National Forum

Monaghan GAA thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


"Monaghan went 1 point up on 65.09 when McCarthy scored. McCarville won next kickout but Hurson blew it harshly for a push by another player. Next time Monaghan got hands on the ball was 68:50 and they were 3 down". From Woolys page.

Game lost right there. We just kept giving the ball away from the restarts. 4 points given away in less than 4 minutes. We lost 1, then 2, then 3 kickouts, but we kept doing the same thing. It was like watching a car crash. Why did a message not get to Mooney to slow it down, go short, anything, just make sure we got the ball? Game 100% lost on the line.

moodoo (Monaghan) - Posts: 474 - 29/06/2026 14:23:59    2682889

Link

Replying To seanfinn:  "Congrats to Louth. Deserved winners on the day. Monaghan, like many smaller counties, need every player available to get through these games. I think the loss of RB and KG was major to confidence. Add missing Bobby McCaul...we can't really absorb that. Jamie Mooney did really well but he was under huge pressure. I found the movement of the outfield was far too slow for the lockouts and therefore we looked slow. We could cope ok with losing RB if we had more ball winning ability in the midfield but MM was the only real option there. A big failure was not taking the advantage of the red card...it looked like we were the team with 14! There was one thing...Louth got a free with 5 mins left and I felt we had the momentum and could have drove on. I genuinely couldn't see why they got it but from there they kicked 4 unanswered points and Monaghan just gave up. I would like to see GB there next year to see how we go.

Best of luck to our neighbours from here!"
How can a team with 14 men get the last 4 scores in Croke Park in 21 degree heat. It just beggars belief. Monaghan looked all over the place and not particularly fit.

Corklegend (Cork) - Posts: 3 - 29/06/2026 14:30:13    2682899

Link

Replying To rw:  "Can you not read the post properly before running off with the barstool comments?

Mooney's ability was never questioned, and nobody said he was pulled in from nowhere. The point was very clear: why was Mulligan the No. 2 all year, and then Mooney only given that role in the week of our biggest game of the year?

If management had full faith in Mulligan, why change it at that stage? And if they didn't have faith in him, why was Mooney not made No. 2 earlier, especially after the U20s finished?

That is the question. The goalkeeper situation and the kick-out strategy are fair things to ask about. Beggan is getting older, and there was always a possibility of injury, so surely the back-up plan should have been clear long before last week.

This is an open forum where people are entitled to post their views. Throwing around barstool comments only shows immaturity and an inability to deal with a fair question in a mature way. Maybe it is easier to attack the poster than comment on the actual management issue, or maybe you are too close to the management team to see it clearly."
Well said it's important to knock on the head this "most passionate man in Monaghan nonsense" all supporters are the same
The Mooney call yesterday was a mistake, given that there was no kick out strategy worked on for him, one training session on Wednesday night was not going to be enough, if it was even worked on then, which I very much doubt. GB said the decision to not play Beggan was made then. Arrogance or complacency, take your choice, but it cost us. 4 points up against 14 men and our keeper essentially being forced to kick out to the opposition kept them in the game when we should have been running them ragged.
Some selection issues too. McAnespie wasn't fully fit and young Maguire would have been a much better option and he has the ability to play a similar role, the fact that we had only one midfielder on the entire squad yesterday. Louth had better midfielders on their bench than we had on the pitch. McDonell had the freedom of the pitch and Bannigan wasn't fit for him in the second half. young Doherty could have been given him something to think about, that was never going to happen.
A lot of talk about the positives in terms of new players getting game time and exposure at a higher level from this year's campaign, which is correct and right to do so, but those players are only replacing like with like
Next season in Div 2 the plan should be to stay up and unearth 2 or 3 midfielders some how and develop them into the squad. When a player gets into a county set up it's a completely different environment to develop, look at how McCarville has come on in that regard
This might all seem harsh at the moment but we were badly exposed yesterday by size, desire and commitment and we weren't ready for it. I would hope the present set up stays and learns from the mistakes from yesterday and the requirements necessary to go to the next level

mhunicean_abu (Monaghan) - Posts: 1099 - 29/06/2026 14:39:28    2682910

Link

Replying To Ros2013:  "If I was Monaghan I'd
Go all out and aim for an Ulster title next year and think about nothing else. When all of your players are fit and have returned you arguably have the most balanced team in Ulster."
No thanks, we definitely don't want to follow the Roscommon way of thinking, we will stick to playing with the big boys in Croker. Keep cuddling the Nestor Cup.

monaghanmad (Monaghan) - Posts: 511 - 29/06/2026 15:20:30    2682928

Link

Replying To moodoo:  ""Monaghan went 1 point up on 65.09 when McCarthy scored. McCarville won next kickout but Hurson blew it harshly for a push by another player. Next time Monaghan got hands on the ball was 68:50 and they were 3 down". From Woolys page.

Game lost right there. We just kept giving the ball away from the restarts. 4 points given away in less than 4 minutes. We lost 1, then 2, then 3 kickouts, but we kept doing the same thing. It was like watching a car crash. Why did a message not get to Mooney to slow it down, go short, anything, just make sure we got the ball? Game 100% lost on the line."
Mooney has no short to medium range. He was told to go long to advert the danger of kicking to a Louth man on the arc. It was then midfield sector to win primary or secondary ball, which they didn't. As it's been said by most posters on here, a tactical meltdown from GB.

farneygael3 (Monaghan) - Posts: 737 - 29/06/2026 15:24:38    2682931

Link

Replying To MalsBalls:  "Monaghan is such a good team. on our day we can beat anyone i think. yesterday wasnt our day and louth much better

i think the focus for next year is start looking at the size of our squad. we need to be getting the big lads back, mcphilips, mohan and barry mcbennet. add louis kelly and bobby mccaul to that list...you've also got the likes of nulty and wilson to come back too...all them names makes our good squad even better.

we've always struggled with producing good big competent footballers but ive named 4 or 5 there - not necessarily all world beaters but id rather have them that not have them and as i say make our good squad even better.

i dont blame anyone for the loss yesterday. the book always stops with management and i was very vocal towards the end of malachys career so gabriel not exempt from finger pointing - we should have done better against 14 men...get more lads interested in the county shirt is what our manager needs to work on and maybe a fresh voice in the changing room"
Maybe an actual winner in the dressing room might be an idea wow not since Paul Grimley 2010 have we had an actual all ireland intercounty winner in our backroom team philly mcmahon enda mcginley something that will stand to them come last 8 winners needed

Farneyblueandwhite (Monaghan) - Posts: 183 - 29/06/2026 15:42:18    2682938

Link

Next year we will hopefully see Max Maguire play more of a role along with Matthew Carolan and Tom Doherty. I thought Doherty deserved minutes over the last few games after his u20 campaign. He has Both feet, massive scoring threat the man has it all.

Farneyarmy2013 (Monaghan) - Posts: 7 - 29/06/2026 16:57:14    2682965

Link

Replying To Corklegend:  "How can a team with 14 men get the last 4 scores in Croke Park in 21 degree heat. It just beggars belief. Monaghan looked all over the place and not particularly fit."
It's a good question. I questioned Monaghans fitness for extra time against Armagh.

Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 923 - 29/06/2026 17:23:24    2682976

Link

Louth sending in Ciaran Byrne on Dylan Byrne was the winning of the match total mismatch and hats off to louth management for making that switch 3 point in 2 minutes that's what management does that has been there and won all irelands

Farneyblueandwhite (Monaghan) - Posts: 183 - 29/06/2026 17:38:32    2682991

Link

Replying To monaghanmad:  "No thanks, we definitely don't want to follow the Roscommon way of thinking, we will stick to playing with the big boys in Croker. Keep cuddling the Nestor Cup."
You don't want to win the Anglo Celt? Well that's a bizzare one.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2186 - 29/06/2026 17:42:25    2682994

Link

Replying To Blackcardnot:  "Thankyou. The majority of posters here have huge respect for Roscommon but unfortunately we have a few very immature posters too, please ignore them and don't let it pepper your opinion of Monaghan fans."
We have some too but not too many hopefully. Monaghan and Roscommon have similar profiles in terms of size and population. We both are punching above our weight and still produce good teams. I'd have great respect for Monaghan. Loved Nudie Hughes, Eamon Mc Enanaey back in the day. Weren't far away from All Ireland on their day. Got a replay in a Kerry semi final back in the eighties.

moros (Roscommon) - Posts: 1455 - 29/06/2026 18:01:17    2683007

Link

Replying To Drax_the_destroyer:  "It's a good question. I questioned Monaghans fitness for extra time against Armagh."
How much did Monaghan playing week on week effect the last 10/15 minutes with the game in the melting pot?
Even with the extra man, the players looked leggy and out on their feet. Louth definitely got more of an impact off their bench also. Louth subs scored 0-6 in the last 20 to Monaghan 0-2…

Monaghanmad123 (Monaghan) - Posts: 3 - 29/06/2026 18:16:40    2683012

Link

The decision to play Mooney was very costly, his kickout give louth the platform to go on to win the game. It terrible for the young lad but it had a major part of the result expecially his last 6 or 7 kickouts all down towards Mcdonnell.
He didnt have a great experience in ulster final and that game should of being taken in to consideration he looked like Minor Gk yeterday.



Marc o Se on the view said that mooney kickout played a major part in the result & that in the 2nd half, their was alot of good runs made by monaghan players out to the wings to get it out short but Mooney just kept giving louth the ball back by going long & that there was no communication to tell him to go short or slow it down by managerment.

Paddy Andrew & james o Donugue said similar on the football pod, that Mooney was out of his depth
That 3 ex inter county footballers saying that.

There was no Kickout plan so what was the point bringing in Mooney. Surley since April the A V B games is Mulligan & Beggan.
I heard many times before that Malone is the kickout man & the man that sorts out the press & that he top class not to sure about that after yeterday,but the press on the louth kickout with a spare man wasn't much better you cant press a team without 4 big men around the middle.

Mcarville was the only real ball winner out there due to lavelle man marking Sam mullroy, Gallacher injured .
I taught Woods & Mcarville did very well but hard to press with only 2 big men...surley we were better off in the last 15 mins to let them go short and take McDonnell out of the game & let them work it up the field slowly.
And try to overturn them with a spare man ,when they passed their own 45 and turn the screw with the momentum with a couple of turnovers, like early in 2nd half when we turned them over in our own defence.

It looked to me that the managerment team was hoping for a purple patch like in other games that Jack, O Hanlon or McCartney would get us out of trouble again instead of getting their jobs right & making better use of 11 v 10.


I taught ward & Woods coming off with 6 mins left in the game in the melting pot was not the best decision either. I think Michael Bannigan is class but I taught he was lucky to stay on the pitch yeterday apart from Derry game & 2nd half in Roscommon game he hasn't been great.

AlanD (Monaghan) - Posts: 32 - 29/06/2026 19:16:41    2683025

Link

Replying To farneygael3:  "Mooney has no short to medium range. He was told to go long to advert the danger of kicking to a Louth man on the arc. It was then midfield sector to win primary or secondary ball, which they didn't. As it's been said by most posters on here, a tactical meltdown from GB."
The insights here have been the most interesting part of the follow-up to yesterday's game. Everyone who knows football knows that Monaghan always punches above its population size and everyone knows that yesterday's game was there for the taking. But only the Monaghan fans on here really understand their football and their footballers.

Monaghan attack (once they were a man up) - slow the attack, drag Louth over to defend in numbers on Monaghan's left, move the ball quickly to the right, and a scorer comes onto the ball in space and scores. That had a near 100% success rate from what I could tell. So the 1 man advantage worked in attack. Monaghan has tons of reliable scorers. When Monaghan moved at speed, the Louth defense looked a man down and tried protect the goal in numbers (even if we did concede two). So basically, Louth decided to limit the goal damage and put pressure on the 2 point kickers. Single points were there for the taking and Monaghan could have clocked as many scores as possession and time would have allowed them.

Louth kickouts - with the extra man, Monaghan pressed effectively so Louth's kickouts mostly went out to the big men and Louth won the percentages (mostly). However, it seemed like Monaghan's press came as the expense of more coverage at the back so when Louth offloaded the marks at speed to ball carriers, the Monaghan half back line was very exposed.

Monaghan defense - new rules means that Monaghan could have always been 12 vs 11 on defense behind the half-way line. Monaghan had a few turnovers when Louth had to build slowly from the back (and Monaghan usually punished those with scores) but it honestly felt like the Louth inside forward line and ball carriers coming from deep (McDonnells, Lennon, Downey) had it way too easy to get space when the ball was moved quickly or carried at pace. Maybe everything just went right for the Louth lads (they did seem very efficient) but it felt like the Louth lads would win all of the inside forward 1 on 1's and even some 1 on 2's. That could be the consecutive weeks of games or lack of prep taking its toll. Louth have a few lads playing in Monaghan and might have some tactical smarts. But still -- it was too easy given the numerical advantage.

Monaghan kickouts - don't think it's fair to put any blame on the keeper brought it. With Rory, Monaghan always felt like it had a quarterback who could call the shots and everyone had a decade working with him so they knew what runs they were supposed to do. Without Rory, the new had 14 experienced lads in front of him who should know how to make the extra man count by making space. Wasn't in Croker so can't tell whether he just didn't know/see the runs they were making or if the outfield players just didn't know how to pull the shape from the Louth middle.

Am I right in thinking:
- Monaghan would have been much better off conceding the Louth kickout, covering deeper, and survive on turnovers
- Monaghan defense needs work (probably has the right players but lacking in experience or nous). Once Louth got going, it was way to easy to get scorers on the ball in scorable positions.
- for some reason, Monaghan's players didn't try or succeed in finding space further from the arc on its own kickouts. So the kickouts ended up going into fielding 50-50 or worse fielding battles. That was mostly the fault of the outfield players who couldn't make the numerical advantage turn into space.

level (Louth) - Posts: 106 - 29/06/2026 20:32:47    2683041

Link

Replying To Square_B:  "You don't want to win the Anglo Celt? Well that's a bizzare one."
Sure what's it worth these days. It has no relevance to the all Ireland series

veterngaa (Monaghan) - Posts: 1077 - 29/06/2026 21:18:59    2683051

Link

Monaghans game management was shocking both on field and the side line, you just played into Louth hands with aimless kickouts and poor attacking play, never knew what to do with the extra man.
you could have man marked malroy and still have the extra defender. sorry i like monaghan but that was clueless.

Yourjoking (USA) - Posts: 768 - 29/06/2026 21:22:08    2683054

Link