JOHNNY Murtagh says that this weekend’s Castleblayney and Clontibret game has the potential to be the ‘game of the championship’.

Both teams have only won once so far. That adds pressure according to ‘Blayney manager Murtagh. Clontibret who are managed by John McEntee, a Crossmaglen club mate of Murtagh’s, and should put up a serious challenge.

“I know John Mac real well and they will not be looking any further than us. Both teams need to win. We have a small advantage playing at home. The boys are buzzing after getting a win. We are up for it. They are two evenly-matched teams so this could be potentially the game of the championship so far, because of what is at stake.”

Murtagh played down Castleblayney’s win over Ballybay in round two of the championship a fortnight ago.

The Crossmaglen man is taking his team into their third championship match of the season, this time against Clontibret on Saturday. They need a win to get further up group two as they sit in fourth place out of five. They lost their opening game to Latton, but then bounced back to beat Ballybay.

Murtagh said there is work to be done, despite the 0-13 to 0-11 win last day.

“They (Ballybay) were missing a few players with injury. Paul Finlay has got a suspension. He was a big loss. I was pleased with the way they went there. It is a tough place to get a win and we needed to get a win. I was pleased with the performance. If we can improve half as much as we learned from the first game against Latton then I don’t think we will be far away.

“It is about how lucky you are with personnel, and how your injuries gather up.”

Barry Hanratty hurt his shoulder in the last league game. He has not played in their first two games.

Murtagh said: “Yeah it has been a challenge (to not have Hanratty). You want to have everyone in your first year. But look, from the team that started the game against Latton, I was missing four against Ballybay but I think they were missing a few as well. Every team is feeling the strain. No matter what county it is.

“I was at my own club Crossmaglen’s game a few weeks ago and they had a few injuries but they had to bring them off the bench, guys who were coming on a week or two early.”

Dermot Malone is getting back to full fitness as well.

“He would have been a massive miss for Monaghan this year. He has struggled with a knee injury. All these wee elements to the equation matter.”

Murtagh believes that the club can go on to big things.

“I have been keeping an eye on the club in the past few years. They are a club steeped in history. They were the kingpins in Monaghan, but for whatever reason they have dropped off a wee bit. But like everything else, ‘Blayney will come again. They are only going to be down for so long. There are a lot of good young players coming through. This team at the moment is very young.

“They are going to be at the top very soon. That is the approach that we took this year. The committee are realistic about the goals. It is very much about rebuilding.”

RETURNING… Dermot Malone is returning to full fitness for Castleblayney