Allianz National Football League Division One: Dublin v Monaghan (Saturday, Croke Park, 7.30pm, live on TG4)
THEY have flirted dangerously with the relegation trap door over the past couple of seasons but only Kerry have been in Division One longer than Monaghan.
Malachy O’Rourke guided the Farneymen to Division One for the 2015 season and since then every other top flight county bar them and the Kingdom has been relegated at some stage. Vinny Corey was a trusted lieutenant in O’Rourke’s team back in 2015 and the Clontibret clubman is now tasked with retaining their prized Division One status for a 10th consecutive season. There are no easy games, but Monaghan might have hoped for a less demanding opener than taking on the reigning All-Ireland champions at Croke Park.
The Dubs, who overcame a stubborn Monaghan challenge to win a semi-final meeting by seven points on the way to regaining the Sam Maguire last July, are back in the top flight after a season in Division Two. It was Monaghan who sent them there of course thanks to that unforgettable Jack McCarron-inspired injury-time win for the Farneymen at Clones in the last game of the 2022 League season.
There were more final round heroics last year when Monaghan once again looked in grave danger of relegation when they travelled west to take on Mayo in Castlebar. This time it was McManus who inspired the sting in their tail and his penalty sealed a six-point win which, coupled with Tyrone beating Armagh, meant Monaghan stayed up and the Orchardmen were relegated.
At the start of this campaign you wouldn’t rule out another edge-of-the-seat ride for the Farneymen. A good start against Dublin would help to ease early nerves but Monaghan haven’t won a League opener since 2019 when they got the better of the Dubs at Clones.
They’ve lost Kieran Hughes to retirement over the winter but this Monaghan group remains a tried and tested bunch of battle-hardened warriors who give all in the county colours and are well used to performing at Croke Park.
It’s not just about rolling-the-sleeves-up either. Monaghan are a versatile, smart team. When they need scoreable frees they get them, when marks are on they take them too and they can keep the ball and control the pace of the game when they need to.
However, a slow, low-scoring affair would favour Dublin so you’d expect Monaghan to go for scores at every opportunity.
McManus is still there and where there’s ‘Mansy’ there’s always hope and Gary Mohan could be pushed up to full-forward where he can trouble a Dublin defence which will have a new full-back after Davey Byrne’s retirement. McCarron is another focal point up front and Monaghan always carry a threat down the wings through the pace of Conor McCarthy and Karl O’Connell.
Whatever Monaghan come up with, Dessie Farrell’s Dubs are heavily fancied to start the campaign off with a Saturday night home win.
The Dubs begin the serious stuff after coming through some useful challenge matches, including against Armagh, and lost to Longford in the O’Byrne Cup final after beating Offaly and Wexford in the early stages of the competition.
Youngsters Killian McGinnis, Luke Breathnach, Brian O’Leary and Sean Lowry were among those who impressed in the pre-season competition and the household names will return to the starting line-up for this opener.
As well as Byrne, Ryan Basquel and Dean Rock have walked away since last season’s Sam Maguire success but the Dubs will still wheel out serious firepower in Paul Mannion, Con O’Callaghan, Cormac Costello. Their goal threat means they get the nod to win what should be a competitive opener.