It’s last chance saloon at Croke

It’s last chance saloon at Croke

26 July 2017

DOWN and Monaghan get to go to battle for the second time this season in a much anticipated winner takes all Croke Park duel on Saturday.

The Mourne men’s Ulster SFC semi final victory over Malachy O’Rourke’s charges was heralded as the shock of the championship.

Down were given little to no chance of outdoing the Farney men at the Athletic Grounds that day but a ferocious performance characterised by extreme intensity saw Eamon Burns’ side through to the Ulster final by two points.

The Red and Blacks’ subsequent appearance in the Ulster final against Tyrone on Sunday week ago was a bit of a disappointment.

Tyrone produced a stirring third quarter in that game and in truth were the better side for the majority of the contest.

The Down players will have been galled by the defeat and they face a huge task in getting themselves back up to speed for Saturday’s tie.

They have received a boost with the news that Kevin McKernan’s black card in the Ulster decider has been rescinded due to an appeal and he is free to take to the field against Monaghan.

One major doubt for the Mourne men is veteran attacker Mark Poland.

The Longstone ace received 15 stitches to a gash above his eye after a clash with Colm Cavanagh late on in the Ulster decider.

Eamon Burns is unlikely to change much in regards to his starting 15.

Michael Cunningham is growing in confidence in goal with the impressive Gerard McGovern set to remain at full back with Darren O’Hagan and Niall McParland flanking him.

Darragh O’Hanlon and Caolan Mooney have been two of Down’s best performers this term and both will retain their wing half back slots with Conail McGovern anchoring the centre.

Kevin McKernan’s sweeper role is now assured with Niall Donnelly and Peter Turley lining up in midfield.

Conor Maginn and Shay Millar will work the half forward line. The brilliant Ryan Johnston will be the main outlet with Jerome Johnston and Connaire Harrison the targets on the edge of the square.

Down used their bench last day out and Joe Murphy and David McKibben can expect some game time in the second half while Donal O’Hare and Sean Dornan are options in the forward line if the scores aren’t arriving.

Since losing to Down, Monaghan have been solid if somewhat unspectacular in their Qualifier games.

A 3-23 to 1-11 win away to Wexford kick-started their revival before a strong last ten minutes saw them past Carlow by 1-12 to 1-7.

They will have revenge on their minds at 5pm on Saturday. The way Down bullied them out of the Ulster semi is still raw in their minds and they’ll very much want to right those wrongs.

‘Keeper Rory Beggan is a crucial cog especially from set pieces. Drew Wylie owes Connaire Harrison a performance while Colin Walshe and Karl O’Connell will up their games to tighten the defence up.

It is likely that the Hughes brothers, Kieran and Darren, will form a midfield duo.

Conor McManus and Jack McCarron haven’t caught fire in the attack yet and what better place to do it than Croke Park.

This is probably the draw that Down didn’t want.

They will be acutely aware that Monaghan were left reeling after the original fixture and will be going out all guns blazing to reverse the outcome.

Recovering from the Tyrone defeat is a difficult preposition although they can take hope from defeated Connacht finalists’ Galway who bounced back from their loss to Roscommon to dismiss Donegal on Saturday.

Another massive performance is required from Down. A date with the mighty Dubs is in the pipeline for the winners.

Monaghan are more familiar with this terrain in recent times and have greater experience in these situations.

The question remains: do Down have one big performance left in them?