MONAGHAN MANAGER GREGORY McGonigle has hailed the impact of Seamus ‘Banty’ McEnaney as the Ulster champions prepare for Saturday’s Ladies football semi-final against Galway at Kingspan Breffni Park.
McEnaney, the former Monaghan and Meath senior football manager, joined McGonigle’s backroom team two weeks before last month’s provincial championship success.
McEnaney’s daughter Laura is a key player in the Monaghan set-up and McGonigle explained: “What Seamus has brought, as most people would assume that he would, is serious passion.
“He’s trying to raise our standards too and he’s been very positive for myself and Mickey [Morgan].
“The timing is right too – we’re eight or nine weeks in and at the business end of the season.
“From his point of view, he’s thoroughly enjoying working with the girls and while we’ve never had any problems with regards to attitude and respect for anyone training them, Seamus is trying to make things a bit more professional.”
With McEnaney taking more a hands-on role in training, McGonigle has found extra time for some of the more logistical elements of the job, such as scouting and researching future opponents.
The pair immediately agreed on a working relationship suitable to both and McGonigle added: “He’s happy enough to come in and be a selector.
He didn’t say he needed to be over the team. He’s got a voice but the other two of us have a voice as well.It’s been all positive and if somebody said to pick a negative, I’d say no.
I’d be talking to Seamus now for an hour a day rather than half an hour and he has some serious contact within sport, which have been a massive help.
Meanwhile, McGonigle is anticipating a massive challenge from Connacht champions Galway.
Both sides showed ominous form in their respective quarter-finals as they amassed 6-41 between them.
Galway hit 2-20 against Tyrone and Monaghan racked up a massive 4-21 in their blitz of Laois.
McGonigle said: “Galway are strong all over the field, especially with Annette Clarke and Ger Conneally at midfield.
“Their forwards are very natural and defensively they’ll be strong as well, with Orla Dixon, Emer Flaherty at centre back and captain Sinead Burke.”
