Monaghan Greenfield Foods’ SFC semi-finals
Clontibret v Ballybay (SUNDAY, 14:00, Clones)
Scotstown v Inniskeen (SUNDAY, 15:45, Clones)
After Monaghan lost to Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-final in 2018, we had taken the bus back as far as Carrickmacross.
The bitter dejection was paralytic. For at least 15 minutes after the full-time whistle we sat motionless and mute in the Davin Stand and tried to compute it. Safe to say that was inefficient. It still hasn’t sunk in.
The fresh air on the walk back to the bus and the hustle and bustle of Drumcondra was a smack of reality, until the journey began, and surrounded by your own it was silence again.
Out we jumped in Carrick’. I remember vividly a man of around 80. Our hurt was fresh and shallow, his was deep and far reaching. It opened up old scars.
“Do you know how long it is since Inniskeen won a county title?”.
A country club, but a big one. Almost always senior. Always proud.
Picture Seamus Loughran
But not a champion as recently as Latton, or Magheracloone. The 90′s surely. That was the thought process.
Tit-for-tat it went on until he gave in.
“1948.”
The first instinct was not to believe him. In his wisdom, how he wished he didn’t believe himself.
The build up to last year’s county final in Monaghan was all about romance. It was Patrick Kavanagh, it was the underdog, it was Inniskeen.
In the end it was all about Scotstown, as it almost always is, and only Glen could put paid to their ambition.
The reigning champions have crushed all in their path this year. You can’t help but feel in the way they’ve gone about their business that David McCague’s men have a bigger prize in mind.
Hell for leather, build a lead, roll on the subs, chip away, do enough. A semi-final was secured with a match to spare.
The stats are glaring.
46 scores in the first half across four matches, versus 23 in the second half. Exactly half.
Only 16 scores conceded in the opening half of their four matches, versus 23 in the latter halves combined.
Their final group match in Cremartin meant nothing to them, but the intensity of the warm-up said it all. Kieran Hughes came in off the bench with the game wrapped up, with Darren having made his own comeback the match previously against Corduff.
What’s in a warm-up?
Well, a bit more than usual when it’s led by the IRFU Men’s Sevens Head of Athletic Performance. A man formerly of Tyrone GAA, Monaghan GAA, Ulster Rugby etc.
Peter Donnelly was in Paris rubbing shoulders with Hugo Keenan during the Olympic Games.
Cremartin have done incredible work in terms of club facilities in recent years, but it’s no Stade de France just yet.
So what chance have Inniskeen? Well, the system introduced in Monaghan in 2020 has been widely agreeable.
But for the table toppers, there’s quite a break. Scotstown’s last game that mattered was 7 September. Inniskeen will be just eight days on from a strong win over ‘The Banty’s’ Corduff.
Grattans also have the most rounded forward line after Scotstown in the county, and Louth’s Tommy Durnin is firing at centrefield. The fact it’s a semi-final rather than a final is another possible advantage.
But backing against Scotstown is difficult if not unwise.
In Sunday’s first semi, Clontibret are in a similar position to Scotstown having also topped their group with a game to spare.
2022 champions Ballybay await. Thomas Kerr has been exemplary for them, with an sumptuous lobbed goal against Corduff arguably the score of the championship.
How much their extra-time win over rivals Latton last weekend will sap them will be interesting to see.
The Pearse Brothers haven’t been beaten since losing to Scotstown in their opening group game. In fact, they’ve only been beaten once in their last 11 outings, league and championship.
That said, Dessie Ward and Drew Wylie look unlikely to feature.
The firepower of Darragh Hughes, combined with the form of Dean McDonnell and Killian Lavelle should see Clontibret home, but don’t be surprised to see extra-time again.