By Shaun Casey

YOU are only as good as your last game is the old adage and if that is to be believed, then Monaghan hold all the aces this Sunday when they encounter Mayo at Clones.

It’s just over three months since their last meeting and everything looked so different back then. The sides had gone to battle in round four of the National League and the Westerners left Clones having hammered their hosts by19 points.

The new kid on the block, Kobe McDonald, made his Mayo debut and marked it by smashing home a superb second half goal. It was the fourth of seven league defeats Monaghan would suffer, while Mayo picked up a third win from four outings.

Now, at the end of May, what’s the feeling in both camps? Mayo continue to be the great unknown. Brilliant footballers, and on their day capable of doing magnificent things, but when they’re off form, they’re poor.

Roscommon were rampant against Andy Moran’s men in the Connacht semi-final and dumped them out of the provincial competition with the minimum of fuss.

Moran admitted afterwards that Roscommon were the hungrier team on the day. That will be extremely worrying for the green and red followers.

There are huge question marks hanging over this Mayo team at the minute.

When it comes to hunger, desire, drive and fight, Monaghan are the one team that certainly won’t be found wanting. If anything, come the championship, the momentum is all with the Farney County ahead of this weekend.

Victories over Cavan and Derry have changed the mood entirely for Monaghan. Even in defeat in the Ulster final, they came away from that game with immense credit.

They dragged themselves back from the death against Armagh, coming from seven points down to tie the game and earn another shot at the Anglo Celt via extra time.

In the additional 20 minutes, Armagh were just too good and Monaghan couldn’t keep the pace, but to even get to that stage was impressive.

It was the same against Derry in the semi-final. The game was done and dusted. Pack up and go home. But that’s not the Monaghan way. They’ll hang in there to the very end.

They seem to have most of their players back fit again as well. Louis Kelly did miss out on the Ulster final with an Achilles injury while Dessie Ward was removed at half time the last day out. They’ll hope he’s ready for action this weekend again.

Gary Mohan saw game time, Killian Lavelle and Conor McCarthy have both started their last two championship contests. Ryan McAnespie and Jack McCarron are serious weapons off the bench.

McCarthy and Stephen O’Hanlon were outstanding for Gabriel Bannigan’s men against the Orchard County and epitomise that never say die attitude.

Dylan Bryne put the shackles on Oisin Conaty in the second half of the Ulster final, which seemed an impossible task at that stage as Conaty had kicked 0-5 in the opening period.

The Magheracloone man could be detailed the challenge of shutting out McDonald, who looked good against Roscommon even when Mayo were second best all over the pitch.

Ryan O’Toole will likely line up beside Ryan O’Donoghue and Lavelle will relish the physical battle on the edge of Monaghan’s defensive square with Aidan O’Shea.

Moran will know the Monaghan players better than most having spent last season inside their changing room. He helped them reach the last eight of the All-Ireland series in 2026, where they lost out to Donegal.

He has brought an attacking edge to his native county that they were missing last year and they have certainly improved on the two-point front. They like to kick the ball as well and move it at pace, just how Moran would have played.

Rob Hennelly’s kickouts malfunctioned against the Rossies and when it comes to restarts, there are few better in the country than Rory Beggan.

It’s not exactly do or die football this weekend, but neither team will want to be in the loser’s pot come Monday morning. The possibility of traveling to Kerry or Donegal, Armagh or Derry, Roscommon or Tyrone in round two could bring an abrupt end to the losers summer.

Momentum is huge in the modern game and Monaghan have it. Mayo will of course have the freshness that a couple of weeks off provide, and they’ll have got the chance to really study their hosts.

Mayo will need a huge upgrade from their previous performance to match the level we all know Monaghan can and will get to.