By Shaun Casey

MONAGHAN and Roscommon, the pair that claimed the top two positions in Division Two last season, are already on the backfoot after just one game in the top tier and Sunday’s Division One game could be crucial in terms of staying up.

The two counties experienced much different defeats in the opening round. Roscommon left Killarney empty-handed but gave a brilliant account of themselves against Kerry while Monaghan were well off the pace against Armagh at Clones.

Both sides were also without a huge contingent of the St Brigid’s and Scotstown players, with their clubs experiencing extended runs on the All-Ireland stage, although Ryan O’Toole did line out for Gabriel Bannigan’s men against the Orchard County.

There were some bright sparks for Monaghan, although they were few and far between. Stephen O’Hanlon landed a brace of two-pointers and top scored for his side with 0-7 while Andrew Woods also raised an orange flag.

There were eight different scorers against their near neighbours and Mícheál Bannigan, who was in flying form throughout the McKenna Cup campaign, split the posts on three occasions as well.

It was also Karl Gallagher’s first competitive league or championship game in a Monaghan shirt since the All-Ireland semi-final back in 2023 and he got his name on the scoresheet with a fisted score in the first half.

They also got valuable minutes into the legs of Ryan McAnespie, who came into the fray for the last quarter, while fresher faces like Louis Kelly, Liam McDonald, Eddie Walsh and Oisín McGorman came in off the bench for some game-time.

Diarmuid Murtagh (1-6) and Daire Cregg (0-9) were in top form for Roscommon in their one-point loss to the All-Ireland champions and notched a combined 1-15.

Monaghan and Roscommon faced off twice in the league last season, including the Division Two decider at Croke Park and both sides earned one win apiece.

Roscommon won at home in King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park, the same venue for this weekend, in round three last season with a haul of 0-12 from the aforementioned Murtagh leading them to a 0-24 to 2-14 victory.

Monaghan didn’t have to wait too long for revenge however as they claimed the Division Two title.