In terms of the decade 2013-2015 Monaghan played 10 matches in Ulster won 8 drew one lost one. Won two divisional league titles and lost a narrow league semi final to Dublin in 15. There is no doubt during that period the monaghan team players etc in terms of consistency of performance and winning games were at their peak under Malachy and it will be a long time before we see a return to those levels. They could handle the favourites tag and had a confidence about them in ulster. Massively disappointing they just couldn't do it in croke Park in that period save kildare match in 14 which was great game. More than plateaued in 16 almost relegated and beaten by Longford 2017 decent league but beaten by down in ulster wouldn't happened in 13-15. Think 2018 and great run in all ireland 8s was now looking back an Indian summer for a lot of players and a few last master classes from malachy as manager through again a slip up in a winnable ulster semi final. They have shown nothing since bar league displays in games where opposition weren't at same level of fitness raised expectations but championship been reality check cavan twice armagh in 2019. Sincerely hope am wrong but too many miles on the clock of a lot of our best players and a lot of talented through unproven younger players. Its a big rebuild job where supporters are going to need to be a little patient over next few years while it is done.
Replying To seanie08: "In terms of the decade 2013-2015 Monaghan played 10 matches in Ulster won 8 drew one lost one. Won two divisional league titles and lost a narrow league semi final to Dublin in 15. There is no doubt during that period the monaghan team players etc in terms of consistency of performance and winning games were at their peak under Malachy and it will be a long time before we see a return to those levels. They could handle the favourites tag and had a confidence about them in ulster. Massively disappointing they just couldn't do it in croke Park in that period save kildare match in 14 which was great game. More than plateaued in 16 almost relegated and beaten by Longford 2017 decent league but beaten by down in ulster wouldn't happened in 13-15. Think 2018 and great run in all ireland 8s was now looking back an Indian summer for a lot of players and a few last master classes from malachy as manager through again a slip up in a winnable ulster semi final. They have shown nothing since bar league displays in games where opposition weren't at same level of fitness raised expectations but championship been reality check cavan twice armagh in 2019. Sincerely hope am wrong but too many miles on the clock of a lot of our best players and a lot of talented through unproven younger players. Its a big rebuild job where supporters are going to need to be a little patient over next few years while it is done."
I agree a big rebuild is on the cards. The young players are there but they need a number of things,
Time - we will be in transition for the next 4-5 years
Consistency - The right management and back room team that can improve and facilitate their growth, not the current mercenaries we have currently.
Backing - From Co Board to Fans, we may need to go down in stature to build a team, young players need exposure, this is easier accommodated when every game Isn't a must win!
Structure - Some clubs simply can't provide the structure these young players need, from top quality coaching to S&C, this lads need to be set up for success by the Co Board. A well thought out strategic plan for 5 years under the right coaching team.
Long story short, we need Change after this current campaign.
2013 minor ulster final 2013 senior ulster final (kieran hughes and dessie mone on fire) 2014 championship game V kildare - jacks point and chrissys goal (lashing rain) 2015 ulster champ 2017 league game vrs dublin (jacks motm performace) 2018 league vrs dublin (fintys point) 2018 super 8 run - galway being the cherry on top 2018 knocking tyrone out of ulster (manzys point) 2019 league vrs dublin (o'hanlons goal) and special mention to all the all stars; mansy, walsh, beggan, o'connell
it was a great decade for us - i probably focused too much on the league success against dublin but they are the greatest team of all time. special mention to division 3 & 2 success and also the 2014 ulster win over tyrone (always love beating them)"
Nobody takes the league as seriously as the championship. We bottle it when favourites and have a great mentality when underdogs. Cannot see us winning sam ant time soon. 2040!
Replying To Bernardo: "Nobody takes the league as seriously as the championship. We bottle it when favourites and have a great mentality when underdogs. Cannot see us winning sam ant time soon. 2040!"
Great memories of hot summer wins in clones omagh and especially breffni park packed in like sardines unlike the current crap of glorified challenges dressed up as an ulster championship
Replying To prideof85: "Great memories of hot summer wins in clones omagh and especially breffni park packed in like sardines unlike the current crap of glorified challenges dressed up as an ulster championship"
Good point. No way monaghan would have played as negatively against cavan last year in front of a packed Clones.
Even with the influence of the crowd driving them on, the Monaghan players would have had to disregard their managers instructions which was to start playing negative keep ball in the second half. Perhaps they should have. Who ever heard of running the clock down for the complete second half, jaysus when I think of it...
Replying To mhunicean_abu: "Even with the influence of the crowd driving them on, the Monaghan players would have had to disregard their managers instructions which was to start playing negative keep ball in the second half. Perhaps they should have. Who ever heard of running the clock down for the complete second half, jaysus when I think of it..."
Management failed to learn the lesson from the Dublin game earlier in the year. Came off crying that night too. Lack of football intelligence, no capacity for analysis, all combined with blow-hard arrogance, will do that to ya. 2021 will play out just the same.
Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 745 - 08/05/2021 12:07:59
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Malachys monaghan teams were prone to the old keep ball a bit too early also to play down the clock but it was brought to a ridiculous level against cavan for whole second half something I'd never seen before in a championship game and hope to never see again. If that's the game plan for 2021 we may forget it.