Monaghan begin life after McManus

DERBY days like Saturday’s showdown are always circled in the calendar and given how last year’s championship encounter panned out, motivation certainly won’t be in short supply inside the Monaghan changing room as they prepare to face Cavan.

Having just suffered relegation from the top tier, the Breffni County added to Monaghan’s woes in the preliminary round of the Ulster Championship, knocking them out with six points to spare on their own home turf.

As it all panned out, the Farney men went further in the All-Ireland series than their rivals, but that result last April will still sting. No doubt, Gabriel Bannigan has mentioned it in the build up to the opening round.

It’s all new to Bannigan as well of course. He’s shared the dressing room with most of these lads before as a member of Vinny Corey’s management team, but he’s wearing the bainisteoir bib this time around.

His task certainly isn’t an easy one, especially when you consider that he’ll be without the recently retired Conor McManus while Darren Hughes and Karl O’Connell will likely sit out the majority of their Division Two campaign.

Bannigan will be able to call upon Rory Beggan, who has the potential to really excel under the new rules.

Ryan Wylie, Kieran Duffy, Conor McCarthy, Ryan McAnespie and Jack McCarron are other experienced heads that will lead the charge.

But the Aughnamullen man will hope that some other notable names including his nephew and new captain Micheál Bannigan (left), Stephen O’Hanlon, Ryan O’Toole and Killian Lavelle can step into those leadership roles.

Cavan also pose a tough test and Raymond Galligan’s hand has been strengthened by the return of Gearóid McKiernan to the panel after the Cavan Gaels giant took a year out last season.

Paddy Lynch, who struck 1-9 in that championship game last year but tore his ACL shortly after, has been on the mend, although this weekend may be too soon for him.

Monaghan would love to get off to a winning start, especially in Kingspan Breffni, and it would kickstart their push for promotion as the Farney men aim to jump right back up to Division One at the first time of asking.This is their first foray in the second tier since 2014 and perhaps Bannigan’s men are in a period of transition. There’ll be no excuses come Saturday night however and all either team will be concerned about will be getting two points on the board.