Replying To topdownfan:  "This was a semi final , not a first round match !!!!"

Replying To waynoI:  "Malachy O'Rourke has never won a big game in Croke park in charge of Monaghan. Winning a couple of provincial titles especially in Ulster is a fine achievment, But until his side get the Croke Park hoodoo off their back possibly get to a semi final or all ireland final, Then he cant even be in the same conversation as Jim Gavin and Eamonn Fitzmaurice in terms of the lands best manager at the moment..

Monaghan are a very good side, But they untimately wont trouble Tyrone, Dublin, Kerry or Mayo. Their over-reliance on Conor McManus being the main reason for that. The other 4 sides i mentioned will have too much for them outside of Ulster."

Replying To waynoI:  "I respect your opinion, but i can't agree sorry.

I'm not suggesting that Malachy O'Rourke is a bad manager. As you rightly say he took over a team in division 3 and led them to two promotions in a row and won two Ulster titles and as i mentioned in my previous post, Fair dues. Credit where its due.

My opinion however is that the best managers are managers who win big games and with the greatest of respect of them, Monaghan have failed when it comes to big games in Croke Park playing against the best teams.

Without meaning to sound like im belittling their achievements getting promoted twice on the bounce, But getting out of D3 playing the likes of Sligo, Wicklow, Antrim, Cavan.... Or D2 playing Louth, Laois, Down and Armagh (when alot of teams still dont take the league very seriously) is totally different to playing Tyrone, Dublin etc in Croke Park in the countrys premier football competition. So Until O'Rourke/Monaghan prove that they can not only compete, but BEAT the best sides in the country in Croke Park, then you cant label him the best manager in the country. A good manager ? No doubt... The best in the country ? Well.... thats just a bit mad.

And i stand by my previous comment, They might compete, but ultimately, wont beat a Dublin, Tyrone, Kerry, Mayo etc in Croke Park in the all ireland series unless they can sort out their over-reliance on CmcM. As good as he is (And he is, As Joe Brolly said, the perfect forward), He simply wont beat the big teams in the wide open spaces of Croke Park when its straight knock out, on his own. He just wont.

And as for the question about Jim Gavin and Eamonn Fitzmaurice. Would they replicate what O'Rourke has achieved if they where the manager of Monaghan, thats impossible to answer. Its hypothetical."

Replying To s goldrick:  "it clearly says in the report that Monaghan reached the semi-final with this victory over Down in Newry.
another report says that Down had beaten Cavan in the preliminary round that year also in Newry"