RYAN McAnespie has warned his Monaghan team-mates that last weekend's second half performance against Armagh won’t be good enough to win an Ulster title.
Seamus McEnaney’s men were probably spooked by last year’s disastrous second half against Cavan when they spurned a seven-point half-time lead and ended up losing it in extra-time.
But a couple of outrageous scores from Conor McManus got them over the line on Saturday to seal their first provincial final berth since 2015.
“Any day you get to an Ulster final you’re going to enjoy it,” said McAnespie
Enda McGinley: Errigal players happy to go easy over Christmas ahead of All-Ireland semi
“It was tough on my mum and dad. I knew I was self-destructing. And I also knew the next phase of that, if I had carried on, it was not being here. I was in a very dark place...” - the life and times of Caolan Mooney
“2015 is the last time we got to a final. I’ll enjoy the days and training leading up the final but our second half performance won’t be good enough to win the final, so we’ve a lot to learn and a lot to improve on.”
Both sets of players deserve immense credit especially in 30-degree heat that ebbed and flowed from the first minute to the 76th.
“You could see as the legs got tired there was more space for the forwards. I suppose you’re wilting after 20 minutes but then you just dig in and the mindset is everybody is in the same boat. And if you’re wilting your marker is wilting too.
“But they were two well-conditioned teams, and when it comes to those winter months you’re debating whether to go to the gym but days like these those sessions stand to you.”
McAnespie, who had a hugely influential game, was slightly surprised by the ease with which Monaghan nabbed four first-half goals that should have set them on their way to a comfortable victory.
“I suppose there was plenty of movement and Armagh put a high press on and we just got in behind them a couple of times but we didn’t get any of those chances in the second half. When we did get them we took them.
“Armagh will probably look back at that first 20 minutes but we were just happy to get the goals.”
