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Monaghan GAA thread

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Replying To PolicemanFox:  "Big game experience? A force in the coming years. Being hearing this type of stuff for years.
All this experience and whatever is for some vague time in the future.

What about last year's big game experience, and last month's and last fortnight's? It should be paying off now.

Monaghan aren't really in transition. 12 of the 15 who started against Donegal in last year's quarter-final and 4 of the subs who came on are still very much involved and I think 14 played against Mayo at some stage. If there hadn't been injuries to O'Hanlon, Kelly, and Mohan that number would have been higher and if Lavelle and Gallagher had been available last year they probably would have played against Donegal too.
Every team brings a few players through each year if they can, so what?

The major question for Monaghan is getting to the next level:
Leading the 2025 All-Ireland quarter final last year by 7pts at halftime and letting it slip.
Losing the 2026 Ulster final in extra time.
Losing by a point to Mayo with home advantage.

The problem is winning these big games and Monaghan's record against teams outside Ulster is poor. The last two Mayo and Galway championship games being an example. Close games but Monaghan on the wrong side.
If they lose to Roscommon it'll just be another Monaghan nearly season.

The talent is clearly there and Monaghan need to be winning these types of games. Now, not next year."
Without being critical of underage, minors and under 20s this year is an example. Minors 12 up in second half...under 20s well on top of tyrone. Culture breeds culture

farneygael3 (Monaghan) - Posts: 695 - 10/06/2026 13:42:13    2678864

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Replying To PolicemanFox:  "Big game experience? A force in the coming years. Being hearing this type of stuff for years.
All this experience and whatever is for some vague time in the future.

What about last year's big game experience, and last month's and last fortnight's? It should be paying off now.

Monaghan aren't really in transition. 12 of the 15 who started against Donegal in last year's quarter-final and 4 of the subs who came on are still very much involved and I think 14 played against Mayo at some stage. If there hadn't been injuries to O'Hanlon, Kelly, and Mohan that number would have been higher and if Lavelle and Gallagher had been available last year they probably would have played against Donegal too.
Every team brings a few players through each year if they can, so what?

The major question for Monaghan is getting to the next level:
Leading the 2025 All-Ireland quarter final last year by 7pts at halftime and letting it slip.
Losing the 2026 Ulster final in extra time.
Losing by a point to Mayo with home advantage.

The problem is winning these big games and Monaghan's record against teams outside Ulster is poor. The last two Mayo and Galway championship games being an example. Close games but Monaghan on the wrong side.
If they lose to Roscommon it'll just be another Monaghan nearly season.

The talent is clearly there and Monaghan need to be winning these types of games. Now, not next year."
I enjoyed reading this - its got me pumped...and hard to disagree - like in the coming years we're likely to lose mcanespie, mccarron and wylie thru retirement...are we a team in transition again at that stage? absolutely not and theyve been vital players at different times for us

MalsBalls (Monaghan) - Posts: 282 - 10/06/2026 15:05:08    2678874

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All being well and nothing happens in training, o hanlon and mc anespie are both back. time to turn potential into reality. bring on saturday

monaghanfootballfan (Monaghan) - Posts: 31 - 10/06/2026 17:02:24    2678895

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Replying To PolicemanFox:  "Big game experience? A force in the coming years. Being hearing this type of stuff for years.
All this experience and whatever is for some vague time in the future.

What about last year's big game experience, and last month's and last fortnight's? It should be paying off now.

Monaghan aren't really in transition. 12 of the 15 who started against Donegal in last year's quarter-final and 4 of the subs who came on are still very much involved and I think 14 played against Mayo at some stage. If there hadn't been injuries to O'Hanlon, Kelly, and Mohan that number would have been higher and if Lavelle and Gallagher had been available last year they probably would have played against Donegal too.
Every team brings a few players through each year if they can, so what?

The major question for Monaghan is getting to the next level:
Leading the 2025 All-Ireland quarter final last year by 7pts at halftime and letting it slip.
Losing the 2026 Ulster final in extra time.
Losing by a point to Mayo with home advantage.

The problem is winning these big games and Monaghan's record against teams outside Ulster is poor. The last two Mayo and Galway championship games being an example. Close games but Monaghan on the wrong side.
If they lose to Roscommon it'll just be another Monaghan nearly season.

The talent is clearly there and Monaghan need to be winning these types of games. Now, not next year."
We have had a huge mental block in the past 15 years of winning the type of games you mentioned. I'm not sure why but we have had so many near misses that have been gut wrenching. It's a mentality thing that is hard to put your finger on but is so frustrating. Apart from kildare and galway in recent years, I don't remember us taking out a big hitter outside of ulster.
It's very hard to know why we can't close out games in the last ten minutes, we seem to tighten up and make poor mistakes. I agree with you on the transition point, alot of guys well into their 30s at this stage that are still leading the team. Seasons like this where we have done fairly OK need to be maximised and a defeat Saturday will be disappointing.

222 (UK) - Posts: 940 - 10/06/2026 17:07:13    2678897

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Replying To PolicemanFox:  "Big game experience? A force in the coming years. Being hearing this type of stuff for years.
All this experience and whatever is for some vague time in the future.

What about last year's big game experience, and last month's and last fortnight's? It should be paying off now.

Monaghan aren't really in transition. 12 of the 15 who started against Donegal in last year's quarter-final and 4 of the subs who came on are still very much involved and I think 14 played against Mayo at some stage. If there hadn't been injuries to O'Hanlon, Kelly, and Mohan that number would have been higher and if Lavelle and Gallagher had been available last year they probably would have played against Donegal too.
Every team brings a few players through each year if they can, so what?

The major question for Monaghan is getting to the next level:
Leading the 2025 All-Ireland quarter final last year by 7pts at halftime and letting it slip.
Losing the 2026 Ulster final in extra time.
Losing by a point to Mayo with home advantage.

The problem is winning these big games and Monaghan's record against teams outside Ulster is poor. The last two Mayo and Galway championship games being an example. Close games but Monaghan on the wrong side.
If they lose to Roscommon it'll just be another Monaghan nearly season.

The talent is clearly there and Monaghan need to be winning these types of games. Now, not next year."
Fully agree now is the time there's all this talk about coming years problem is in coming years no Rory no jack no ryan wylie so where does that leave us ?

Farneyblueandwhite (Monaghan) - Posts: 149 - 10/06/2026 18:29:23    2678906

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If you were a neutral analysing the form of both teams ahead of saturday there is only one winner. Roscommon have been one of the most consistent sides in the country this year playing some great football and winning most of their games. We have been the opposite but in the championship have shown we are a very dangerous animal if teams leave us in a game. That said we have developed an awful habit of leaving ourselves far too much to do in games which aint going to get ya v far. Saturday really will come down to whether we can stay in the game till the final quarter and I mean not let roscommon accrue a 10 point plus lead . We need to keep it tight avoid sloppy goals and we can finish stronger to win but will be tough as hard to escape the feeling roscommon are a much better side than likes of mayo or derry and cant see them giving up a sizable lead the way those sides did..

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 2000 - 10/06/2026 20:25:20    2678921

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Replying To PolicemanFox:  "Big game experience? A force in the coming years. Being hearing this type of stuff for years.
All this experience and whatever is for some vague time in the future.

What about last year's big game experience, and last month's and last fortnight's? It should be paying off now.

Monaghan aren't really in transition. 12 of the 15 who started against Donegal in last year's quarter-final and 4 of the subs who came on are still very much involved and I think 14 played against Mayo at some stage. If there hadn't been injuries to O'Hanlon, Kelly, and Mohan that number would have been higher and if Lavelle and Gallagher had been available last year they probably would have played against Donegal too.
Every team brings a few players through each year if they can, so what?

The major question for Monaghan is getting to the next level:
Leading the 2025 All-Ireland quarter final last year by 7pts at halftime and letting it slip.
Losing the 2026 Ulster final in extra time.
Losing by a point to Mayo with home advantage.

The problem is winning these big games and Monaghan's record against teams outside Ulster is poor. The last two Mayo and Galway championship games being an example. Close games but Monaghan on the wrong side.
If they lose to Roscommon it'll just be another Monaghan nearly season.

The talent is clearly there and Monaghan need to be winning these types of games. Now, not next year."
Start going to games lad, and not just be reciting the old tired pundit's nonsense. In a very short time we have had to replace the Hughes, Karl, Drew, Kieran Duffy, McManus,, Carey, Kelly,and a few others. Time takes time, and true football men know the score.

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1097 - 11/06/2026 03:06:49    2678941

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Replying To seanie08:  "If you were a neutral analysing the form of both teams ahead of saturday there is only one winner. Roscommon have been one of the most consistent sides in the country this year playing some great football and winning most of their games. We have been the opposite but in the championship have shown we are a very dangerous animal if teams leave us in a game. That said we have developed an awful habit of leaving ourselves far too much to do in games which aint going to get ya v far. Saturday really will come down to whether we can stay in the game till the final quarter and I mean not let roscommon accrue a 10 point plus lead . We need to keep it tight avoid sloppy goals and we can finish stronger to win but will be tough as hard to escape the feeling roscommon are a much better side than likes of mayo or derry and cant see them giving up a sizable lead the way those sides did.."
On what basis are they are better side than Derry and Mayo? Yes they beat Mayo in a game that wasn't knockout and then fluffed at home V a poor Tyrone side. They are a middle of the road outfit who do a lot of talking about how good they are. We have all seen this from Roscommon before, talk the talk and then fall the fall.

Past players out the in the media talking about how they should be all Ireland semi finalists, I am hearing this for years now and they same men continue to fluff it, what has changed really?

Be under no illusion, if we take them down the stretch they will revert to what they always have been. Its a matter of getting them down the stretch.

monaghanmad (Monaghan) - Posts: 498 - 11/06/2026 08:47:50    2678951

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Replying To monaghanmad:  "On what basis are they are better side than Derry and Mayo? Yes they beat Mayo in a game that wasn't knockout and then fluffed at home V a poor Tyrone side. They are a middle of the road outfit who do a lot of talking about how good they are. We have all seen this from Roscommon before, talk the talk and then fall the fall.

Past players out the in the media talking about how they should be all Ireland semi finalists, I am hearing this for years now and they same men continue to fluff it, what has changed really?

Be under no illusion, if we take them down the stretch they will revert to what they always have been. Its a matter of getting them down the stretch."
Agreed about taking them down the stretch but disagree on rossies not being better than mayo and derry. The penny only dropped with monaghan too late v mayo that it wasnt the mayo of the classic dublin mayo era had a v porous defence we could have had several goals or even had we taken points for those goal chances wed won. Derry haven't really showed up in championship since 2023 when game is in the fire their own fans would admit that. Thats a really good young Roscommon side who if they get the run on us wont be caught. Gotta keep it tight ferocious tackling let them know nothing easy for them clones crowd hopefully get us over line

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 2000 - 11/06/2026 10:17:12    2678962

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Replying To monaghanmad:  "On what basis are they are better side than Derry and Mayo? Yes they beat Mayo in a game that wasn't knockout and then fluffed at home V a poor Tyrone side. They are a middle of the road outfit who do a lot of talking about how good they are. We have all seen this from Roscommon before, talk the talk and then fall the fall.

Past players out the in the media talking about how they should be all Ireland semi finalists, I am hearing this for years now and they same men continue to fluff it, what has changed really?

Be under no illusion, if we take them down the stretch they will revert to what they always have been. Its a matter of getting them down the stretch."
Pin this nonsense to the dressing room wall!

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 634 - 11/06/2026 10:51:23    2678967

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Pin this nonsense to the dressing room wall!"
Wont be the croke park dressing room wall for sure. Never has been, never will be

monaghanmad (Monaghan) - Posts: 498 - 11/06/2026 11:27:19    2678968

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Pin this nonsense to the dressing room wall!"
roscommon definitely better than mayo and derry. my big question here is how much have rossies improved since last year in the league final...most of our starting team will be the same as last year

broadly speaking roscommon have improved on last year and we have gone backwards but we won that final by 10pts so if i was manager id be reminding my players that and in reality monaghan should not be fearful of roscommon at home....

if we do lose i hope its a tight game and i wish roscommon well for rest of the year - i was in the hyde earlier on in the year and thoroughly enjoyed it - a great venue and sound local fans. i think i was the only monaghan man who left the pitch feeling good because despite the loss i didnt think it was a bad display away from home

we can win this but we might not and the all ireland series will lose a good team either way on saturday

MalsBalls (Monaghan) - Posts: 282 - 11/06/2026 12:13:53    2678973

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Replying To monaghanmad:  "On what basis are they are better side than Derry and Mayo? Yes they beat Mayo in a game that wasn't knockout and then fluffed at home V a poor Tyrone side. They are a middle of the road outfit who do a lot of talking about how good they are. We have all seen this from Roscommon before, talk the talk and then fall the fall.

Past players out the in the media talking about how they should be all Ireland semi finalists, I am hearing this for years now and they same men continue to fluff it, what has changed really?

Be under no illusion, if we take them down the stretch they will revert to what they always have been. Its a matter of getting them down the stretch."
Beat Mayo by ten points in MacHale Park it was knock out when it came to Connacht championship and make no mistake all three Division 1 sides had their sights set on winning the provincial title.

Lost to Tyrone by 1 point with the last attack of the game with a debatable foul, not sure about the poor label on Tyrone. They reached the All-Ireland semi-final last year have senior or U20 All Ireland winners throughout their team and are at their best when underdogs, Donegal in Ballybofey found that out in 2025 also.

I was at the Connacht final Galway took the rossies down the stretch matter of fact were leading by 6 points with 8 minutes to go and Galway on the verge of winning 5 in a row but in that proved not to be enough. So more than matter of getting them down the stretch.

Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 894 - 11/06/2026 13:48:14    2678988

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