Allianz Football League Division One: Galway v Monaghan (Sunday, Pearse Stadium, 12.45pm)
Division One’s great escape artists Monaghan will be hoping to push two points closer to safety when they take on Galway tomorrow at Pearse Stadium.
Following a defeat at home to Armagh in round one, and a hammering at the hands of a much-rotated Kerry in round two, things weren’t looking optimistic for the Farney.
However, Vinny Corey’s side have bounced back in style, claiming a needed win at home to Donegal, before they saw off the previously undefeated Roscommon last weekend.
Key to Monaghan’s success has been the returns of stalwarts Conor McManus, Jack McCarron and Darren Hughes from injuries, but Stephen O’Hanlon and Micheal Bannigan have carried the charge and continued to increase their importance in the side.
Monaghan’s win over Donegal in round three could be the turning point of their season, as defeat would have had them on the brink on the relegation, and they trailed by two points, with 25 minutes to go.
However, Monaghan have been around the block, as they have been dining at the top table of league football since 2015, and their experience told, as they saw out the game in style as they turned up the heat and outscored the Tir Chonaill 1-11 to 0-4 in a free-flowing display over the remainder of the game.
That win instilled belief back in Monaghan, and against Roscommon they put in an assured display throughout, keeping Davy Burke’s side at bay, with Corey’s side having nine different scorers.
Those wins have given Monaghan some much needed breathing room, but there is still plenty of football to be played, and heading west to take on Galway won’t be an easy task this weekend.
Pádraic Joyce’s men probably should have beaten Mayo and were held to a point, and probably should have lost to Donegal, but gained a point, and in between were defeated by Roscommon, but brushed Tyrone aside.
Last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists were tipped to have a strong campaign, but have been playing without their dangermen Shane Walsh, who is taking some time off after a long season, and Damien Comer, who picked up a knee injury against Roscommon.
Despite that, Matthew Tierney has staked his claim with six points scored against Tyrone, before he notched 1-3 away to Donegal last weekend, while Rob Finnerty returned to the fold with two points.
With the same total of points on the board as the Farney, Galway have typified the entire theme of the Division One league this year of, ‘who knows what’s going to happen?’ As they are impossible to predict.
Joyce is likely to be content with where his side sit at the moment, and on their day, they are a tough force to conquer, but they have sprinkled in a couple of lukewarm performances into their campaign, which may give Monaghan the belief that they’re meeting them at the right time.
It’s a tricky game on paper for Corey’s side, but if they can leave Salthill with a result, they will take a huge step towards securing their top-flight status.
