When Monaghan made a few changes on Sunday, Killian Lavelle strolled forward and kicked a fabulous point that will get lost amongst the half a century of other scores in Clones.
It was his first venture beyond the Westmeath halfway line in what was the 70th minute.
The difference in a corner-back and a wing-back has arguably never been more different when just months ago they were nigh on identical. In Gaelic football in 2025 it seems the cream rises to the top.
Conor McCarthy’s marauded forward and returned 0-7 from play, all in old money, while Lavelle sat and waited and pounced.
His importance to this side seems to grow by the game:
“As an inside three defender, you’re going to be an out and out man marker. When you get forward, you’ve to try and take your opportunity, and that’s what I tried to do.
“I think we’re still working it out. Most teams are trying to get their head around how best to work the new rules. Over time it will bed in, but we’re just happy to have got the win.”
In a crucial All-Ireland group win against Meath last year, the Clontibret man got forward to kick a score from 45 metres that displayed his pace and quality.
He was Vinny Corey’s go to man when the challenge of tracking David Clifford arose. Before club mate Conor Boyle decided to opt out of the intercounty panel, he was Monaghan’s centre-back. Under Séamus McEnaney, he was so often Darren Hughes’ partner in the middle.
If anyone is equipped to adapt to a new game, Lavelle is among the best placed countrywide as his side targets promotion.
The freshness around this Farney squad is amplified by the fact they have already won as many League and Championship encounters in 2025 as they did in 2024:
“First of all we set out to get a win here in Clones, for our home crowd. We didn’t win a game here last year, so that was the main objective.
“Back to back wins, after setting off a league campaign with a few setbacks with injuries and that. The guys that are coming off the bench are making a real impact and that’s what we want to see.”
Among the injuries against Westmeath was Michael Hamill, the young Emyvale star having been tipped in many departments to thrive this season, particularly with Andy Moran in the Farney backroom team.
With Micháel Bannigan missing out late with a stomach bug and Stephen O’Hanlon still injured, Hamill showed real leadership in what has become an energy-sapping half-forward role.
The Ulster University star was stretchered off in Clones, and his frustrated manager Gabriel Bannigan implied he would have been subbed off prior to his serious looking injury if more than five subs were permitted, as he echoed the call for six substitutions if not more.
Lavelle passed on his well wishes as Hamill looks set to miss out on UU’s Sigerson assault and Monaghan’s Division Two campaign at the very least:
“He’s been phenomenal for us this past two years since he’s come in and hopefully it’s nothing too serious.”