Colin Walshe and Monaghan have taken inspiration from Donal Walsh's 'Livelife' message this year.

The Farney players have worn wristbands this year in memory of the young Kerry man whose brave battle against cancer touched the heart of the nation last year.

The wristbands promote the cause of providing appropriate teenage facilities in hospices and All-Star defender Walshe explained to the Irish Independent: "There is not a person up and down the country that has not been touched by it and especially around this area, a few people who are close to home.

"So everyone in the camp was glad to wear them and support the foundation."

Monaghan got the better of Armagh at the second attempt in the Anglo Celt Cup semi-final and Walshe's tight policing of Jamie Clarke in the replay was a vital ingredient in their winning formula.

"I probably gave Jamie too much respect in the first game and I was not up to the speed of the game at all.

"He had a good day at the office and pulled the strings along with Kevin Dyas that day.

"It is something we looked at during the following week. We sat down and watched the game back. Malachy could have made changes and got someone else to mark him but he gave me a second bite at him and I was grateful for that because I felt that I had not done myself justice.

"He (Clarke) scored a few points the last day again but I came out of the game in better shape than the drawn game.

"Coming into the games boys would look to you to maybe be a leader, to be a player who would perform at a high level and I didn't deliver.

"It was something that did hurt bad enough and in between the two games I did a lot of thinking about it and I was just thankful to get a second chance of it."

Despite the fact that Monaghan enter Sunday's final as holders, Walshe believes Donegal will be favourites to regain the silverware.

"People might have sat up and taken a bit more notice of us this year but we are probably still going in as underdogs," he concluded. Tweet

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