Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Hero Nudie says O’rourke has Farney in great position but can they emulate his side and end 32 year wait for title? EU BETTER BELIEVE IT
Dublin 5 2 3 0 19 7 Donegal 53 1 1 12 7 Tyrone 53 1 1 11 7 Monaghan 53 1 1 2 7 Kerry 52 1 2 6 5 Mayo 52 0 3 -6 4 Cavan 5 1 1 3 -20 3 Roscommon 5 0 0 5 -28 0 Monaghan won their only senior national title when Hughes and Co saw off Armagh in the 1985 League final and while they returned to the final the following year, they lost to Laois and haven’t reached the decider since.
They are one of four teams currently at the top of Division One with seven points each ahead of the final two rounds of games, with the top two sides contesting the final.
Adding a League title to the two Ulsters they’ve already won would certainly place them alongside the team from Hughes’ era.
“It would, they have only two Ulster titles, we have three. I don’t want the young fellas getting ideas,” he smiled.
“Ah no, the one thing is that this Monaghan team are capable of doing it, this Sunday will be a different match and it will be a sign if we do win it that this team is ready to go to next level. We are out to win every game and if that means you end up winning the League, so be it.” They face what Hughes believes will be a “typical Ulster derby” against Donegal in Ballyshannon on Sunday, with Rory Gallagher’s side also in a strong position to reach the division one final.
“Donegal will be looking to progress too, but so will we. The one thing about it is that you have a long break until the Championship, even if you get into a League final this year.
“If you get to a League final, then you will have the match against Donegal, the match against Dublin in Clones, and a League final, those three matches would be worth three week’s training so there will be no holding back.
“You would love to get there. And plus, if you win Sunday, you will be playing the Dubs in your final week and you will be out to break their run. They will make the record this weekend but you will be out to stop their run.
“In every sport, someone has to stop the sandwich - that record stood for 84 years, but they will fall. I am hoping that we get a result in Donegal this weekend, Ballyshannon, an unusual place for a game but in Clones, we want to make sure that they get the reception they want but will go home with the run being stopped.”
With a population of only around 60,000, Hughes agrees that Malachy O’rourke is straining every last drop from Monaghan just now.
“There is no question about it, and the one thing that Monaghan has now, there is no player in Monaghan left on the sideline that hasn’t been played.
“We couldn’t pick a player in Monaghan and say that he should be on the team.
“Malachy and his selectors have done a great job, maximising the talent within the county and getting them to play together.
“And we have Dessie [Mone], Vinny [Corey] and Stephen Gollogy and the likes still to come back, but it hurts them trying to get back to fitness, knowing the younger players are keeping them out.
“It makes training even more intense and when you are fighting for your position, it hardens the older players to get back in. That is why Malachy has Monaghan in a great position at the minute.”