There’s always been hoodoos of sorts hanging over Monaghan folk. A sense that it wouldn’t quite happen for them. Yet they’d always believe. A stubbornly admirable sort of righteous belief that always allowed the pain to resonate a little bit longer. Something that was especially evident during Seamus McEnaney’s time over the county. The people of Monaghan believed before the 2007 and 2010 Ulster finals and those defeats stung.
They also believed in the 65th minute of the 2007 All-Ireland quarter-final as they lead the reigning champions Kerry by two points. They believed once more the following year before Kerry came good once again. That one hurt even more. The complexion of that lost five years of football in Monaghan could have been drastically different but for those four defeats to the ‘teams’ of that decade.
Banty’s Monaghan teams would always give their support a chance to let a ‘lep and a roar. A humdinger of a shoulder from Rory Woods before knocking over a cracker. Paul Finlay bombing a free over with his left from the right touchline. Tommy Freeman skinning an All-Star corner-back and rifling in a goal. It was all puff and smoke though, the narrative never caught fire.
Malachy O’Rourke has been banishing the hoodoo’s and the dispositions left-right-and-centre since he arrived. Inheriting a squad of nearly-men for 2013 he came armed with a plan, a definitive style and an appropriately stubborn belief in the squad he had in front of him. In that time he’s brought them from Division 3 to Division 1 and made them, at the very least, the fifth best side in the country.
Two years on, with two Ulster titles behind them, the plan is coming to fruition. Make no mistake about it, the fifteen Monaghan men who take to the field on Sunday are O’Rourke’s team.
From the 2013 quarter-final defeat, four changes has been made, mostly progressive. Into the side come Owen Duffy, Fintan Kelly, Karl O’Connell and Ryan Wylie, four younger, mobile players all of whom suit O’Rourke’s style of play down to the ground.
Of the four players they’ve replaced, Paul Finlay and Stephen Gollogly will come in when required to provide experience and a little bit of nous, Drew Wylie is a loss through injury and Pauric Donaghy was an industrious albeit limited starter back then.
O’Rourke would break one of the hoodoo’s in 2013 - the big one. Monaghan did something remarkable, defeating Donegal, the All-Ireland champions to win their first Ulster since 1988. The thing is, and maybe it’s a sign, few Monaghan people believed that was possible that sunny day in Clones.
2013 would bring more woe than joy after that. Tyrone would pip them in a quarter-final, which would leave the county 25 years since they beat Tyrone and the same time since their last appearance in an All-Ireland semi-final.
Monaghan's Conor McManus is dragged down by Sean Cavanagh of Tyrone. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
2014 told another tale - Monaghan avenged their August bank holiday defeat in the Ulster quarter-final. Beating Tyrone, now for the first time in 26 years. Monaghan would go on to flop, just a little, in the Ulster final against Donegal and then up against the Dublin machine, but it was another provincial final appearance, another Croke Park quarter-final, definite progression.
To flop against Dublin is harsh actually, perhaps, just as in 2013 they weren’t quite ready yet.
They are ready now though, up against against a Tyrone side, who despite gradually improving throughout the qualifiers, should not be at their level.
When the draw was made for the 2015 Championship last Winter, Monaghan could eye a fairly straightforward route towards an Ulster final. They’d six months to perfect a gameplan to defeat Donegal. One they executed to perfection for 35 minutes, and that was enough. They nullified Mark McHugh, they were patient, commanded the possession, maximised the talents of Conor McManus in a rather unorthodox fashion, occupied the Donegal defence with dummy full-forwards. They varied their attack with runners from deep on either wing.
O’Rourke is smart, savvy and innovative - the next in-line when we talk 21st century managers - his squad has a lovely balance of leaders, experience, exuberance and steel and his players stride that fine line of professionalism and arrogance so well, such an evident necessity amongst the cream of the crop pushing for Sam.
Monaghan are where they want to be against who they want to play, and are on the verge of exorcising two quarter-century demons.
Do that and we’ll talk Kerry, how we can’t underestimate how weak Kildare were. After that, picture Mayo beating Dublin on the other side. We’d be left with a Mayo Monaghan All-Ireland Final, something would have to give.
Dessie Mone, Colin Walshe, Ryan Wylie, take your pick of who takes Conor McAliskey and Darren McCurry - neither of those boys will get the space they thrived in last week. You can be sure too that Vinny Corey will be glued to Sean Cavanagh’s hip the way he was with Michael Murphy last month.
Up front for Monaghan, the use of McManus and Kieran Hughes will be interesting. It’ll hardly be the same set-up we saw in the Ulster final, so expect more of a presence inside the Tyrone ‘21.
Darren Hughes and Matthew Donnelly both have key roles to play in midfield too, both men will play key roles in dictating the scoreboard. I'm calling a Monaghan win by 5.
Monaghan XV:
Rory Beggan
Colin Walshe - Vinny Corey - Ryan Wylie
Dessie Mone - Neil McAdam - Karl O’Connell
Owen Lennon - Fintan Kelly
Kieran Duffy - Darren Hughes - Owen Duffy
Dermot Malone - Kieran Hughes - Conor McManus
Tyrone XV:
Niall Morgan
Aidan McCrory - Ronan McNamee - Cathal McCarron
Ronan McNabb - Joe McMahon - Peter Harte
Colm Cavanagh - Matthew Donnelly
Tiernan McCann - Mark Bradley - Conor Meyler
Darren McCurry - Sean Cavanagh - Conor McAliskey
On Saturday afternoon, Off The Ball will have live commentary of the All Ireland quarter final between Monaghan and Tyrone with Dave McIntyre joined by Colm Parkinson and Aaron Kernan on commentary. Throw in is at 4pm.
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