The reality of Monaghan’s sporting performance this year may have been predictable for some. People often mused about the county’s ability to optimise its scarce resources over the years. Ten years in Division One and reaching the All-Ireland semi-finals is commendable, however, it shouldn’t be seen as a permanent state. Eventually, gravity takes over.
This impression of Monaghan is not lost on the team. Following their victory against Dublin at Croke Park, Vinny Corey expressed indifference when it was suggested that many still perceived them as relegation candidates.
“You could say we’re accustomed to it,” he commented. “It feels like every other year. We don’t pay much attention to it, to tell you the truth. We have players with extensive experience in Division One, and newcomers who are not intimidated by the competition. You could see that on the pitch. They didn’t buckle when they faced the All-Ireland champions.
As for the rest of the league games and how they might turn out, we are unsure. But we remain highly focused on our goals. Whatever the outcomes of the matches, we are still determined to achieve what we’ve set to accomplish later in the year.”
Fast forward to now – five months down the line – and their second victory of 2024 against Meath was only just last weekend. Even then, they barely held on till the end of a competition in which Meath secured seven of the final eight points. Although a bleaker year was expected, no one anticipated such a heavy descent.
Reflecting on the year, Kieran Hughes remarked ponderingly, “If it concluded at this moment, I’d be inclined to start afresh and propose that we make another attempt in November. We’ve had our fair share of challenges, from countless excuses to multiple absent players; it could almost be dismissed. But on rethinking, facing Galway this weekend doesn’t seem so daunting.”
In last year’s All-Ireland semi-final, Hughes concluded his career with Monaghan, 15 years from his initiation. His departure was similar to many Monaghan participants – weary, trudging, and on the verge of surgery. Despite playing the club championship for Scotstown deep into the cold season, the turn of the year signalled time for him to seek medical intervention for enduring hamstring and cartilage issues. In his intercounty career, he poured in every last drop of his zeal.
He often expressed he was merely preserving tradition. His sibling Darren initially entered the Tommy Murphy Cup in 2006. Conor McManus is embarking on his 18th season. Karl O’Connell is approaching his 36th birthday in August. They started with teammates such as Eoin Lennon, Dick Clerkin, and Tommy and Damien Freeman, who lingered notoriously long compared to the conventional timeline.
Primarily, this is what turned 2024 into a tiresome period for Corey’s team. The strategy of depending on a select group of skilled players ceases to be effective at a point. A happenstance of retirements and departures during the cold weather left Monaghan exposed. Conor Boyle quit the team to construct a home, Shane Carey and Fintan Kelly withdrew quietly, and Karl Gallagher was coaxed away by the AFL. Resultantly, once injuries began to crop up, the consequences couldn’t be cushioned.
Looking at the Monaghan team for the recent Meath match versus the squad that contested Dublin in the first 60 minutes of the previous year’s All-Ireland semi-final reveals the difference. Corey deployed 20 players in Croke Park the previous July – seven of whom were disqualified last Sunday. The eighth, centre back Ryan O’Toole was knocked out during the game and looks set to be absent from this Saturday’s match in Salthill.
A few of these gaps belonged to the primary players. Regardless of those absent from the team, they had to play without their leader Kieran Duffy and an All-Star wing back in O’Connell. The aforementioned duo hasn’t been declared in the team for the Galway match and most plausibly, Darren Hughes brought his commendable career to an early close after being ushered off the field with a medial ligament rupture during the Cavan match. Dessie Ward, while out of action for four weeks, has been added to the team’s roster this weekend.
Kieran Hughes points out that the lack of strong substitutes has always been an issue for their county, particularly during periods of multiple injuries. Top teams have the luxury of plentiful similar-quality player replacements, something their county simply does not have.
Within the safe confines of the dressing room, this reality isn’t necessarily as obvious. Nevertheless, once you step outside, the impact of losing several crucial players simultaneously is starkly noticeable. For instance, during the league, both Stephen O’Hanlon and Micheál Bannigan, who are essential elements of Monaghan’s gameplay, were absent for several matches.
Additionally, the absence of players Rory Beggan and Ryan McAnespie during the league was keenly felt. The county unfortunately does not have the depth of talent to adequately replace such players, leaving the burden to the young and less experienced. This, Hughes explains, inevitably results in unfavourable game outcomes.
The demotion in the league was not as catastrophic as the way they performed in their journey towards it. In the past five seasons, Monaghan is the fifth county to experience relegation immediately following an All-Ireland semi-final, joining the likes of Dublin, Cavan, Tipperary, and Mayo. Thus, past successes do not assure future victories.
The issue was not just the relegation itself, but the manner in which it occurred. They held a record for the most goals conceded in all four divisions – 14 in total, which matches the cumulative number from their previous two leagues. With four games lost by seven points or more, this was a highly uncharacteristic downturn for Monaghan.
Hughes identifies unprovoked mistakes as the major issue. Some of these blunders are unforgivable, and a third or fourth division team wouldn’t commit them. Meath’s initial goal the other day was a result of a giveaway kick-pass that elite teams typically avoid. Thus, the elimination of such errors is necessary.
Hughes outlines that the remaining teams are merciless and seize every opportunity as soon as the ball gets lost. This is a strength Monaghan had always taken pride in – maintaining possession could help manage any team regardless of their skill level.
The possession needs to be retained, and a player must be extremely self-critical if the ball gets handed over. Handling should be precise, and there may be a need to bring the ball into danger, provided you can anticipate being cornered and pass the ball to a teammate before it’s too late; if not, you end up trailing behind in the game.
Despite all this, Hughes maintains optimism for the weekend, planning to hit the road to the West. Monaghan’s season has been humbling, but they’re undefeated in two matches and know that Galway also struggles with injury problems.
Hughes reveals that both sides likely lead the league in soft-tissue injuries this year. If he were in the Monaghan locker room this week, he would gain confidence by studying the player assignments.
He believes that the schedule benefits Monaghan—if Kerry was their final match, their spirits would be lower. But they emerged victorious in their last match, unlike Galway, who might feel defeated after the draw. Regardless, it’s not an easy game, but for the first time this year, Hughes expresses excitement and hope for a strong performance from Monaghan.