Ulster remains one of Gaelic football's top prizes

While much was made of the wisdom to hold the draw for the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship before the provincial finals, Monaghan manager Gabriel Bannigan does not feel it has diluted this Sunday’s Ulster SFC final against Armagh in Clones.

With each of the eight provincial finalists guaranteed a home draw [Monaghan will host Mayo on 30/31 May], it has been argued there is little to be gained by going all-out in pursuit of an Ulster title.

Bannigan disagrees with that sentiment, arguing the home draw aspect is simply “a small part of” the motivation to go on a run in Ulster and with Monaghan in their first final since 2021, winning what he describes as “the second best competition in Gaelic football” is motivation alone.

“Winning an Ulster final is still a big prize,” the Monaghan manager told BBC Sport NI.

“If you look at the [All-Ireland] draw, whether we win or lose [against Armagh] we still have a very tough draw but we’ll deal with that after the Ulster final.

“The Ulster final is the second biggest prize in Gaelic football in my opinion. That’s no disrespect to the other provinces, but it’s same in hurling with the Munster Championship being second to Liam MacCarthy.”

Monaghan hopeful on the injury front

Bannigan is boosted by the availability of Gary Mohan and Ryan Wylie who are fit for a place on the bench, but this week has come too early for Fionan Carolan who is still recovering from a hamstring injury.

Bannigan adopted a “patient” approach to injuries earlier in the year as while Monaghan failed to pick up a point in their Division One league campaign, championship was always the priority.

“We made particular choices and decisions along the way with players like Conor McCarthy who came back from Scotstown in a bad way,” he explained.

“We could have patched him up and had him for a couple of the league games, but we decided we’d rehab him properly and having him for a sustained championship campaign.

“Same with Killian Lavelle and his shoulder, but the advice was he needed surgery so we decided we’d get it right and get him back for championship. We made those choices and then it was compounded by the Scotstown boys not being there for the start of the league and other injuries.

“We were missing a lot of players throughout the league, but our priority was always championship and developing the overall strength of the squad.”

Victory over Derry in an extra-time epic saw Monaghan through to Sunday’s final, thanks to a pair of clutch kicks including Jack McCarron’s two-pointer from a sideline: “The best kick I have ever seen in Gaelic football,” according to Bannigan, and Rory Beggan’s two-point free at the death in extra-time.

Armagh advanced in much more straightforward style, romping to a 28-point win over Down which makes them an ominous opponent this week, but Monaghan are confident in their own ability.

“You give every opponent due respect when looking at their strengths and where we might be able to get at them,” Bannigan added.

“We will have a bit of focus on Armagh and their strengths, but my biggest job is to focus on Monaghan and getting our players playing to the best of their ability.

“Armagh will have to worry about our game-plan too, but championship football is all on the day and whatever has gone before is irrelevant.”

One potential advantage for the Farney men is the home advantage they will enjoy this weekend at St Tiernach’s Park.

Of course, Armagh are no strangers to the venue, having played their semi-final and won a meeting between the sides at the start of the league in Clones.

Bannigan is not sold on the notion their home patch will make a huge amount of difference, but if that proves to be the case, he’ll take it.

“As a Monaghan man, there’s nowhere else I’d rather play an Ulster final than Clones because I’ve been going there as a kid watching big games.

“Clones is like a home from home for Armagh as they’ve played there so often, so they’ve huge experience there.

“It’s still our home ground and it makes us even more special for everyone in Monaghan going to an Ulster final. Will it give us an edge? Hopefully it will.”

Read the full article here