National Forum

Monaghan GAA thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To Monaghan2011:  "Just wondering provided that mc carthy, lavelle, wylie and bobby mc caul are fully fit for Derry who would they replace in the starting 15?"
Can't see there being massive changes to the team, McCaul especially could be a great help around the middle after fetching a couple of kick outs at the weekend. The bench will be far more important as Derry will be a serious step up physically if nothing else compared to Cavan. The quality of our kick passing was brilliant against Cavan, especially in the opening half, hopefully we see more of it against Derry. Also great to see the newer lads like Dowd, McElearney and Kelly all have a positive day out, some lads a few years on the panel waiting for their chance.

sporto (Monaghan) - Posts: 196 - 21/04/2026 11:42:34    2667688

Link

Replying To Farneyblueandwhite:  "Cavan didn't show up untill the last 25 minutes if paddy lynch was on form (he missed 1 06) would we have won ? Serious tidying up to be done at the back otherwise derry will win well"
Some interesting stats from the game -

Monaghan - 71% accuracy. Easily the best this year.

Unforced turnovers - 5 for Monaghan. That is lowest this year I think but the numbers don't tell the full story - some of those resulted in goals and goal chances. Still work to be done here ahead of the Derry game.

11 forced turnovers by Monaghan to Cavan - Cavan lost possession 13 times in their attack. That tallies with a better collective defensive shape until the jitters took hold half way through second half through fatigue and unforced errors.

7 scorable frees conceeded by Monaghan. No doubt Lynch had an off day and you would expect McGuigan to punish Monaghan if discipline is giving away lots of frees in 2 pt positions.

sleater (Monaghan) - Posts: 199 - 21/04/2026 12:14:44    2667698

Link

Great win at the weekend and delighted for the players, panel, management and supporters following a very difficult league campaign.

Lots of great performances all over the field but it is the scoreboard that matters most and great to see such a spread of different scorers in Clones. Particular praise needs to go to Stephen Mooney getting five points at ease, often at critical stages of the game. He won't get as much time on the ball next day out and others will need to step up as a result.

Although there were great performances all over the pitch, a big improvement is needed to overcome Derry. We were wide open on a number of occasions and lucky not to concede a few goals. Interesting to hear Paul Finlay comment on this too - he was amazed the Cavan players were allowed to cut through the Monaghan defence without a tackle, so that's definitely something to improve upon for next day out. Paddy Lynch also unusually missed a no. of frees that are likely to be converted by McGuigan the next day out, so we need to be cautious about giving away easy frees in the Athletic Grounds.

The only other concern is that we did not really look like getting a goal against Cavan and that killer instinct in front of goal will be important if we hope to beat Derry and progress against some of the bigger teams later in the ALL Ireland series. Mc Anesbie and Mc Carthy have proven they know where the net is when needed and it would be great to see them back firing on all cyclinders too. Bannigan, O'Hanlon and others are also well capable of raising the green flag and hopefully we get a few goals the next day out to help us get over the line against a Derry team who will be favourites and expect to beat Monaghan.

If we have a full panel and more ruthless in front of goal there won't be many that will look forward to playing this Monaghan team. Competition for places on the team and panel for the next day out should be ferocious which is not a luxury Gabriel and the management team would have had for much of the season to date.

OrielPower (Monaghan) - Posts: 112 - 21/04/2026 15:00:28    2667731

Link

Best of luck to 20s Manager Paul O'Connor! And squad for tomorrows semi final

Monaghan_football (Monaghan) - Posts: 128 - 21/04/2026 15:05:59    2667733

Link

Bernardo- cavan man must be still in clones waiting for a cavan win

Farneyblueandwhite (Monaghan) - Posts: 130 - 21/04/2026 16:58:39    2667745

Link

Replying To Farneyblueandwhite:  "Cavan didn't show up untill the last 25 minutes if paddy lynch was on form (he missed 1 06) would we have won ? Serious tidying up to be done at the back otherwise derry will win well"
Do we only count Cavan misses ? How many did Beggan miss. How many goals did we leave behind. Best team won....no argument !

Shelbourne1 (Monaghan) - Posts: 440 - 21/04/2026 20:08:32    2667779

Link

Replying To OrielPower:  "Great win at the weekend and delighted for the players, panel, management and supporters following a very difficult league campaign.

Lots of great performances all over the field but it is the scoreboard that matters most and great to see such a spread of different scorers in Clones. Particular praise needs to go to Stephen Mooney getting five points at ease, often at critical stages of the game. He won't get as much time on the ball next day out and others will need to step up as a result.

Although there were great performances all over the pitch, a big improvement is needed to overcome Derry. We were wide open on a number of occasions and lucky not to concede a few goals. Interesting to hear Paul Finlay comment on this too - he was amazed the Cavan players were allowed to cut through the Monaghan defence without a tackle, so that's definitely something to improve upon for next day out. Paddy Lynch also unusually missed a no. of frees that are likely to be converted by McGuigan the next day out, so we need to be cautious about giving away easy frees in the Athletic Grounds.

The only other concern is that we did not really look like getting a goal against Cavan and that killer instinct in front of goal will be important if we hope to beat Derry and progress against some of the bigger teams later in the ALL Ireland series. Mc Anesbie and Mc Carthy have proven they know where the net is when needed and it would be great to see them back firing on all cyclinders too. Bannigan, O'Hanlon and others are also well capable of raising the green flag and hopefully we get a few goals the next day out to help us get over the line against a Derry team who will be favourites and expect to beat Monaghan.

If we have a full panel and more ruthless in front of goal there won't be many that will look forward to playing this Monaghan team. Competition for places on the team and panel for the next day out should be ferocious which is not a luxury Gabriel and the management team would have had for much of the season to date."
Monaghan for first 20 minutes on Sunday were excellent. I think given the fixture the rivalry etc and fact we hadn't won a match in so long we didn't push on and put the game to bed and allowed cavan to stay in it. They then got their goals making things nervy enough going down the stretch. An inform monaghan side would won that game by double figures but this win is big for the group given league we have just had. Derry a v different proposition but its not the Derry of 23 and the rule changes dont suit that game they used to play. They will still expect to beat us but id be fairly confident we can give them a rattle with more players coming back to fitness. The one area they do have a huge advantage under the new rules on paper is midfield especially with mohan still out so mgmt will have to figure out a way to get our kick outs away as crucial in new rules.

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1976 - 21/04/2026 21:50:47    2667791

Link

Replying To Shelbourne1:  "Do we only count Cavan misses ? How many did Beggan miss. How many goals did we leave behind. Best team won....no argument !"
Not really considering cavan had twice the wide count of monaghan and missed 4 or 5 goals whereas we missed 2 goal chances but look a win is a win

Farneyblueandwhite (Monaghan) - Posts: 130 - 21/04/2026 22:50:20    2667800

Link

We are one win away from this season possibly turning on its head for us. From what was an extremely negative league campaign. The prospect of an Ulster Final for this team would be extremely positive especially with the home game advantage for provincial finalists.

While Derry will be a significantly stronger challenge than Cavan, I am personally delighted its in Armagh and not Omagh. I think the Athletic Grounds will suit our style of play. However, there are still obvious cracks within our defense and middle third especially which need work but there's definitely reasons to be hopeful that weren't so clear a few months back.

ConyersHill04 (Monaghan) - Posts: 61 - 22/04/2026 09:24:10    2667832

Link

Replying To Farneyblueandwhite:  "Not really considering cavan had twice the wide count of monaghan and missed 4 or 5 goals whereas we missed 2 goal chances but look a win is a win"
Now you see Bernard, Cavan didn't miss any goal chances at all. Beggan saved a dodgy awarded penalty, he also swatted away a poor effort by Paddy Lynch, and he turned a Darragh Lovett shot over the bar. Superior skill by the keeper in comparison to the attacker every time. In contrast Cameron Dowd hit the crossbar with the keeper beaten- that was the only missed goal attempt on the day. Woods had a chance to bury one and did badly- no prizes for that. I checked the rule book last night and there was no mention of points awarded for having more wides than the opposition.
One score in the opening 20, no score registered in the last 10. There was no late surge.

The bottom line is it was a golden opportunity for Cavan to bury a very shaky Monaghan team and they didn't show up. They might be a bit better than what was shown on Sunday, but it is clear looking on that your management team is out of its depth. Monaghan won at a canter; believing otherwise just sustains the delusion. As for Monaghan, believing that beating that Cavan effort in any way prepares them for a tilt at Derry would be a delusion also.

Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1312 - 22/04/2026 10:01:55    2667843

Link

Replying To Eddie the Exile:  "Now you see Bernard, Cavan didn't miss any goal chances at all. Beggan saved a dodgy awarded penalty, he also swatted away a poor effort by Paddy Lynch, and he turned a Darragh Lovett shot over the bar. Superior skill by the keeper in comparison to the attacker every time. In contrast Cameron Dowd hit the crossbar with the keeper beaten- that was the only missed goal attempt on the day. Woods had a chance to bury one and did badly- no prizes for that. I checked the rule book last night and there was no mention of points awarded for having more wides than the opposition.
One score in the opening 20, no score registered in the last 10. There was no late surge.

The bottom line is it was a golden opportunity for Cavan to bury a very shaky Monaghan team and they didn't show up. They might be a bit better than what was shown on Sunday, but it is clear looking on that your management team is out of its depth. Monaghan won at a canter; believing otherwise just sustains the delusion. As for Monaghan, believing that beating that Cavan effort in any way prepares them for a tilt at Derry would be a delusion also."
Great Post, Fully agree

Also most of lynches shots were outside the 2 point arc and on the 45, nothing easy about them.

monaghanmad (Monaghan) - Posts: 477 - 22/04/2026 11:02:32    2667862

Link

Replying To monaghanmad:  "Great Post, Fully agree

Also most of lynches shots were outside the 2 point arc and on the 45, nothing easy about them."
You are on some heavy duty medication if you think Cavan didn't have multiple goal chances on Sunday. Don't let Monaghans relative ease at winning disguise that....

TheGreatRambo (Monaghan) - Posts: 86 - 22/04/2026 12:42:19    2667880

Link

Best of luck to Neil, Darren, Paul and the under 20s tonight. Certainly a winnable game let's get big support to Armagh tonight and into the Ulster final. As Dick Clerkin said on the indo podcast, the all Ireland winner will come from here

farneygael3 (Monaghan) - Posts: 622 - 22/04/2026 13:14:41    2667885

Link

As I said there is serious tightening up to be done at the back kieran Duffy is a big loss back there just for his know how hopefully lavelle and wylie will be back for derry match

Farneyblueandwhite (Monaghan) - Posts: 130 - 22/04/2026 13:24:34    2667889

Link

Replying To farneygael3:  "Best of luck to Neil, Darren, Paul and the under 20s tonight. Certainly a winnable game let's get big support to Armagh tonight and into the Ulster final. As Dick Clerkin said on the indo podcast, the all Ireland winner will come from here"
Not sure why Clerkin is so sure. Donegal have some excellent places including Roarty

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2928 - 22/04/2026 14:09:36    2667899

Link

Replying To FoolsGold:  "Not sure why Clerkin is so sure. Donegal have some excellent places including Roarty"
Clerkin said the winners would come from ulster not the armagh monaghan match

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1976 - 22/04/2026 14:29:25    2667903

Link

Replying To FoolsGold:  "Not sure why Clerkin is so sure. Donegal have some excellent places including Roarty"
And the team that will go on to win the All Ireland will be Tyrone.

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1003 - 22/04/2026 14:36:51    2667906

Link

Replying To FoolsGold:  "Not sure why Clerkin is so sure. Donegal have some excellent places including Roarty"
I think he meant from Armagh, Derry or Donegal to be fair- he mentioned that Monaghan are well behind Armagh going into tonight.

Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1312 - 22/04/2026 15:20:25    2667914

Link