NFL DIVISION TWO FINAL
Monaghan v Roscommon
Saturday, Croke Park, 7.15pm

By Michael McMullan

THERE is little surprise Monaghan and Roscommon are locking horns on Saturday. Both were relegated from the top flight last year. And both have quality.

When the Monaghan bus pulled out of the Hyde after their defeat to the Rossies earlier in the season, this would’ve been the focus.

The Division Two final is a pressure-free day. The championship is around the corner. Division One football is secure. The focus of winning every week is no longer in the mind. Promotion demands consistency.

Now it’s a run in Croke Park with the chance to lift a piece of silverware with the hope of a return when All-Ireland quarter-final weekend rolls around.

For Monaghan, it’s been a year of change. Gabriel Bannigan stepped into the manager post. In came Andy Moran as coach.

Conor McManus called time on a glittering career in the Farney jersey. Their GOAT. There is still the experience in the form of Darren Hughes, Kieran Duffy and Rory Beggan in the dressing room.

There is an excitement in the county. You only have to hear Fergal Monaghan on commentary with Northern Sound. Fanatical isn’t the word.

Think Monaghan 2025. It’s a story of pace and two-pointers. They’ve been shooting the lights out. There is plenty of talent but it comes with the grit you associate with Monaghan teams.

They’ve been the beacon for sparsely populated counties striving to become great.

The fact Beggan is their top scorer speaks of how they’ve adapted to the new rule enhancements. Under the old rules, they topped the charts in scores from advanced marks.

This year, they’ve used the 40-metre arc as their friend. They are level on 27 with Galway on the number of two-pointers. Only Westmeath, with 30, are higher when you take a glance over the top two divisions.

Anyone who has watched both Roscommon and Monaghan can see the similarities. A willingness to kick the ball and plenty of scoring options.

There is a central spine to everything Monaghan have been doing. Beggan in goals. Killian Lavelle, until his injury, has anchored their defence.

Dylan Byrne has translated his Magheracloone form to become an everpresent in his first season. Ryan Wylie and Ryan O’Toole are also cemented in.

Micheál McCarville has established himself into the midfield zone. Gavin McPhillips and returning duo Gary Mohan and Joel Wilson have been playing more recently.

Kevin Loughran and Kieran Duffy are also back in and, following Lavelle’s injury, they’ll need to fit in this weekend should they get the nod.

Daire Cregg. Ben O’Carroll. The Murtaghs. Cian McKeown. Conor Cox. Enda Smith. They all need watching.

Donie Smith and defender Brian Stack face a battle to be back for the championship. Saturday comes too soon.

There will be a set of eyes in the Roscommon who knows exactly what’s coming. Coach Mark Doran, manager of Sleacht Néill, steered Ballybay to their last championship. He’ll have a better handle on the Farney scene than most.

Jack McCarron is well able to kick two-pointers, so he’ll need watched around the edge of the arc.

Micheál Bannigan, Ryan McAnespie, Stephen Mooney and Stephen O’Hanlon have the pace to trouble defences.

David Garland has promised but has now broken in, having played every match to date. Sean Jones and Bobby McCaul will also be options. Gary Mohan could well be an ingredient in the inside line.

The Roscommon camp will also be aware of Beggan. Who isn’t? He has kicked 14 two-pointers, all but one coming from frees. Roscommon can’t afford to foul in that area. A couple of steps, ping and over they go.

Saturday is a shot at silverware. More importantly, it’s a chance for both teams to play the FRC’s new version of football in the very arena it was designed for.

Monaghan came out on the wrong side earlier in the year. It could all change this time. Entertainment should be the winner. The Farney men might just edge it.

LAST TIME

2025 NFL Roscommon 0-25 Monaghan 2-14
A SENSATIONAL kicking display saw Roscommon prevail on home soil earlier in the campaign.

It was a victory with a cost after Donie Smith and Brian Stack picked up injuries that ended their campaigns.

The Rossies were four points behind at half-time, 2-6 to 0-8, thanks to goals from Micheál Bannigan and David Garland.

Roscommon stormed back before Monaghan got a grip of the game again but it was Conor Cox kicking a two-pointer with his first touch that earned the home side their win.

Roscommon: C Carroll; P Frost, J McManus, N Higgins; R Daly 0-1, B Stack, D Ruane; S Cunnane, K Doyle; C McKeon, U Harney, C Hand 0-3; D Murtagh 0-12 (2 tp, 2tpf, 2f), D Smith 0-2, C Murtagh 0-3
Subs: R Fallon for Stack, E Nolan for Harney, S Lambe 0-1 for Daly, B O’Carroll for Smith, C Cox 0-3 (1tp) for McKeon

Monaghan: R Beggan 0-1; D Byrne, K Lavelle, R O’Toole 0-1; R Wylie, C Lennon, C McCarthy 0-2; G McPhillips, M McCarville 0-2tp; F Hanratty, M Bannigan 1-4 (2f), C McNulty 0-1; D Garland 1-1, S Mooney 0-1, L Kelly 0-1
Subs: J McCarron for Lennon, K Loughran for Hanratty, B McCaul for Mooney, D Hughes for McPhillips, S Jones for Garland

LAST FIVE MEETINGS
2025 NFL Roscommon 0-25 Monaghan 2-14
2024 NFL Roscommon 1-16 Monaghan 0-7
2023 NFL Monaghan 0-14 Roscommon 0-11
2019 NFL Roscommon 1-12 Monaghan 0-13
2017 NFL Monaghan 2-17 Roscommon 1-13

ROAD TO CROKE PARK

Monaghan
Cavan 0-20 Monaghan 2-22
Monaghan 2-29 Westmeath 2-21
Roscommon 0-25 Monaghan 2-14
Monaghan 3-16 Cork 1-15
Louth 1-21 Monaghan 1-27
Meath 1-20 Monaghan 1-29
Monaghan 2-17 Down 0-24

Roscommon
Roscommon 3-21 Down 1-20
Louth 1-15 Roscommon 1-17
Roscommon 0-25 Monaghan 2-14
Meath 2-18 Roscommon 0-17
Cork 0-13 Roscommon 2-21
Roscommon 0-20 Cavan 0-22
Westmeath 1-19 Roscommon 2-16

TOP SCORERS

Monaghan
Rory Beggan 0-31 (13 tpf, 1 tp, 1f, 1 45)
Micheál Bannigan 2-19 (5f, 2m, 1 tp)
Conor McCarthy 2-18 (1-0 pen, 1 tp)

Roscommon
Diarmuid Murtagh 1-35 (5 tpf, 8f, 3 tp)
Ciaráin Murtagh 2-22 (4f, 2 tp)
Enda Smith 2-9 (1-0 pen)