Carrickmacross in “bonus territory” says Conlon

SATURDAY’S Ulster quarter-final battle with Naomh Columba of Donegal is “bonus territory” for Monaghan champions Carrickmacross, says attacker Cian Conlon.

Andy Callan’s side picked up an eight-point victory in the county final over Killanny to restore their place in senior football next season, chalking off their main ambition for the 2025 season.

Carrickmacross also featured in the Division Two league final last Friday evening, with their eyes firmly set on completing the league and championship double. They ultimately came up short, losing out to Castleblayney on a scoreline of 0-19 to 1-9.

The Carrick club previously won intermediate championship titles in 2011 and 2017 but didn’t experience much Ulster success in those years. Conlon and co will be looking to the older heads in the panel to lead the way into the competition.

On the provincial campaign, Conlon said, “A couple of the older boys would have played in Ulster before but we’ve had quite a transition. We have a lot of younger players coming up and this is going to be my first time playing in Ulster.

“We’re in bonus territory at the minute. We’ll be looking to the more experienced lads in the dressing room, and they’ll hopefully drag us over the line. Hopefully we can give a good account of ourselves and push on now this weekend.”

Coming through the Monaghan championship was the main target, having lost their spot in senior three years ago, but Carrickmacross are looking forward to a fresh challenge.

“It’s been a long three years in intermediate so it’s just great to get over the line. We have another tough test to start with in Ulster against Naomh Columba, the Donegal champions,” Conlon added.

“We know very little about them, but all our focus was on the league final last Friday night really, so now it’s all about the Ulster campaign. It’s great to be here to be honest.

“We’ve had a tough couple of years after getting relegated in 2022 and then losing the championship in ’23. Last year we lost the league final, so we’ve been through the mill a wee bit.

“Winning Monaghan this year was a big monkey off our backs, it’s relief more than anything because we’ve worked so hard over the past couple of years and it’s great to be back up to senior.”

With Carrickmacross native Andy Callan taking over this year, he has really assisted their rise, as Conlon explains.

“Andy has been a credit all year and it’s the same with Conor Gilmore and all the backroom team.

“The work those boys put in behind the scenes is just unbelievable. After the last couple of years there was only one man to come back, and he has got us to where we are.

“I don’t think he took much convincing; he wanted to come back himself. He probably saw things he didn’t really like the last couple of years and felt he could get this group of boys over the line and he’s done that.”