ULSTER SFC SEMI-FINAL
Sunday: Down v Fermanagh, Morgan Athletic Grounds, 2pm, (M Duffy, Sligo)
Latest from the medics and the management…With Aidan Brannigan absent through suspension, the door is opened for Gerard McCartan to come into the Down defence in the only change from their victory over Fermanagh. Dan Gordon and Benny Coulter continue to be absent through injury. Monaghan captain Darren Hughes is named at right half-back after missing their last encounter through injury with Kieran Duffy the player to make way. Elsewhere in the defence Drew Wylie gets the nod at right corner-back as he replaces Donal Morgan. In attack there are two alterations with Pete Dooney selected at right half-forward and Kieran Hughes at right corner-forward with Matthew McKenna and Christopher McGuinness both losing out.
DOWN SF: B McVeigh (An Riocht); D McCartan (Burren), B McArdle (Annaclone), G McCartan (Burren); D O’Hagan (Clonduff), K McKernan (Burren), C Garvey (Mayobridge); A Rogers (Longstone), K King (Bryansford); D Hughes (Saval), M Poland (Longstone), A Carr (Clonduff); D O’Hare (Burren), C Laverty (Kilcoo), C Maginn (Bryansford).MONAGHAN SF: M Keogh (Sean McDermott’s); D Wylie (Ballybay), V Corey (Clontibret), C Walshe (Doohamlet); D Hughes (Scotstown), D Mone (Clontibret), K O’Connell (Tyholland); O Lennon (Latton), D Clerkin (Currin); P Dooney (Aughnamullen), S Gollogly (Carrickmacross), J Turley (Scotstown); K Hughes (Scotstown), P Finlay (Ballybay), C McManus (Clontibret).
Checking the odds…Down are tipped for victory at 8/15 with Monaghan valued at 2/1. The Farney side’s attacker Conor McManus is good value at 6/5 to get over 2.5 points.
Clues from the form guide…It was difficult to gauge Down’s performance in triumphing against Fermanagh in the Ulster quarter-final given that their opponents were reduced to 14 men early on. After an inconsistent league campaign which concluded with an emphatic loss to Cork at the semi-final stage, they will have been glad to get back to winning ways. Monaghan produced an imperfect performance themselves against Antrim as they struggled in the early stages. Yet they will be pleased by the grit they showed in turning the game around in the second-half.
The game breakers are…With their attacking talisman Benny Coulter absent, the form of Burren’s Donal O’Hare on his championship debut against Fermanagh was pleasing for Down. Given the lack of size in the Down attack the emphasis will be on supplying them with quick decisive ball and they will hope Danny Hughes can pull the strings in the half-forward line. The experienced operators in the Monaghan line-up will be crucial with Dessie Mone in defence, Dick Clerkin at midfield and Paul Finlay in attack having major roles to play. The availability of Darren Hughes once more is a major boost while in their defence while Tommy Freeman is a serious asset off the bench.
Gazing into the crystal ball…The game serves as a huge opportunity for Down who are without an Ulster senior final appearance since 2003. For a county with their footballing tradition that is a seriously barren spell and they won’t lack motivation here. The sense is they have a better array of scorers and that could prove vital despite the battle-hardened nature of this Monaghan team and the presence of Freeman in reserve.
