Relief was the overriding emotion for Gabriel Bannigan after Monaghan’s 0-27 to 2-14 Ulster SFC victory over Cavan.

The Farneymen put a torrid Allianz League campaign – which culminated in relegation to Division 2 – behind them to register their first win of 2026 and set up a provincial semi-final meeting with Derry.

"We've had a very tough league, so there is big relief," the Monaghan boss admitted in an interview with BBC Sport NI.

"We've been preparing hard for this since the Galway game and were focused on getting a squad as near to full strength as we could. We weren't quite at full strength, but we were stronger.

"The biggest thing we got out of the league was 16 debuts under our belt and big-game experience against Division 1 opponents."

Looking ahead to the next day, Bannigan added: "Derry are a top, top team and they'll be favourites.

"But we'll prepare as best we can and try to be ready for them.

"Taking the game on its merits, we have an Ulster semi-final, and us and Derry will be going at it hammer and tongs to try to get to an Ulster final; that's prize enough in itself."

Tweet

Most Read Stories