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I heard that the squad is flying fit and played well in a draw against Mayo last week. It's the most optimistic I've been about Monaghan in a while. Freeman will definetly play a part. Still it is Down we're playing and they've always been very difficult for Monaghan to beat. Still a very difficult task.

For Monaghan to have any chance in this they'll need to have all their players back fully fit - Darren Hughes and Paul Finlay. Hopefully the other walking wounded that played the last day will also be sharper with a few games behind them - Walshe, Freeman, McManus, Corey, Mone.

Still given form and recent results, you'd expect Down to be favourites.

Armagh a good choice, should be a big crowd and with location of spectators so close to the action, could be a redhot atmosphere.

Down by 3.

Darren Hughes scored a goal in Scotstown's SFL game at the weekend. He'll be playing against Down. Finlay didn't line out for Ballybay for Ballybay's SFC game so he is still in doubt. Lennon, McManus, Corey, Mone should be much sharper after their injuries. Walsh is in absolutely flying form at the moment. I seen a contrast between county squad members Matthew McKenna and Paul McArdle in a recent league game - McKenna was as anonymous as he was in Antrim game and McArdle was on fire. If McArdle was a bit fitter he'd be a starter for Monaghan, he's a good a left foot as Finlay.

I'm expecting big championships from Colm O'Neill, Peter Harte, Michael Quinn

I think Cavan is the only county yet to name a squad for the mckenna cup..

Is that David Millar who was on monaghan u21s panel last year?

Yeah, that's him alright. He's been on U-21 team for the past two years. To be honest I don't think he's up to senior standard. I know Dessie Mone is with UUJ this year for McKenna Cup, Dick Clerkin will be on honeymoon, Conor McManus is injuried. Colin Walsh is with DIT, Jack McCarron is with DCU. Is Neil McAdam still with DCU this year? David Hughes with DIT?
I hope Kieran Hughes and Gavin Doogan return for NFL panel.

Monaghan 's Squad for McKenna Cup

Bernard O'Brien, Latton
Karl O'Connell, Tyholland
Chris McGuinness, Ballybay
Ciaran Daly, Donaghmoyne
Ciaran Hanratty, Castleblayney
Ciaran Galligan, Monaghan Harps
Owen Lennon, Latton
Darren Hughes, Scotstown
David Millar, Drumhowan
Dermot Malone, Castleblayney
Donal Morgan, Scotstown
Drew Wylie, Ballybay
Eoin Duffy, Latton
James Bellew, Emyvale
James Turley, Scotstown
Kieran Duffy, Latton
Mark Downey, Carrickmacross
Mark Keogh, Sean McDermotts
Matthew McKenna, Inniskeen
Paul Finlay, Ballybay
Ronan McNally, Tyholland
Rory Beggan, Scotstown
Shane Smyth, Monaghan Harps
Stephen Gollogly, Carrickmacross
Tommy O'Neill, Ballybay
Vincent Corey. Clontribret

Disappointing squad to be honest. Beggan is a good keeper so he is worth a try. Some of the other new faces are simply not up to county level and not even stand out performers in their clubs leagues. I'm not sure which Monaghan players will be playing for 3rd level teams in the January compeitions. NFL squad will be much different from this.

In Monaghan there are 29 football clubs. 10 senior, 10 intermediate, 9 junior. There are 3 leagues.

Whatever division you play in, that's the championship you complete in. If you get relegated or promoted from a league then you also compete in that division's championship. Winning a divisions championship also wins you promotion from that league.

SFC winners can't get relegated.

Don't know much about Carrickmacross to be honest but I would imagine they would be favourites for the first round against us? Judging by what other people are saying!
I think somone said that there were a few Carrickmacross people in Omagh last sunday scouting - I wonder what they made of it?

Where will this game be? Omagh?

Last year my club, Doohamlet, were the Monaghan IFC champs and we gave Derrylaughan a bit of a trimming in the ulster semi-final. If I am being honest Carrickmacross would be a better side than my club. We always found Carrickmacross very tough over the last 4/5 years when we were senior.

Carrickmacross even being intermediate in Monaghan is a bit of a joke...they didn't even end up in the relegation zone in the senior league. In Monaghan the SFC champs can't get relegated from the league and so....SFC winners Clontribret finished in the bottom two in the league. Carrickmacross were then in a play-off for relegation and managed to get two players sent of in first twenty minutes of that play-off and eventually lost.

Carrickmaross won the senior league title 3 years ago and also got to the SFC final that year too. They have a whole host of lads with inter county experience.

Gary McEneaney - was on 2009 Monaghan squad
Mark McNally - was on 2011 Monaghan squad.
James Conlon - was on 2009 Monaghan squad.
Stephen Gollogly & Mark Downey - played against Tyrone in Omagh in this years USFC
Andy Callan - was on Monaghan squad maybe 6 or 7 years ago.
Peter O'Hanlon - midfield for monaghan u-21s in 2011
Cillian Cromwell - county minor 2011
Sean Downey - county minor 7 or 8 years ago.

Carrick would be strong straight down the spine of their team. McEneaney at full back is a decent player at intermediate level and although he played NFL for Monaghan he was out of his depth at that level. McNally is pivotal player at CHB. He frequently makes surging runs from here. He spent a good part of the season injured which hampered his chances of nailliing a spot of the Monaghan team. Conlon and O'Hanlon are a very strong midfield partnership at Intermediate level.

Attack is where Carrick are strongest. The two Downey's, Gollogly and Callan are as good a unit at this level as you'll find. All capable of taking scores from distance, strong ball carriers and intelligent link play.

Overall yes, they are a good side at intermediate level. How would Kildress compare themselves to last years tyrone winners Derrylaughan?

Gerry McCarville, Scotstown & Monaghan.

I'd second that. McCarville was chiselled from granite

While Cavan Gaels are huge underachievers in ulster, I think this year they have to be fancied to get to an ulster final. That side of the draw is weak. i certainly can't see Glenswilly or Latton troubling them.

How are Burren performing this year? Could they put it up to Gall's or Cross?

I wouldn't be optimistic of the Monaghan winners making much off a dent in the Ulster senior club campaign. Latton would be favourities to win Monaghan but lack that killer instinct for ulster and any team still relying on a 41 year old to dig them out of holes is lacking something. Says something for the standard of senior club football in monaghan which has been on the decline for a few years. But hey they could prove me wrong!

[Monaghan]

Monaghan

• Junior football champs = Cremartin
• Intermediate final is between Carrickmacross and Corduff

Monaghan teams have a great record in the Ulster Junior Championship and Cremartin would be young talented team with a sprinkling of 5 or 6 lads that have played at minor or u-21 level for monaghan in past 5 years. Although question marks about their temperament. Will be contenders for the Ulster Junior title.

Carrickmacross / Corduff - Carrickmacross are raging hot favourites to win Monaghan IFC this year. Senior league winners and beaten SFC finalists 3 years ago and with 6 lads who have senior inter county experience - they should win this and would be very strong contenders for Ulster IFC too.
Corduff "won" last years Ulster JFC only to forgot they shouldn't field U-16's. They are a young team, full of heart and endeavour and to be applauded for doing so well after emerging from Junior. But this is a step too far for them at this stage and even if they did win, would be out of their depth in Ulster.

Rory O'Carroll
Peter Harte
Cillian O'Connor
Ben Brosnan
Tomas O'Connor
Paddy McBreaty

Team is very close to what I expected. Dick is named at midfield but he will probably line out at wing forward with Neil McAdam in the middle aloing side Eoin Lennon.

Once Vinny Corey was injured the wing back slot was between Eion Duffy and Mark McNally.
Big call on Daniel McKenna, but he's a hugely talented young player with the confidence and form to do well on the day

Is Chrissy McGuinness injured? Surprised he missed out, did well in the league and club form has been excellent. Maybe with Gollogy back in, his size counted against him.

I wonder will the likes of Lennon and Gollogy have the 70mins in them. If your not 100% in championship football, you'll get found out.

Yeah Chris McGuiness is out injured. He went of injured in one of Ballybay's last league games. I'm not sure what the injury was, possibly a mussle pull of some sort.

Vinny Corey definetly out for Monaghan. Aggravated his hamstring again. Huge loss to Monaghan on top of everything else. Almost certain now, that Conor Galligan and one of Mark McNally or Eoin Duffy will man the wing half back slots.