Mixed performances today but all in all when it mattered monaghan were the better side down very disciplined coughing up no handy frees but down were spent come the 60 minute and monaghan played like a div 1 team after that the goal and 2 points without reply sucked the life out of down time to rest up now and put in 1 or 2 massive performances to get there it's in for sure muineachain Abu

Farneyblueandwhite (Monaghan) - Posts: 92 - 15/06/2025 17:53:54    2617781

Jack MC Carron's dodgy goal wasn't the difference today, Jack MC Carron's introduction was the difference today.
Two good teams going at it, both will be disappointed with their defensive efforts, with that in mind an extra game might do Down no harm to iron out defensive issues, if they can avoid Galway in the draw
The average score per team the over the weekend was around 20 points, so that has to be the measure, we have to trim our defensive effort by 10 or so. This must start with our long kick out strategy, which was weak today especially first half. onwards and upwards with Plenty to work on

mhunicean_abu (Monaghan) - Posts: 1069 - 15/06/2025 18:25:51    2617800

Mohan's presence was a huge loss around the middle today, definitely accounted for a few of those kickouts we lost and just general physical contests around the middle. Hopefully be fine for the quarter final

patk (Monaghan) - Posts: 941 - 15/06/2025 19:23:38    2617818

farneygael3 (Monaghan) - Posts: 241 - 15/06/2025 20:13:09    2617863

Said at start of the year that if these monaghan players got their heads right after last year they'd be OK this year as the ability is there we have the tools. This was against the backdrop of predictions of relegation to div 3 and tailtenn cup etc. These lads have worn the shirt off their backs this year for monaghan football and along with management deserve huge credit for getting monaghan back to the last eight of the all ireland. We'd lost that game last year but despite a lot of things going against us today the heads didn't drop. The impact of the bench was crucial. Louis Kelly is a player who made a massive impact . Jack McCarron conducted the forwards when he came in. Davie Garland brought plenty of bite and a great point at a crucial stage. When the game was in the melting pot we should have had three goals and went for it showing our teeth as all good sides do. Gary Mohans absence meant down got a foothold in midfield but we battled hard and gradually got our own game going managing the game really well in the finish.

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1896 - 15/06/2025 21:34:24    2617907

Gary Mohan definitely would have made the difference today one handed attempts at catching a ball in midfield is dire to watch , not following back quick enough was very slack , change the midfield and we can go further. Not fair on forwards trying to do their best and being let down by midfield.

stoneygrey (Monaghan) - Posts: 238 - 15/06/2025 22:07:04    2617927

Farneyblueandwhite (Monaghan) - Posts: 92 - 15/06/2025 22:58:51    2617960

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 612 - 15/06/2025 23:35:12    2617980

2 fowards won't get us an all Ireland, neither will 5, our weakest link is midfield, if we had a midfield today we would have won a lot easier, 90% of kickouts target midfield, short kickouts are second option. We are not far away . 2 weeks to get this sorted

stoneygrey (Monaghan) - Posts: 238 - 15/06/2025 23:50:49    2617989

Regarding the kickouts... there is a lot of work needed.. McCarvile was too isolated yesterday.. when the ball was kicked to him and he had one man up with him and 2 Down men on the ground , he was in a no win situation. He had to get a clean catch or nothing.. any broken ball from him was won by Down, our lads were far to far away from him.
Rory is having a great season with his shot stopping and play out the field, the one area he needs work on is responding to lads on the break for his kickout, some times there is a player running into space ahead of their marker and he doesn't hit them quick enough and next thing they are covered and the opportunity is missed.. I know there is bluffs in play to open up other space, but when you are losing midfield further out then these chances need to be taken to keep possession. He just needs to be sharper.

Farney (Monaghan) - Posts: 816 - 16/06/2025 09:33:05    2618070

SoNearYetSoFarney (Monaghan) - Posts: 59 - 16/06/2025 09:41:53    2618078

There is no doubt that a strong midfield is needed and Mohan was a huge miss. I thought McCarville did well again yesterday and he's taken his chance. I was slightly surprised McPhillips didn't start, given that he had a good run out in the league and is a big presence. The only other thing I would think is that McBennett looked well able for this level of football last year and hasn't got much of a look in at all yet.

More worryingly it looked to me that Lavelle isn't really fit and seems to be carrying his right arm. I wonder would he have started if Mohan was fit. All teams are going to struggle with injury as the games are starting to come quickly now so maybe McBennett's time will come.

Overall it was a good win in a very tight game but the defence was fairly easily run through. That is going to tell at some stage.

PolicemanFox (Monaghan) - Posts: 196 - 16/06/2025 10:10:32    2618095