BANTY BOYS CAN STEEL IT

THERE is plenty to savour about the meeting of Derry and Monaghan in the Ulster semi- finals.

The sideline will be as interesting as the pitch in this one.

Rory G v The Banty has the sounds of an American wrestling match- up and could have the drama to match it.

Rory Gallagher couldn’t have asked for a more perfectly executed game plan in Healy Park v Tyrone in the first round but the shock manner of that game will have come as a warning for

Monaghan — and Banty is a tricky character to read at the best of times!

Derry disrupted

Tyrone from the off and got under their skin to great effect. However, Monaghan have been through plenty of games like that and will be much better prepared physically and mentality for that sort of battle so those same tactics will work here.

As well as the steel, this Monaghan side has the style, and with Jack McCarron now presenting as someone happy to take over the marquee forward role carried so long by Conor McManus, I see a potent, unpredictable attack with plenty of pace and power around the middle third.

This Monaghan team are as strong looking as I have seen them and they will fancy their chances of challenging for the Anglo- Celt at the very least.

Vigour

A confident Derryman is a dangerous animal as Tyrone found out. The tails will be up and, if they can bring the same vigour and determination to the Athletic Grounds as they did to Omagh, this game could be a cracker.

New names are emerging and Conor Doherty, Gareth McKinless and Conor Glass will happily mix it with the best in the country on their day.

I expect this one to go right to the wire but feel that Monaghan have more on the bench to manage the game home down the stretch, just about.

THAT BIT MORE: Monaghan’s Dessie Ward and Conor McManus will make life hard for Derry