for the Francie Bellews of this world. Wylie came into this side in 2012 and the Ballybay man quickly found his home in the full-back line. Had a great summer in 2013, winning key battles against Colm McFadden and Stephen O’Neill, and was excellent in the run to the All-Ireland semi-final in 2018, not least against Tyrone in Croke Park. He can play a bit too and has been known to take a few scores in his time.
3Vinny Corey
RETIRED last month on the same day as clubmate Dessie Mone, having played an astonishing 17 seasons with Monaghan and playing in 63 championship games. Vinny Corey fulfilled every role from resilient full-back to dogged man-marker to edge-of-the-square target man, and everything in between. His form at full-forward was crucial to their good run in 2007, but in recent years it was more about his defensive exploits. His career was defined by marking Michael Murphy out of three consecutive Ulster finals.
4Dessie Mone
HE had a window into life as a Monaghan footballer as he saw elder brothers JP and Fergal toil with the county for so long without any real reward, but Dessie was the one who came along at the right time. He made his debut in 2004 but didn’t play again until three years later, when he starred in the county’s run to the last eight, particularly in man-marking duels with Paddy Bradley and Brendan Devenney. Had good days in the corner but played the latter half of his career largely on the wing, where he was particularly outstanding in the 2015 Ulster success.
5Karl O’Connell
AS a youngster, O’Connell was a keen athlete and even, despite his slim build, rugby player, but Gaelic football wasn’t near his radar until he was 17. That makes his transition into one of the country’s best wing-backs all the more impressive. O’Connell quickly jumped the ranks and upon making his way into Monaghan’s starting team, he excelled in the run to the 2015 Ulster title. He carried that form on in 2016 before shifting to midfield, where his wing-to-wing runs became a valuable outlet. But returned to the wing a year later, his Allstar form was central to Monaghan coming within a whisker of an All-Ireland final.
6Darren Hughes
A MAN so versatile that he kept two clean sheets when Seamus McEnaney very memorably threw him into nets for two Ulster Championship games in 2010. But his career has far surpassed that gimmick, with Hughes becoming one of the team’s most vibrant driving forces in the successful recent years. Tried out at full-forward as well, he has been a diligent and solid midfielder, but it’s arguably in the role he played in 2018, dropping as the no-holds-barred sweeper, that he found his real niche. Brave to a fault, he always knew when to time a run and how to take a score.
7Gary McQuaid
ON a greasy Croke Park surface that made fools of men, Gary McQuaid simply looked a cut above. The day they played Kerry in 2007, he was the game’s outstanding player. He was nominated for an Allstar that year and was unfortunate not to win one after his best season, which included a brilliant Ulster final display against Brian Dooher. A big, strong, graceful defender, he had his time at full-back and on the wing, but was arguably at his best down the middle, where he could dictate the game around him. Retired in 2010 and deserved to have more to show for it.
8Owen Lennon
THE man to guide his team up the steps in Clones after a 25-year wait, Lennon was a colossal figure for them at midfield from he started out in 2002. A Sigerson Cup winner with DCU, the Latton man missed just one championship game between 2002 and the start of the 2014 season, when the ankle injury that finished his career took hold. He was outstanding throughout the 2007 run to the All-Ireland quarter-final and had a great game against Kerry in their narrow defeat. A brilliant ball-winner and all-round leader.
9Dick Clerkin
THE Currin man followed in the footsteps of his father, Hugo, by pulling on the white and blue, and wearing it with distinction. His work didn’t always garner the limelight but it was of vital importance to Monaghan. Clerkin had days when he could dominate the skies. Something about him always seemed to relish a battle with Derry. Thrived on the physicality of the midfield battle and threw himself in where the hits were. A very, very hard working footballer who picked up his two Ulster medals towards the tail end.
10Stephen Gollogly
THERE may not have been all that many man-of-the-match performances from Stephen Gollogly, but he was Monaghan’s answer to Denis Irwin for a decade. He played 133 times for the county, 42 of them in championship, and never let them down. An inside forward during his school days, the Carrickmacross man quickly found a home at wing-forward, where he still found ways to contribute to the scoreboard. Gave arguably his best display hitting 0-4 against Derry in the 2007 Ulster semi-final. Played in both the 2013 and 2015 Ulster finals, but was unfortunate to go off injured early in the first.
11Paul Finlay
MADE a monumental arrival into inter-county football with a man-of-the-match display on his debut as Monaghan secured their biggest victory for a generation, beating All-Ireland champions Armagh in 2003. Finlay kicked eight points that day, all frees. He was the team’s left-footed free-taker for a long time but mostly he was its attacking architect, holding court at 11. One of those players that just seemed to have as much time as he wanted on the ball, his left foot was a deadly weapon. Still going strong with Ballybay.
12Damien Freeman
THE elder of the Freeman brothers, Damien made his debut in 1997 and a decade later, was captain and one of the central figures in taking Monaghan to what was then a rare Ulster final. Brilliant in the semi-final win over Derry and the narrow final defeat by Tyrone that year. Operated mostly out of wing-back, where he and Gary McQuaid had a great understanding that allowed Monaghan to flourish from deep. Did have a spell in the full-forward line in the early 2000s. Captained the county to its National League Division Two title in 2005.
13Rory Woods
A NEPHEW of former Allstar and Monaghan great Nudie Hughes, Woods always looked like a throwback to a different era, and played like one too. There was a rawness and a directness about his play that made him stand out. When he’d have the ball, he’d put the head down and bury at whoever he was marking. A more subtle finisher than he was a ball-carrier, the Donaghmoyne man hit a real peak at the tail end of the noughties, playing brilliant stuff from ’07 to ’09, and excelled in that All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Kerry.
14Tommy Freeman
ONE of the highlights of Monaghan ending their 25-year wait for an Ulster title was seeing Tommy Freeman get on the pitch and kick the last score to seal their stunning win over Donegal in 2013. No man deserved it more. He’d held their attack together through the barren years and then led the uprising in the latter part of the noughties. Won an Allstar for his outstanding performances in 2007, a year in which he was Ulster’s top scorer. Sharp as lightning, he was deadly accurate close to goal. Still flying with Magheracloone as they seek an All-Ireland intermediate club title.
15Conor McManus
THE generational player on which counties like Monaghan so rely for success. It’s not a one-man band but the whole thing has been built around McManus, and would never have happened without him. His levels have been so high in recent years that even his bad days are good. Absolutely brilliant off both feet from any angle, McManus has won three Allstars (2013, 2015 and 2018) and been arguably the best forward in Ireland over the last seven years. Started out as a wing-back but his move into the attack was one of the turning points for Monaghan’s recent fortunes.
