NFL Preview: Donegal and Monaghan tangle in Ballybofey

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE NORTH

Donegal v Monaghan

Saturday, MacCumhaill Park, 7pm

By Niall McCoy

MONAGHAN have enjoyed their National League meetings with Donegal over the last decade. They have played seven times in all in that period and the Tir Chonaill county have only twice escaped with victory. The Oriel county really need to tip the balance further in their favour further on Saturday night.

Defeat in Ballybofey doesn’t mean that they’ll definitely miss out on Division One football for an eighth straight season, but it’ll leave them close. Lose this after defeat to Armagh last weekend and they’d need to beat Tyrone in round three, hope that the Red Hands beat the Orchard county this weekend – and then they’d still need Kieran McGeeney’s side to lose to Donegal. After all that, scoring difference would still have to come into play.

There was little to suggest against Armagh last weekend that Seamus McEnaney’s side are capable of getting a result here.

‘Banty’ wasn’t present in the ground due to suspension, but he would have watched a very inexperienced attack battle gamely beforeultimately falling short.

There were positives in the 1-16 to 1-12 loss. Aaron Mulligan was superb while Inniskeen youngsters Andrew Woods and Sean Jones linked up well for their goal. Darren Hughes, Conor McManus, Kieran Hughes and Fintan Kelly all got minutes in the legs off the bench.

David McCague, with Vinny Corey at his side, was on managerial duties at Brewster Park due to McEnaney’s absence, and he was delighted with the efforts of the young crew.

“Some fellas came out with high scores in their assessment, other fellas with lower scores. That’s something we’ll look at intently during the week.

“I’m delighted for Aaron Mulligan, Sean Jones, Andrew Woods, three young fellas who came into our forward line, they’ll be around Monaghan teams for years to come. It’s a great place for them to start.”

What was a bit surprising was that after placing Kieran Hughes at full-forward against an Armagh full-back line that has struggled in recent years, they put just one direct ball on top of him – and even that drifted wide. With Neil McGee back there minding the house, they’re unlikely to pepper Shaun Patton’s goal on Saturday.

McCague said that they may have a few bodies back for the all-Ulster clash. “We’d be hopeful of maybe one or two back into the 26-man squad for next week.”

There is less pressure on Donegal, but there is still a job to be done over the next two weeks.

Declan Bonner’s side picked up an impressive 0-18 to 0-16 win over Tyrone at O’Neills Healy Park, although their cause was helped by Michael O’Neill’s dismissal for Tyrone midway through the second half.

Goalkeeper Shaun Patton, McGee, Peadar Mogan, Ciaran Thompson and Paddy McBrearty all had good outings in Omagh, but the star of the show for them was undoubtedly Michael Murphy.

He gave Padraig Hampsey a tough time of it, no easy feat, and kicked three points from play and three from frees to go with a number of kick-outs collected and big tackles put in. His ability to continually perform at such a high standard is astounding.

Hugh McFadden may be a doubt after being forced to leave the field early on following a big collision with Tyrone’s Ronan McNamee. Stephen McMenamin and Kieran Gillespie may be fit to return to the matchday squad though.

Indeed, the Donegal bench is starting to become embarrassingly good. That squad depth should be more than enough to bank a Division One semi-final spot here.

Verdict: Donegal