THERE have been a few ins and outs on the Monaghan panel ahead of the new season as manager Paul Hughes attempts to freshen things up.

One not so new face making a return is Brian McGuigan, and the experienced Castleblayney man will bring a real goal threat to the attack.

That incoming experience has been negated by the loss of Peter Treanor, who has been a rock for the side down through the years.

Again Division 3A safety will be the aim of the panel, and it’s the matches against Sligo and Longford that they will be targeting for points.

They start with a trip to Tyrone followed by a home game against Armagh – and that’s unlikely to yield much.

That leaves an away game with Longford followed by a home match with Sligo. Like last year, it could come down to that final fixture.

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PAUL Hughes is into year two with Monaghan, and the Castleblayney man is a real steadying influence.

He has been at the coalface of Monaghan hurling for a long time now, club and county, and he is realistic. He will know that hurling in the Oriel county has been stronger in the past, but he also knows that on their day they can be really competitive.

His main aim will be to bring a bit of pride that will hopefully filter down to the clubs in the county. Truagh have emerged as a force, but Inniskeen have regressed. ‘Blayney are miles out in front. Monaghan needs the club scene to pick up pace to make any real ground at intercounty level

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MONAGHAN survived in Division 3A last year, probably the best they could have hoped for given that most of their Inniskeen contingent had decided to focus solely on football commitments.

Paul Hughes’s side had good spells in their games so there is definitely some reason to be hopeful.

Their narrowest defeat came at home to Longford in round one when they lost 0-18 to 2-16. Alan Ward scored 1-9 on his debut for the visitors and that proved the difference. The Oriel county were nine points down at one stage and although they fought back well, they left themselves with too much to do.

The trip to Armagh the next day was one to forget as the hosts posted a huge 3-25 tally. The scoreline was 1-18 to 0-3 at the break and although Mark Treanor, who grabbed their goal, and Fergal Rafter raised a few flags between them, Monaghan were simply outclassed on the day.

Round three was much the same as neighbours Tyrone came to ‘Blayney and had it all too easy. Monaghan could not contain Damian Casey, who finished with 1-13, while goalkeeper Niall Slevin pulled off a couple of good saves. Padraig McGahon grabbed Monaghan’s goal in the 2-17 to 1-7 defeat.

A trip to Donegal was next up and while Monaghan were again well beaten, they did show more fight in the 1-15 to 1-5 loss.

It took a Donegal goal in the 46th minute to really break the visitors’ resistance with Mark Treanor, Stephen Lambe and team captain Kevin Crawley, who grabbed the Oriel major, performing well.

That left everything on the line when Louth visited in round five. Lose or draw and they would be relegated to Division 3B. Win and they would survive.

The weather conditions were rough in Inniskeen, but the home side played some sparkling stuff late on to emerge with a 3-13 to 1-10 win.

The first half was a tight affair with Stephen Lambe’s goal helping Monaghan to a 1-6 to 0-7 interval lead, but Paul McCormack’s side took the lead with a goal of their own heading into the final quarter.

From there though, Monaghan took over with Mark Treanor and goalkeeper Hugh Byrne, fortuitously, grabbing goals.

The match did end on a sour note as Brendan McQuaid and Pauric Malone were lined for an incident at the death, as was Louth’s Liam Molloy.