By Shaun Casey

MONAGHAN ladies have had a recent management change but that hasn’t altered their focus ahead of the National League says Maeve Monaghan. The Farney ladies are on the road for the opening round as they take on Roscommon this weekend.

Darren Greenan guided Monaghan to the Ulster Intermediate final last season, where they suffered a one-point defeat to Down, and had started pre-season this year, but he has been replaced by Emyvale’s Darren Swift on an interim basis.

It’s a difficult looking Division Two campaign that Monaghan enter into, where they’ll face challenges from senior sides like Cork, Galway and Donegal, but overcoming the Rossies is the first objective.

“Our main focus is on Roscommon, and we’ll just go in hell for leather in training now, putting in all the effort we can. We’re making the most of the time that we have with the new management before we get going,” said Monaghan.

“We’d be very familiar with Roscommon and the likes of Aisling Hanly, we’ve been thinking about her. She’s always been a very good player, and we’ve had a few girls play against her in college football against DCU.

“She has a sharp left foot, so we’ve done our homework I suppose. There’s only a couple of us that were in the panel the last time we played Roscommon so it’s up to us to talk about the names that we remember and go through their strengths and weaknesses.

“It’s the same probably for them too but it’s difficult now when the panel changes; you’re going by what names you do know from previous years.”

Last year’s captain Monaghan won’t feature however, and she’s sidelined for the foreseeable future having suffered the dreaded ACL injury, while Rosemary Courtney is also back in the mix but likewise will miss the opening round of the NFL.

“I’m out at the minute with my ACL from last year, I’m sort of coming into the game as a Maor Uisce and helping the girls out from the sideline. I’ll be hoping to get back before the end of the season,” Monaghan explained.

“I did it at the last game against Down last year in the All-Ireland quarter-finals so it’s been a rocky road. Everyone else had their club seasons but I missed the club season last year and I suppose I’ll miss the bulk of the county season this year as well.

“So, it’s about what I can bring now and what I’m able to bring to the table. It’s a lot different now but it’s just about finding that role and finding what my new role is within the squad and my performance is different now.

“I can’t perform on the field, but I can perform off the field and be there for the girls when they need that. Whatever they need, I can be there I suppose.”