By Michael McMullan

IT has been a tight squeeze but Monaghan have bounced back to qualify for Sunday’s All-Ireland Intermediate Championship quarter-final trip to Down.

After a hammering at the hands of Westmeath, the Oriel County’s fate was out of their own hands. It all hinged on the final game of the group against Louth. A victory was enough to see them into the quarter-finals.

But if their prior defeat to Westmeath hurt Monaghan, the manner and margin cut even deeper.

“Maybe it was the kick off the backside we needed because it was nearly embarrassing, that game against Westmeath,” said Monaghan team captain Rosemar Courtney.

“A lot of people had travelled; our families had travelled down to that game so it was nearly a waste of time for them.

“We just said, when we were playing Louth, as clichéd as it sounds, we just wanted to put pride back into the jersey.

“It was basically about not embarrassing ourselves and doing ourselves justice.”

Looking around the Monaghan squad, Courtney could see the talent they had. It would be a shame if they didn’t make it out of the group.

Their 1-10 to 0-9 victory over Louth was enough and Monaghan now step into the All-Ireland knock-out stages this weekend.

A look around the championship landscape and Courtney feels it is a wide-open field.

Westmeath, Fermanagh, Clare and Leitrim have recent experience of playing at Croke Park.

Cavan were perceived as favourites but have missed out on the last eight and now face a relegation battle.

For Monaghan, they now have their eyes locked on Down, a team they are familiar with.

Monaghan won when they met in this year’s Ulster semi-final but this is a whole new ball-game.

“They beat Cavan so I think it’ll be a completely different game and they also beat us two years ago in an Ulster final,” she said

“We beat them in the Ulster semi-final this year so it’s level pegging. I don’t think that either team obviously wants to lose.”

While it has been an indifferent few years for Ladies Football in Monaghan, Courtney says their new manager Declan Flanagan has made a huge difference.

After years of changing panels, Flanagan assembled a strong backroom team and convinced some of the Monaghan players back into the fold.

“I think that’s where the panel has stemmed from this year and we’re just so blessed,” she said.

“We had four or five minors that came up that are so interested in football. Minor football finished two months ago, so we’ve got three more from this year’s minor panel.

“They’re good and not just there for numbers, they actually have an impact. So that’s brilliant.”

It’s now the business end of the season with Croke Park and an All-Ireland final potentially coming into view. Going on past scorelines, Down and Monaghan will both feel they can make another step on Sunday.

“I’d say it will be a tight game,” Courtney sums up. “It’ll be down to a kick off the ball definitely because of the players Down have coming back now since our last meeting.”