Sting in Tyrone tail to burn Monaghan
I AM fascinated by today’s all-Ulster semi-final clash between the two most improved teams in the land.
Monaghan have absolutely blown me away this summer because there were all kind of reasons to believe, at the end of last term, Malachy O’Rourke had bled everything out of them over the previous five years.
I couldn’t have been more wrong and, remarkably, they have found a new level without changing things up – the impressive Niall Kearns is the only real change in personnel. And what they did well in the past, they are doing even better now.
Their three big stars – Rory Beggan, Karl O’Connell and Conor McManus – are playing at the peak of their powers, but it takes a lot of good players to play as well as they do.
Their organisation is incredible, they play with a width that mirrors Dublin and should serve them well in Croke Park.
But... there is just this sense that this game suits Tyrone better. It may be an all-Ulster clash but it is not Ulster Championship and that will suit the Red Hands, who tend to get stronger as the Championship goes on.
They have the defensive system to tie up McManus – although Monaghan will budget for that – but more than anything they have a bench that is capable of stinging for scores in the final quarter.
In a game this tight to call, that could be the game-changer because this is going to come down to the final play, perhaps even after extra- time.
But, in the end, it will be Tyrone’s day.