OLD DOGS BITE FOR MONAGHAN
MALACHY O’Rourke has done a magnificent job as Monaghan manager. Over six seasons, he has squeezed the absolute most out of his hardworking and well-drilled group of players. But the All-Ireland quarter-final has always been the glass ceiling for the Farney men. On four previous occasions, they have stumbled at this stage in Croke Park.
Even though the new group system allows some breathing space, this was a pretty significant win for Monaghan.
On the sort of wet afternoon that called for warriors, the Ulster side were more street-wise than their opponents and simply outbattled them when the game was on a knife-edge. It means now that Monaghan can end Kerry’s summer in Clones next weekend.
Inspired by the outstanding Karl O’Connell, who scored three points on his regular raids from the half-back line, and Niall Kearns in midfield, Monaghan proved that they remain the old dog for the hard road.
After being dazed by Daniel Flynn’s sublime early goal, the Ulster side slowed the tempo
down to suit them and simply played smarter football than their Leinster opponents.
Dublin experienced its first rainfall in an age yesterday and that made things very slippery. But Monaghan were more adept at handling the difficult conditions and made less errors than their opponents. Cian O’Neill suggested afterwards that his team were suffering from a bit of mental, rather than physical, fatigue. That was evident in their poor decision-making at times.
The Lilywhites arrived here with momentum at their backs. No matter what the Super 8s bring over the coming weeks, their summer will be defined by that wonderful victory over Mayo in Newbridge. But they started like a team who wanted to use that as a platform for even greater things.
After the two teams began by just feeling each other out, Daniel Flynn brought Croke Park to its feet with a stunning goal.
He picked the ball up more than 40 yards from the Monaghan goal and ran at their defence, leaving Ryan Wylie in his wake and selling a dummy to Darren Hughes before lofting the ball over Rory Beggan’s head.
It was a marvellous goal and should have been a catalyst for Kildare to dominate the game.
Instead, it spurred Monaghan into action. Conor McManus and Conor McCarthy both found their range immediately afterwards to level the game.
There will be plenty of regret in Kildare this week and most will centre on their inability to get Daniel Flynn more into this game, especially in the second half.
Whenever the full-forward got on the ball, you could sense the fear in the Farney defence.
However, as the game wore on, Monaghan got to grips with Flynn and stifled his supply-line. The first of O’Connell’s three points came in the 20th minute and that opened up the biggest gap between the teams — two points.
Kildare were always within touching distance of their opponents but, crucially, could never get in front. Still, Neil Flynn’s point on the stroke of half time brought them to within two points
of parity at the interval, 0-10 to 1-5.
Monaghan had been pretty economical with their shooting in the first half, only hitting three wides. However, after the break, they were a lot more wasteful and that allowed Kildare the chance to come back into the game. By the 44th minute, the Lilywhites had levelled the scores when Neil Flynn nailed his third point, moments after Fergal Conway had found his range.
But, critically, they could never get themselves in front.
Three times in the second half, Kildare battled back to level the match. And, on each occasion, Monaghan worked the ball smartly into a shooting position. Karl O’Connell put his team back ahead in the 48th minute.
After Johnny Byrne had levelled the match again, Monaghan built a patient move that involved Ryan Wylie and Kieran Duffy with the corner-back finishing sweetly.
Kildare had to work much harder for their scores and their danger men were neutralised for much of the second-half.
Daniel Flynn was a menace throughout but he barely got a touch when the match was in the melting pot. Paddy Brophy was ineffectual and taken off. So too Paul Cribbin. And while Eamon Callaghan did score a point after coming off the bench, Monaghan
got more of a return from their substitutes. Kieran Hughes, who has been struggling with a hamstring problem, came on for the final 10 minutes and calmed things down.
Kildare looked a tired team by the end and the suggestion that they were suffering from mental fatigue was borne out by the fact so many of their players picked up bookings. It was evident, too, in their sloppy tackling, which was not as crisp as Monaghan’s. On such a wet day, that was always going to be the difference.