Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
O’ROURKE’S DRIFT
THEY’VE made it back to the All-ireland quarter-finals for the fourth time in five years, but Malachy O’rourke knows Monaghan are nowhere near the peak of their powers.
Individually, some players are struggling for form. Collectively, they have appeared out of sorts this summer, but their manager is not reaching for the panic button.
“We feel there is more quality there than we’re showing at the minute,” said O’rourke.
“Next week is going to be a massive jump, whether it’s Dublin or Tyrone.
“Either of them will be a step up from what we’ve played so far.
“We haven’t much time to prepare but we do feel we haven’t hit our peak form yet.”
Having been stunned by Down in the Ulster semi-final a month earlier, Monaghan’s policy in Saturday’s All-ireland qualifier rematch in Croke Park seemed to be defend early, attack late.
They didn’t do the first part very well and at the end of an unconvincing first half they were lucky to be tied at 1-9 apiece, with Down the better side.
However, they did the second part very well, unleashing their firepower as Conor Mccarthy, Jack Mccarron and Owen Duffy hit seven points from play off the bench.
Down’s starting forward line scored 1-9 from play.
Monaghan’s only hit two points, yet they still won the match, thanks to their trio of subs.
O’rourke explained it’s a horses for courses situation.
“There are days you put them in from the start, there are days maybe that when the game opens up a wee bit, they perform better,” he said.
“It’s just looking at each game on its own merits.
“There are some quality finishers there and getting that impact from the bench was a big boost, but it’s not always going to work like that.
“It’s a matter of looking at whoever we get and seeing what’s the best way to go.
“Putting on the few forwards gave Down more trouble at the back and as the game opened up, they were able to exploit that.
“We were better defensively in the second half and, going forward, opened them up a bit more and came through by a comfortable margin in the end.”
Colin Walshe hailed the influence of their subs.
“It’s nip and tuck who Malachy decides to throw in from the start