Monaghan V Derry - Qualifiers Round 2 July 11th

mossbags wrote:High Jinx RMD thats all, Club football at its best!

I didn't hear Off the ball last night. I'd say Murph got a bit of grief?

I'd say he did alright.Dont worry he'll be the first giving it back after Sundays Leinster final

Firstly, if PB doesn't start which I assume he won't Monaghan's game plan will be in slight disarray as it has previously been based around PB with him being double marker or having a sweeper employed. If he doesn't start there are more than one danger man, Kielt Eoin Bradley, O Boyle, Seamus Bradley etc or whoever it is on the starting 6. In Midfield, it is rumoured that Pasty Bradley will be fit, unlike the other Derry Midfielder's such as Diver and Doc who are largely defending Midfielders Patsy Bradley is an attacking midfielder similar to Enda Muldoon, this will give Derry an attacking advantage. In the Derry half back line we will most likely have the Mc Goldrick Brother and AN Other, they will be marking Mc Manus and Finlay who due to the absence of Tommy Freeman will be the main attackers, however they will have to adopt a more defensive attitude as the Mc Goldricks tend to create a lot of Derry attacks especially Barry. In the Full backs we have Lockhart- one of the best man markers in the country kept one of the country's best footballers Stephen O Neill to 1 point I would say he would be able to keep Woods scoreless from play. Mc Cloy will probably be full back, he won virtually every 50/50 ball between himself and Ronaghan the last day, I cant see too much changed Kevin will be even more motivated by the fact (if he starts) that he wants to prove DC wrong for dropping him against Tyrone. Then Geard O Kane, has been our best player this year without a doubt, usually attacks from corner back setting up scores and occassionally gets his name on the score sheet. Finally the introduction of PB who will be eager to try and get himself back to his best.

Derry by 4.
I'm not just saying I think we will win because Derry and Monaghan have a history, but I am analysing the facts and on paper thats how I think it will end up.

to be honest thisw game is gonna be distroyed by an idiot of a ref!!! mark my words the ref onb duty is an iniot and thinks the game is about him not the players, he will send at least one off just to show he is boss and all that and will ruin the game no matter what the two teams involved do......n god help ye!!!!

Can't see how Bradley not starting would be in any way bad for us Niamh! If anything it would help as it would free up Damien Freeman to attack more which would give us a good bit extra going forward. I wouldn't be overly worried about any of the rest of them to the same extent as PB, in that they'd have their marker and that's it, we coped rightly with Eoin and the rest the last day.

And if the McGoldricks want to attack all day that's great, if Finlay and McManus can carry on their form from the last day they'll have a field day if given any room! I'd imagine the McGoldricks won't be attacking as much as the last day as our two boys were much poorer then.

I don't know myself what way our full-forward line will line out, but I reckon there could be a surprise or two there. Banty is not afraid to throw a curve-ball that amazes everyone, and more often than not it works out well. Whether any such surprise would work this weekend is another story however, and it could line out as expected anyway.

rich dublin wrote:to be honest thisw game is gonna be distroyed by an idiot of a ref!!! mark my words the ref onb duty is an iniot and thinks the game is about him not the players, he will send at least one off just to show he is boss and all that and will ruin the game no matter what the two teams involved do......n god help ye!!!!

Hopefully the wee fecker lets it flow for a while anyway, he wasn't adverse to throwing a few boxes in his day himself...

mid-mon man wrote:

rich dublin wrote:to be honest thisw game is gonna be distroyed by an idiot of a ref!!! mark my words the ref onb duty is an iniot and thinks the game is about him not the players, he will send at least one off just to show he is boss and all that and will ruin the game no matter what the two teams involved do......n god help ye!!!!

Hopefully the wee fecker lets it flow for a while anyway, he wasn't adverse to throwing a few boxes in his day himself...

i know but he is **** i hate the man and his brother i really dont know why he is a ref he should be banned he has ruined more games because he has such an ego!!!

Ah I know what you mean rich, being serious he'd be my least favourite ref about. I remember a Monaghan game a few years ago which he reffed and was brutal, and ever since I just cringe when I see him reffing, even worse when it's Monaghan involved! I suppose I'm just a bit indifferent to his appointment this time as it's always going to be a tough game to officiate for any ref$, and Pat Mc is the only man who I'd trust to ref such a game right, and obviously he couldn't be picked! Who knows but the wee man might actually have a good game! Most likely won't though and I fear you might be right about him going out to make a big scene early on and send off one or two for little.

Monaghan team unchanged.

Kevin McGuckin suspension upheld.

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[quote="mid-mon man"]Kevin McGuckin suspension upheld.

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unbelieveable - you get a letter of support from the guy your alleged to have hit to say nothing happened and yet your band is upheld. If you didnt laugh you'd cry

Aye, yet another example of the shambles of a system it is.

mid-mon man wrote:Aye, yet another example of the shambles of a system it is.

i'd say it was upheld mainly to pacify Monaghan - can you imagine the uproar in Monaghan (and rightly so) if his ban had been lifted............

Ah lads fellas saying he never touched me never washes in those type of things. But I agree if they made McGuckin a free man without making Freeman a free man there would've been a free for all ..........

Well yeah Boc, I'd say that might have been a factor, that would have been the last straw altogether and would have made for an even worse mood going into tomorrow's game, not what the game needs!

As one of the biggest critics of these two let me say well done on a fine game today! Some great scores, blocks, tackling and effort. First half was as good a half of football as seen this year anywhere. If Derry concentrate on the football there are a good side. I think they have learned a lot over the last week or so.

Commiserations MMM - too much asked of Monaghan but great to see an open attacking game by two honest groups of players. More please!!

Yeah JC we just didn't have enough in the tank, as Banty would say, to overcome a hungry Derry side, especially after a tiring match last week. I didn't think this would be as big a factor but you could see some very tired legs out there towards the end.

Derry very good value for the win today, got the early lead and didn't look back, held us at arms length when we came back at them and then closed out the win. Obviously I'm very disappointed all the same, losing having scored 20 points is a strange feeling, but we were beaten by the better team on the day so no complaints here. Of course, we got off to a terrible start and all goals were badly conceded, the 1st in particular. McBennett was very rash in coming out and it just fell to Bradley's foot. The second, although it was well worked, also bad from a defensive point of view with McArdle turned very easy by the other Bradley(he should have been taken off much earlier than he was). Encouraging to see the spirited comeback but we didn't have enough in us to win today. Some contrast when you look at the two teams' marquee forwards; Derry's back to his best scoring a bucketload, and ours in the stand watching on. But that's the way it is and no point in complaining now, Derry good for the win as I say. Also it was great to see young Hanratty stepping up in Tommy's absence, 4 great points from play. But again things went against us and he picked up an unfortunate hamstring injury when we were chasing the game. Banty on his way out now it would seem, he's done so much for Monaghan football over the last few years and we're very grateful to have had such a passionate manager in charge who gave it everything in his time.

P.S. I thought you weren't going to watch this game JC?

great game of football alright Jayo - but it does beg the question would you rather win ugly like last week and get criticised for it or get a pat on the back for being a gallant loser in a great game.

I'd say banty and the Monaghan boys would have settled for the same result as last week in the same circumstances rather than what happened this afternoon.

There is no pleasing analysts either - one of the talking points at half time was the amount of space both sets of forwards were getting - make up your f**king minds lads you either want tight defensive football or you want wide open spaces for good footballers to make hay.

And the last point of my rant is - today also shows the downside to the qualifiers - the rest period Monaghan had in between two tough games one of which went to extra time contributed to their downfall in some way. They looked a tired team, they did outscore Derry by 1 but their failure to raise the green flag was another major factor.

Hard luck Monaghan and if Banty does walk away he can do it with his head held high though i'd say he will remember his tenure with Monaghan as one of underachievement such are the targets he'd have set himself at the outset, they got very little rub of the green in his years as Manager, had they have got any they could easily have had an Ulster title and an All Ireland Final appearance to reflect on.

As for Derry well i fear its another false dawn - everyone is talking them up again but Derry have yet to put good back to back performances together, Monaghan scored 20 points the majority of which game from play Lockhart was given a roasting by Hanratty - Cassidy has plenty to work on for the next game.

Wasn't MMM - but very glad I did!!

Awful game, Junior B stuff particularly Monaghan. Clerkin should have walked, I don't expect Monaghan fans to agree but I'm sure Derry ones will. Well done Derry, great performance, goodbye, slan, au revoir, asta la vista, good luck, safe journey, take care, mind yourselves, talk to ya next year to Monghan.

Well done Bright-Oak, I'm particularly happiest for you.

Feck off Loyal.

Fair play Monaghan contributed to a good game. I reckon Banty wil step down now MMM - I feel Monaghan have the physicality now and should work on the football. Seems to me they have concentrated too much on getting fit and tough - to the detriment of their footballing skills.

Yeah that's a very valid point, too much focus on one area and not enough on another. I know we have a team who can play some great football and I've seen it many times, but we didn't get the chance to show it in the first two games, I don't think they were ever going to be free flowing matches. But it's also true that negative tactics were used alot of the time(not dirty but just men behind the ball etc.), and I'd be lying if I didn't say I'd like to see the team play in a more positive way at times. But then again, we are very limited at the end of the day and I don't think we've done too bad considering what we have to work with.

It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that Banty won't be there next year in my opinion. The goal for this year was always an Ulster title, even with the tough draw, and anything less wouldn't be enough. He's took us very far from where we were when he took over, and we are very grateful for that. The passion that man has for Monaghan football is extraordinary, he put his whole life into the county team for 5 years and unfortunately he has little to show for it. I don't think he necessarily will want to go, but will realise he's taken this team as far as he can and it's time for someone else to bring some freshness and a new voice into the dressing room. Question is who will replace him, not sure what there is within the county.

There is no doubt that Banty has taken Monaghan to a higher level - nor his committment, passion - but the team needs new faces, ideas. Dunno who is there - is Nudie or any of those guys coaching? Aren't there a few with clubs in Cavan - remembering quiz here!

Mention of Nudie brings to mind Monaghan teams of old - always clever elusive forwards. Thought Hanratty had a great first half and has potential but McManus failed to show today. Whoever comes in should build on the football in the team.

I think as well that some of the much vaunted defenders were quite poor today.

Yeah I was very disappointed with the defending today. As I say you don't expect to score 20 pts and lose, but with the way we defended you can't expect to win. McArdle has probably been our most consistant back all year but he had an absolute shocker on Eoin Bradley. He was having trouble early on but he should have been took off straight after the 2nd goal, the way he was turned so easy was criminal. Dessie looked like he was getting on top of Paddy early on, winning a couple of 50/50s, but the goal that was handed to him obviously perked up Bradley and he just got better and better as the game wore on. No matter who was put on him he wrecked havoc. Also, didn't understand why JP Mone was left on the bench until the last few minutes, an obvious move would have been to bring him on to full back and move Vinny up to full-forward where we had real trouble winning ball in the second half. A rare plus in defence for me was young Hughes. Had a stormer against Armagh last week and was the pick of the backs today I thought, even if that wasn't hard.

Glad to see Hanratty step up alright, he has that potential and it's very encouraging to see him really take the game on by himself in Tommy's absence. A great shame though that he got injured while we still had some time to fight back. He needs to alot more consistant though. McManus was quiet alright, and missed a handy free too, but he is a real star for the future. He's probably been the best forward in the club championship since he was 18/19, but it's taken a while for him to be as influential on the inter-county front. Finlay was also a bit disappointing today I thought, you need the likes of these to be coming to the fore but they didn't play to their potential. We may not have the strength in depth of most other counties but there is potential to be built on there, it's imperative we get the right man in to bring out the best in them.