GALWAY v MONAGHAN WE’RE ON A CLIFF EDGE

Hughes: It’s do-or-die after David disaster

A FIRST All-ireland semi-final in 30 years was seconds away against Kerry but Kieran Hughes and Monaghan are more than prepared to go another 70 minutes to get there.

For Malachy O’rourke’s side, the permutations are simple – avoid defeat to Galway at Pearse Stadium and they’ll be in the last four for the first time since 1988.

Lose, and they’ll be looking for an unlikely favour from Kildare in Killarney.

Of course, Galway and Monaghan would be grappling over nothing other than who would top the group if it wasn’t for David Clifford’s dramatic equalising goal in Clones 13 days ago.

But then, as Hughes points out, it could have been much worse had Kerry worked a winning score after that, which they had the chance to.

“I actually said to one of the boys how much worse it could have been had we lost it but that is football,” said Hughes. “People paid money to see a game that was a great spectacle and it finished 1-17 apiece but we will have the heads down now for Galway.

“It is a fantastic position to be in. Regardless of what way the result went against Kerry we were going to go into the Galway game looking to win it so nothing much has changed.

“It is fantastic going in knowing you need a win. It is in our own hands and I know that we have enough character to get through this. That is not downgrading Galway, it is going to be a massive test, they have been on form this year but I know what is in our dressing-room and I have a good feeling we will be able to bounce back.”

Hughes has been restricted to an impact sub role in recent games due to “hamstring and hip issues” though the two-week break may allow him to play a more fulsome part in Salthill this evening.

“I am doing everything in my power to get sorted,” he said. “I was happy to get on the field against Kerry and I felt fresh.”

VERDICT: Galway ATTACK OF THE CLONES Kieran Hughes feels the pain of David Clifford’s late goal against Monaghan last month