by Paddy Hickey

Monaghan footballers have received a major boost with the news that veteran duo Vinnie Corey and Dessie Mone are set to soldier on in next year’s inter-county campaign.

Looking ahead to 2019, Monaghan chairman Michael McMahon says he’s confident that the long-serving pair will make themselves available once again to team boss Malachy O’Rourke, as the Farney County bid to improve on this year’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Tyrone.

“At the end of 2017, (half-forward) Stephen Gallogly was the only player that we lost to retirement, but for next year it doesn’t look like we will have to replace anybody from this year’s panel of players,” remarked McMahon on the situation regarding 2019.

“None of the lads who played for us this year have said they’re quitting, so I feel sure that both Vinnie Corey and Dessie Mone will be with us again for next year.

“Vinnie and Dessie were very influential players for us in this year’s League and Championship, and the quality and consistency of their performances showed that the two of them have still a lot to offer at inter-county level.

“Like the rest of the lads, Vinnie and Dessie will have been very disappointed that we didn’t qualify for this year’s All-Ireland final, especially as we had beaten Tyrone earlier in the Ulster Championship.

“And the desire to go one step further in next year’s Championship will be a major driving force for Vinnie, Dessie and the rest of the lads,” added the Monaghan official.

Of course, back in September Malachy O’Rourke confirmed that he would be remaining in the Monaghan hot seat for the seventh year on the trot.

And in a similar scenario to none of the Monaghan players opting out for 2019, the Fermanagh native will be assisted once again by the same backroom team of Leo McBride, Ryan Porter, Colin McAree and Owen Lennon.

This weekend, the Monaghan chairman will have a particular interest in the Ulster Club Championship as his home outfit Scotstown take on Derry’s Coleraine in the semi-finals of the provincial campaign at Omagh’s Healy Park on Sunday.

After victories over Fermanagh’s Derrygonnelly and Down’s Burren, and, with current All Star goalkeeper Rory Beggan and his county team-mates Darren Hughes, Shane Carey, Conor Forde, Kieran Hughes and Conor McCarthy to call on, the Monaghan kingpins will fancy their chances of clinching a final showdown against Armagh’s Crossmaglen and Donegal’s Gweedore, who face off in the second semi-final at the Tyrone venue.

“Hopefully we’ll qualify for the final but I feel that we face very tough opposition in Coleraine,” remarked McMahon on the penultimate clash.

“Coleraine underlined their ability by beating Slaughtneil who were going for their fifth Derry title in a row, and they also had a good win over (Cavan’s) Castlerahan in the Ulster quarter-final.

“So our lads will probably have to be at their very best to come out on top.”

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