Replying To Green_Gold: "In this instance I really do feel the 7 day turnaround was a factor. I was at the two Monaghan v Donegal games and they were extremely physical encounters, even by Ulster standards. This just had to take a toll, both physical and mental. An extra week would have done wonders for them. They are a fine team and would normally dispatch any team from outside Division one.
Brilliant performance from Longford though, you can't take that away from them. i just don't think it is fair to judge Monaghan on that performance."
Cavan had only 6 days off a turn around after 2 tough (and 1 completely demoralizing) games against a tough Tyrone team and still won. Monaghan have only one decent player and it's unfortunate for him that they are gone cause he deserves an all-star every year but has no chance off one this year now. Well done Longford for playing like a team and getting the win, as meaningless as it is...just like cavan's....meaningless
Replying To wishfulthinkin: "Cavan had only 6 days off a turn around after 2 tough (and 1 completely demoralizing) games against a tough Tyrone team and still won. Monaghan have only one decent player and it's unfortunate for him that they are gone cause he deserves an all-star every year but has no chance off one this year now. Well done Longford for playing like a team and getting the win, as meaningless as it is...just like cavan's....meaningless"
With all due respects to Carlow, Longford, even before the Monaghan game, would probably be rated 10-15pts better than Carlow!
17 wides to 3 wides that is where Monaghan lost the game. Longford more economical and got what they deserved. Paul Finlay left wasting on the bench on Saturday, starts for his club in a league game Sunday and scores 11 points. A brilliant footballer wasted by O'Rourke since 2013.
Replying To Monaghan Exile: "With all due respects to Carlow, Longford, even before the Monaghan game, would probably be rated 10-15pts better than Carlow!"
Carlow have never beaten anyone of note in the qualifiers.
Replying To wishfulthinkin: "Cavan had only 6 days off a turn around after 2 tough (and 1 completely demoralizing) games against a tough Tyrone team and still won. Monaghan have only one decent player and it's unfortunate for him that they are gone cause he deserves an all-star every year but has no chance off one this year now. Well done Longford for playing like a team and getting the win, as meaningless as it is...just like cavan's....meaningless"
There was a 2 week interval between the Cavan Tyrone games which would make a big difference. And the second game only lasted 40 minutes...
Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1064 - 11/07/2016 15:32:19
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First, well done to Longford. They had some brilliant individual displays (Masterson, McGivney and a rejuvenated Kavanagh), plus a very well prepared defence that panicked the Monaghan attack in the second half. What a turnaround from the really poor showing they put up in Tullamore a few weeks ago. Nobody would have believed after Monaghan's 20-point win v Down in their first round that a reversal like this was possible. So maximum respect to their players and mentors. From a Monaghan point of view, this was more than a 7-day hangover from the 2 battles against Donegal. The team have looked tired and leggy all year and they were totally spun out on Saturday night. Fitness was fine but sharpness is gone. I think its very understandable when you look at what they have done since 2013. Promotion plus an Ulster title in 2013, promotion and Ulster final in 2014, Div1 league semi and Ulster in 2015. Fought hard from the off to preserve Div1 in 2016 plus a big battle against a hugely motivated Donegal. Add in an Ulster title for U21s and the fact that the Scotstown contingent (Beggan, Hughes brothers, McCarthy, Carey) have been non-stop in senior club football competition over this time, it all took its toll. As a Maghercloone man said yesterday 'We have been through the wringer just watching these lads for the last 4 years, so they must be rightly knackered hey'. Fair enough it is correct to say that other counties have achieved more in this time, but it's also easy to forget that the playing pool in Monaghan remains very, very small. More in line with Longford and Fermanagh than Mayo or Donegal in fact. That's why you see Finlay, Clerkin, Gollogly get the call every year. That's why they answer. It's also a big part of the reason the Monaghan support is so intense. So we lose to a similar sized county in a qualifier match and everyone says its the shock of the season. Fair play lads and Malachy for making it so.
Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1064 - 11/07/2016 15:56:20
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