ULSTER MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL MONAGHAN V TYRONE
Sunday, Athletic Grounds, 4pm

THE Monaghan minor team traditionally hasn’t scaled the mountain too often – but they’ll be hoping that the ‘three from seven’ equation comes into play when they face Tyrone in Sunday’s Ulster final at the Athletic Grounds.

The Oriel county have only lifted provincial honours five times previously.

The first three came in the seven-season period between 1939 and ’45. A win this weekend would ensure their third title in the seven-season period between 2013 and ’19.

It’s a nice omen to carry into battle against the Red Hands.

More important than any harbinger though is the fact that they have a squad laden with talent and one containing a number of players who triumphed against Derry in last year’s decider at the same venue.

Amongst them is Jason Irwin, a key forward in last year’s run to the All-Ireland semi-final where they nearly shocked a Kerry side that hasn’t lost since 2013 despite their continuous turnover of players.

“We knew coming in this this season that with the likes of Karl Gallagher, Shane Hanratty and myself that we had a few lads still there from last year,” said the Oram clubman.

“We would have plenty of experience right throughout the squad and that has shown.

“We also knew that we had a good bunch of new lads coming in so I had no doubt that we could get back to another Ulster final, I had no doubt at all.”

Tyrone were given a reminder of that potential in the second round of the Ulster Championship when Monaghan left Carrickmore with a 3-8 to 0-13 win.

The common consensus after the match was that a four-point losing margin was massively flattering to Collie Holmes’s side, but Irwin is expecting a real battle when the counties renew rivalries on Sunday.

“Tyrone are an excellent team, the two teams are evenly matched,” said Irwin, whose claim is somewhat validated by Tyrone’s win when the sides met in April’s league final.

“We’ve played them twice this year and we know each other very well at this stage.

“The have great lads there and some new players have impressed too, the likes of Luke Donnelly, so we’re expecting a tough old game.”

One of the biggest changes from last year’s success has come on the sideline with Seamus McEnaney moving onto the u-20 gig with Truagh clubman Mark Counihan replacing him.

While Irwin praised ‘Banty’s’ enthusiasm, he was equally glowing in his assessment of the new management team’s impact, “The management is different this year. ‘Banty’ is a great lad but I have to say that Mark and myself get on extremely well.

“Mark is a top class manager and the backroom team he has in place is excellent too.

“They have brought us on a lot and now we find ourselves back in the Ulster final.

“Mark knows what he is on about. He played football himself until a few years ago so he knows what it’s like going out onto the pitch.

“He doesn’t stand on the sideline barking orders. He understands what is happening, how things can go right and wrong, and he has been so impressive.”

The list of Ulster Minor winning captains may be small but for Irwin Sunday afternoon presents the chance to live out one of his sporting dreams.

“Back when I was watching the minors lift the Ulster title in 2013 I didn’t think that some day I would get the chance to captain my side in the final,” he said.

“It has arrived and on Sunday we can hopefully do the business. It’s exciting times for Monaghan football right now with a lot going on at underage.”

n.mccoy@gaeliclife.com