By Shaun Casey

AT the end of the National League, who would have thought that Monaghan would end up 70 minutes away from an All-Ireland semi-final? And that they’d last longer in the championship than both Armagh and Donegal?

You can be sure that both Gabriel Bannigan and Gavin Devlin were delighted with Monday morning’s draw. They couldn’t have handpicked it better themselves.

They avoided the so-called big hitters, and their collision course offers a huge opportunity that doesn’t come around too often. A spot in the last four of the race for Sam Maguire is not a position that the two counties have frequently found themselves in.

Monaghan were there in 2018 and 2023, although they came home filled with regret after defeats to both Tyrone and Dublin at Croke Park. Louth, however, are aiming to end a drought lasting 69 years.

This team has already achieved so much in a short space of time. Since Mickey Harte took over in 2021, they’ve risen through the ranks and Ger Brennan and Devlin have continued that brilliant ascent.

Leinster Champions last year, the Wee County have recorded incredible championship victories over Dublin and Armagh in 2026. Something that was simply unimaginable a couple of seasons ago.

When it comes to confidence and belief, Louth certainly won’t be found wanting. Those two wins have transformed Louth from championship outsiders into genuine contenders.

They are enjoying a golden period and appear to be carrying the momentum of a county that believes anything is possible. Their supporters will travel in huge numbers, sensing another opportunity to make history.

Monaghan, well, they are the old dog for the hard road. No matter what is put in front of them, they keep coming back for more and have an almost perfect balance to their team.

They have the best goalkeeper in the land and Rory Beggan is so crucial. He came off the last day in the final few minutes, perhaps more precautionary than anything, but he has been playing serious stuff.

His ability to launch attacks with pinpoint kick-passing and contribute directly on the scoreboard, particularly from two-point range, is unmatched throughout Ireland.

Mark McHugh’s Westmeath side learned the hard way that a Monaghan man cannot be fouled within 60 metres of the goal. Beggan’s big boot will deliver from way beyond the two-point arc.

The older heads like Ryan Wylie, Jack McCarron, Conor McCarthy, Ryan McAnespie have been there and done that. They’ve seen it all and know what it takes to get through the big days.

The pace they have in their team is frightening. Stephen O’Hanlon is as fast a player as there is in the country. Dessie Ward and McCarthy are almost unstoppable racing up and down the wings.

They have the go-to stoppers at the back that will fancy their chances against anyone. Ryan O’Toole will likely shadow Louth dangerman Sam Mulroy, with Dylan Byrne picking up Ciaran Downey and Wylie going after Ryan Burns.

O’Hanlon has been utilised as a man-marker of late and will probably find himself in that position again. The Carrickmacross clubman will be handed the duty of negating Craig Lennon’s influence on the game.

If Monaghan can negate Mulroy and Lennon, Louth’s two best players, then they’ll go a long way to winning this match. But don’t be fooled, Louth have plenty of good players outside of those two.

Dara McDonnell has made the centre half back position his own this season and likes to bomb forward, accounting for 1-3 in their famous one-point win over the Orchard County.

James Maguire at midfield is a handful and will enjoy the aerial battle with Mícheál McCarville while Paul Matthews and Conor Grimes are also huge men. Tommy Durnin, who used to play his club football with Inniskeen, is a brilliant option off the bench.

In defence, they’ll expect Donal Mc Kenny to deal with the
threat that Jack McCarron possesses, although the Scotstown sharpshooter has been in sensational form.

How big a factor will the one-week break be? While Monaghan were battling it out with Westmeath for a spot in the final eight, Louth were at home with their feet up, comfortable in the knowledge that they’d already secured their place.

There’s also the Croke Park factor and Devlin spoke about how much his lads love playing there after their victory over the Dubs, so muscle memory alone will aid their cause.

Monaghan have accumulated considerable experience on the famous turf themselves over a longer period so settling quickly, and adapting to the wide-open spaces will be crucial in the opening quarter.

It’s going to come down to who can hold their nerve, who can deal with the pressure of the big occasion and with the experience going in favour of Monaghan, they may just do enough to keep their season alive.