MONAGHAN CAME WITHIN seconds of ending a 30-year wait for an All-Ireland semi-final spot last weekend.
They were on the cusp of a win over Kerry in Clones to seal their place in the last four, but a late goal from David Clifford clinched a draw for the Kingdom and scuppered Monaghan’s semi-final plans.
All is not lost for Malachy O’Rourke’s side but they must now face a crucial trip to Salthill on 4 August where they are in desperate need of a result against Galway.
“The immediate aftermath of the game, there was an awful sense of disappointment,” said Monaghan defender Colin Walshe at the launch of The EirGrid’s Moments in Time competition in Croke Park.
We felt like we let something slip and get away from us.
“I suppose we left ourselves in that position against a Kerry team that was fighting for their lives and threw everything at us and there was only a kick of a ball in it going into the last couple of minutes.
“Them things happen in football, a goal can come out of nothing, but it’s something we’ve kind of drawn a line under. We had training last night and we’re just moving on forward from that.
As much as it was disappointing to lose that goal at the end and get the draw we’re going to have to look back on why if it was such a good performance that there was just a kick of the ball in it going into the last minute.”
Galway are already assured a safe passage out of the Super 8s and into the semi-final stages as they currently lead the Group 1 table.
Despite their safe position, it’s likely that Kevin Walsh’s side will aim for a victory against Monaghan to maintain their winning momentum and ensure they avoid Dublin until the All-Ireland final, provided they both reach that stage.
Irrespective of Galway’s intentions for the game, Monaghan know that Kerry are hot on their heels to snatch that other semi-final place if they slip up in Salthill.
A win would see Monaghan go through as the table-toppers while a draw would also be enough to send them through.
“We would have the confidence in ourselves and if you offered it to us a fortnight ago that we’d have three points from four going into the last game and our fate was in our hands knowing a win would get us top of the group, then we would have took it surely.
“We’d have confidence in ourselves to go down and do the business, yeah.
“We faced them earlier in the year down in Salthill and they beat us. Probably beat us by more than what was shown by the scoreline because we got a goal with the last kick of the game.
“They’ve a good blend there at the minute. They’re very strong at the back, and they’ve got that class and pace up front. There are a lot of forwards there that are very dangerous and can change a game.”
EirGrid is calling on all GAA supporters throughout the country to submit their favourite image of a GAA Moment in Time be it on the pitch as a player, as a volunteer in a club or as a supporter on the side line.
To enter the competition, log on to EirGrid Facebook and twitter channels and follow the instructions using #EirGridGAA
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
