I do expect this match to be an entertaining affair, with Fermanagh having a very poor Division 2 campaign and getting relegated to Division 3, then Monaghan had a very impressive Division 1 campaign and kept there place there. Pete McGrath is a great manager who isn't the biggest fan of modern football. Then there is Malachy O,Rourke who is one of the best managers of all time in my opinion. Fermanagh are not a team that you just stroll past, they have some very very talented players who could put a huge task up to anyone for example like against Donegal last year. Monaghan of course the same. Its a shame that Darren Hughes will be out of action due to injury which will be a vital miss to Monaghan as he is one of the best players that can turn the game around but on the other hand it will be music to Fermanaghs ears that he is not playing. Its a stange enough match to predict, but I have to go for Monaghan as they a currently in a great form and the better team, also the fact there at home.
Monaghan +4

oakleafersir (Derry) - Posts: 808 - 25/04/2017 19:58:51    1982651

neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 25/04/2017 20:18:19    1982658

IrishGael3 (USA) - Posts: 1092 - 25/04/2017 20:53:45    1982669

No harm to Fermanagh and Pete McGrath is a man I would have a lot of respect for but I would expect Monaghan to win this by 7 or 8 points pulling up as they do so.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9108 - 26/04/2017 09:35:11    1982759

Monaghan should open up with a good win. Looking forward to watching Jack McCarron who looked a real player in the league.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1780 - 27/04/2017 12:58:23    1983118

Was wondering if anyone could help me out with this.
Just checked GAAGO and no mention of the game being shown (living in Spain).
So question is; will BBC or UTV be showing it, and if so do they stream live games internationally?

extranjero (Wexford) - Posts: 375 - 28/04/2017 23:21:33    1983416

oakleafersir (Derry) - Posts: 808 - 29/04/2017 09:34:06    1983430

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7335 - 29/04/2017 11:34:30    1983446

Where is Gotmilk to give us some updates on Fermanagh. He has gone very quiet - maybe the Monaghan boys have kidnapped him.

neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 29/04/2017 12:26:51    1983456

yea id confidently predict a monaghan win by 4+. once teams are 4+(2 scores) they can either annihilate a team or just see out the win, depending on which monaghan do. Cant see much of a challenge in fermanagh, was poor to get relegated from div2, where you cant see many teams at monaghans level, which would imply fermanagh are another level below that

Frederick (Louth) - Posts: 479 - 29/04/2017 14:03:06    1983467

Without sounding too complacent I'd expect us to come through this alright. It's a local derby and these games in Ulster are often tight, but I can't see Malachy allowing anyone to overlook Fermanagh. I could see a similar game to our last meeting in 2015 where it was tight for a while before we pulled away in the final quarter.

Darren Hughes is a huge loss for us in the Ulster campaign but it sounds like Fermanagh have their own injury issues.

patk (Monaghan) - Posts: 936 - 29/04/2017 15:33:31    1983479

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 01/05/2017 00:00:05    1983708

KeshGFC (Fermanagh) - Posts: 334 - 02/05/2017 10:37:36    1983896

We are not used to seeing lop-sided Round 1 clashes in the USFC but this one looks like it will go that way. Fermanagh are looking thread-bare, and even if their starting 15 put it up to Monaghan early on they will have very little on the bench to sustain it. On the other hand the Monaghan men are very strong this year, as good as they've ever been. For some reason they still can't cope with being favorites so their biggest problem will be the expectation of an easy win. I can't help thinking the severity of Darren Hughes injury has been exaggerated to cool that in some way. It would not be surprising to see him line out in the big one against Cavan. Anyway, a 10+ point defeat for Fermanagh looks a decent bet here. You just never know with Monaghan though...

MadgeKing (Cavan) - Posts: 493 - 02/05/2017 15:15:53    1983974

To be the first match shown in RTE. really looking forward to it now. Hopefully the weather remains the same as it is.

oakleafersir (Derry) - Posts: 808 - 07/05/2017 22:18:14    1985072

Think if this game was staged tow years ago I would give Fermanagh every chance but think their progress under McGrath has stalled the last couple of years. Lack of youth players coming through has meant that the team is clocking up miles and their league campaign was evidence of this.

Monaghan, on the other hand, had a promising league campaign and have showed glimpses of their best against the top teams in division one this year. I expect Monaghan to win this game comfortably but despite this, I cant see monaghan on the podium in Clones in July.

Monaghan by 8.

Monaghansclown (Monaghan) - Posts: 174 - 08/05/2017 08:03:50    1985098

neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 08/05/2017 18:24:28    1985274

fermanagh were disappointing to say the least in the league.

monaghan are a tough side and don't rely on mcmanus as much in the forwards now.they will win this pulling up.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 08/05/2017 19:50:56    1985290

I was in Clones for our match with Monaghon earlier in the year and I was very impressed with Monaghon. If in the proper frame of mind (which I'd expect) , Monaghon could won this with a bit to spare.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 08/05/2017 21:24:56    1985315

Cant believe what has happened to Fermanagh , was shocked how poor they were against us in league. A real shame as they had seemed they were on way up. Monaghan to win but hopefully not by a large margin for the good of the game in Fermanagh.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 09/05/2017 08:04:28    1985351