Bannigan: Bench press and experience got Monaghan over the line

THE impact off the bench along with the on field experience of some of their big name players were crucial in Monaghan seeing off Down in a titanic tussle and booking their place in the last eight of the All-Ireland series say Farney boss Garbiel Bannigan.

Monaghan traded by four-points midway through the second period but produced the goods in the final quarter to see off their Ulster foes by four-points in the end, with a Jack McCarron goal proving vital in turning the tide.

McCarron made a tremendous impact off the bench and has certainly bought into that super sub role this season. Bannigan also singled out Truagh Gaels clubman Louis Kelly as one who got the eye after entering the fray.

“I would say it was a combination of a couple of things. Our bench word well, our changes worked well,” the Monaghan boss, in his first year in the bainisteoir bib, said following their 2-27 to 1-26 triumph.

“I though Louis Kelly coming on, I think that was his championship debut, he came on and did a great job for us. He had a big impact for us so that wasn’t big game experience, that was just a new lad coming in and doing a great job.”

On the older hands that dragged Monaghan across the line, Bannigan was full of praise for some of their household names. Monaghan had 12 different scorers on the day, with goalkeeper Rory Beggan top scoring with 0-6.

“Some of the other boys, Jack obviously had a big impact in the second half. Conor McCarthy, Stephen O’Hanlon, Michael Bannigan, Dessie Ward, the interplay of those players coming down the stretch was just brilliant.

“Ryan Wylie had a serious game all through, his leadership was phenomenal. Then Darren Hughes came in for the last ten or twelve minutes and added a bit of experience into that middle third.”