Derry have dangerous runners and we need to match this well so this will be very interesting to see.

Its an obvious point but the winning a losing of the game will be in how well Rory Beggan plays in terms of kickouts and finding the right man. we need to dominate this area and everything else will fall into place.

muckla (UK) - Posts: 365 - 27/04/2023 13:41:54    2474244

When I think of all the issues and shortcomings we had last year with coaching and the fact that we still weren't far off Derry, it makes me think that this year we'll reverse the result. I may be naive but we're a stronger outfit with more options who have a coaching team that will have done their homework on this Derry team. I'd be interested to see who starts in midfield. Because if we can win that battle, we'll win the game.

SoNearYetSoFarney (Monaghan) - Posts: 50 - 27/04/2023 15:43:38    2474270

Will be interesting to see Vinnys tactical set up for this game. Last year it was nearly farcical how naïve we came out against Derry - we completely over committed in attack with slow build up out of the back, every man inside their half of the field, played it over and back until we were turned over or played a ball out in front of jack which Chrissy McCauge was going to win all day and then Derry broke on us, rinse and repeated for 60ish minutes. The odd time we managed to get ourselves reasonably set up at the back Derry just pumped high ball in on Boyle who was taken to the cleaners that day. Duffy in at full back will hopefully be different. Another killer was Beggan taking time his over kick outs, which gave time for Derry to retreat and concede them - he needs to get the ball back in play seconds after it goes dead on Saturday, and try a few of those beauties over the top that we've seen all too infrequently.

A far more balanced approach on Saturday gives us some hope but I fear Derry have our number given the performance last year. The one bright spot was Kearns who totally out performed Glass, unfortunately that's going to have to be looked at again. If Derry put Rodger's and mccague back into the full back line again we have to forget about feeding ball into the corner forwards as unfortunately these are two of the best man markers in the business and we don't have a player at the level of Con O'Callaghan/Paul Mannion with elite pace, height and power to get away from these bears.

I think it'll be down to our half forward line to do a lot of the necessary damage this weekend. Their quick transitions from defence to attack and direct running killed Tyrone last weekend, who could do little else but concede frees. Luckily I honestly think we've one of the best half forward lines in the country and do believe they can do the necessary, provided it doesn't get tampered with..

Jjoniel79 (Monaghan) - Posts: 143 - 28/04/2023 06:39:17    2474307

Like look of team and bench. Good to see conor leonard and Gary mone back on it. May need them on Saturday in the midfield at some point. Mulligan misses out unfortunately but Jones will be sprung at some point. Goals will win this game. Derry got them last year.

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1798 - 28/04/2023 08:41:25    2474312

TommyBowe (Monaghan) - Posts: 10 - 28/04/2023 09:13:18    2474314

With Dessie coming in a straight swap for Karl O'Connell, it would seem like he might not be 100%. A reversal of that call before throw in would be no surprise. If he is fully fit, I would bring O'Connell into the team for Jack and put Dessie in at full forward for this one. He would add running power and a track-back option into the forwards, which was badly lacking last year. McCarthy, Bannigan, O'Hanlon, Ward and Gallagher is much more mobile unit than previous. No way McManus and Jack should start together against Derry. Jones is a good option off the bench with 20 to go but he hasn't done enough to start you would think. Great to see Conor Leonard among the subs, he could play a part in all this yet.

Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1057 - 28/04/2023 14:38:54    2474399

Mickod88 (Monaghan) - Posts: 49 - 28/04/2023 15:30:58    2474413

Strong starting team lined out but OConnell will start but for who is the question. Bench good with Jones, Hughes n Carey. Leonard n Lennon good to see in but Kelly, F Hughes and McElearney there while Irwin, Mulligan n Loughran dropped has to be favouritism.

Monaghanfan123 (Monaghan) - Posts: 58 - 29/04/2023 00:57:42    2474459

HB245 (Monaghan) - Posts: 206 - 29/04/2023 10:37:26    2474477

Monaghanfan123 (Monaghan) - Posts: 58 - 29/04/2023 11:30:57    2474489

Here's to another Championship win, and to prove the doubters wrong.

Hon

Knoxboya (Monaghan) - Posts: 357 - 29/04/2023 12:49:16    2474499

veterngaa (Monaghan) - Posts: 384 - 29/04/2023 13:29:11    2474502

Bernardo (Monaghan) - Posts: 594 - 29/04/2023 19:34:23    2474555

Think mgmt have done well this year with a tough hand dealt but chickens really came home to roost today and we had no answers. The first half was atrocious by us intensity wise for an ulster semi final. Loads of players back but derry were able to shoot fairly comfortably esp when they targeted mcmanus and mccarron in their defensive roles. The weaknesses round the middle came back to bite with derry completely on top in this area. Karl o connell was our only player in first half looked at the pace of the game rest of the team looked off it. Mccarron still looks to be struggling with injury and been better not starting him but that is hindsight i guess. Team deserves credit for making it bit more competitive in second half as thought at one point it was going to get really embarrassing. Kieran Hughes doesn't look fit but made a good impact off the bench. Jones didn't get enough minutes. Mone and Leonard tried hard. You just got feeling watching second half that we will need big summers from the younger lads if team is going to make an impact in all ireland series. Might be too soon for some of them. Team will have learned a lot from today we haven't had a trimming like that in ulster since the days of playing Tyrone in 00s

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1798 - 29/04/2023 20:13:53    2474571

Hugely disappointing evening, in truth a 8 point hiding could/should have been more..a stark difference in pace & power.. the game paned out pretty much as expected, Mansy was never going to get much change out of Chrissy and jack again struggles on the firm sod in championship football with pace so was hard to see where we were going to get the scores from apart from beggans frees..saying that hard to be to harsh on this group of players as they constantly give everything…club football is poor in Monaghan so the fact that we're div 1 again is a miracle..looking like Derry could dominate ulster for a few years with exceptional talent coming through…
A special mention to Karl o c who at 35 was exceptional again today some warrior to the cause..all we can do is regroup and hope for a softish group stage and you never know where the summer could take us..

mick2007 (Monaghan) - Posts: 449 - 29/04/2023 20:29:32    2474576

prideof85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 851 - 29/04/2023 20:35:51    2474578

Very disappointing limp display. Derry were exactly as expected. Only O'Connell and probably Ryan Wylie were at the necessary level. O'Hanlon and Gallagher did OK but that's not going to get you to an Ulster final. Dessie Ward did not look fit.

Midfield is the key problem. Glass and Rogers played a huge amount of ball today. Monaghan had no answer there and without addressing this all the games at the top level will be a struggle. Lavelle was the only proper midfielder in the teram. We saw the same against Galway in the league.

A plus here is that Mohan and Leonard got on the field and I think other than McManus Mohan was the only Monaghan player to actually put a Derry player on his backside in the whole game. One of Mohan or Leonard will have to start at midfield next day if fit. Everything else has been tried.

The other major worry was the lack of intensity from the start. This can be addressed by the management/players themselves, but the Bannigans and McCarthys etc now need to start dictating the play. It's their team now and they need to set the pace. The days of Darren Hughes and Conor McManus driving things on are gone.

It's not all negative. On plus side there are more games coming and more opportunities to develop the team and get a good run going. Hopefully Mohan and Leonard's fitness will improve and maybe McAnespie will be back. But midfield changes and more responsibility from the younger players are needed.

PolicemanFox (Monaghan) - Posts: 158 - 29/04/2023 21:02:30    2474588

Jjoniel79 (Monaghan) - Posts: 143 - 29/04/2023 21:18:23    2474594

Monaghan set out to get the win against Tyrone from the draws were made. Tyrone were complacent in the second half. They only had two weeks to get the same fire in their bellies to beat Derry and it didn't happen. Simple as.

border Gael (Monaghan) - Posts: 894 - 29/04/2023 22:20:42    2474619

Gallaghers comments after the game were telling spoke highly of monaghan but mentioned his side were at the right age and referenced mccarron as not being player he was this year due to injuries. Monaghan were carrying few players with injuries yesterday and to their credit they didn't get beating by a bigger score. Panel is slim pickings still outside 15 -18 players and our best players are still the old stagers. May still cause upset in AI series but hard to see team put big back to back wins to get to a quarter final in croke Park. Capable of big bursts in phases in games like against Tyrone but championship is over 70 plus minutes and need your best players ideally in 23 -28 age group and bar a few not enough of those lads have emerged. On a positive better to exit at semi final stage with new set up than lose the final have three weeks recovery now. Could do with a good draw. Youd fear for the team if we end up with Derry again in first game and another ulster side also.

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1798 - 30/04/2023 07:23:37    2474641