'Banty' expects clampdown on McManus distracters

July 01, 2016

Monaghan's Conor McManus and Paddy McGrath of Donegal
©INPHO

Seamus McEnaney expects match officials to clamp down on attempts by members of the Donegal backroom team to distract Monaghan free-taker Conor McManus in tomorrow's Ulster SFC semi-final replay.

The unsporting behaviour went unpunished during last Saturday's drawn encounter with 'Banty' noting in the Irish News: "When Conor McManus was hitting his second last free, Maxi Curran (Donegal selector) ran straight across him and their other water carrier came out in front of some of Monaghan's kickouts, so I would see a lot of that being tightened up this weekend."

The former Monaghan and Meath manager says the Farney can win at the second time of asking if their big players perform.

"The bottom line from Monaghan's point of view is that their bigger men didn't perform as well as they can," he added.

"Kieran Hughes and Darren Hughes can do better. Conor McManus was exceptional from frees, but he didn't get away from Paddy McGrath from play. So Conor can do better.

"But forget about our forward play, we can do better in defence. We gave Donegal three or four clear-cut goal chances. That disappointed me. If you do that, then you're going to be beaten."


Most Read Stories