National Football League Division one

Donegal v Monaghan

Sunday, Ballyshannon, 2pm

Ballyshannon will be a hostile environment for Monaghan on Sunday.

So says former Monaghan midfielder Paul Finlay ahead of this weekend’s Division one Ulster derby.

Monaghan beat Mayo last weekend to put them all but safe from relegation, however Donegal need wins in order to preserve their top flight status.

Home advantage, and the pressure of relegation, makes Finlay believe that his county will be under pressure to get a result.

“Monaghan have had some good results. But Donegal’s need could be greater. They need to win. They are coming off the back of a tough defeat to Dublin. And they have home advantage in Ballyshannon. It’s a smaller venue, a hostile environment. Monaghan can expect a tough battle.

“That could be the difference.”

Yet win or lose, Finlay said that there is plenty to be pleased about so far with Monaghan.

“They are coming off a really good victory over Mayo. All the performances to date have been positive. Even the defeat to Galway and the draw against Dublin.

“I was pleasantly surprised by the level of Monaghan’s performance. They have really hit the ground running this year. There is a real pep in their step. They are sitting in a good position, particularly when you think that Monaghan were probably tipped for the drop this year. People will have been surprised with how well they have done.”

The new manager is Seamus McEnaney, and he has Down’s Conor Laverty and Tyrone’s Peter Donnelly in with him.

They had started with a defeat to Galway, a game which they should have won, but then they earned a solid win over Tyrone, and followed that up with a draw against Dublin. The game that saw ten minutes of added time, and one that Monaghan played really well. They responded to that frustrating result with a super performance against Mayo last weekend.

“There are a lot of reasons why they are playing well. Changes in management can bring a fresh approach. That brings a new energy.

“They are dealing with a lot of experienced players. Peter Donnelly and Conor Laverty have come in and added to training.

“But Monaghan have been competing at that level of league football for a while.”

This weekend is another test for Monaghan.

There was no corresponding fixture last year, as Donegal played in division two in 2019.

Finlay expects a difficult game.

“It is another Ulster derby. You saw when Tyrone came to Castleblayney that it was a dour game. These teams could produce something similar.

“Possession will be key, and taking chances is important. Teams must be efficient. Weather can sometimes be a factor too. It’s hard to put up big scores when the pitches are heavy.”

Finlay reckons that after Donegal lost to Mayo and Dublin, they will be fully focused on getting two points this weekend to ease their concerns of relegation.

How they do that will depend on whether they get their match ups right.

Finlay said that as Monaghan’s team has changed, their own approach will have changed.

“Michael Murphy is the outstanding footballer for Donegal. He’s playing the best football. Who Monaghan pick to mark him will be crucial. With Vinny Corey gone who knows who will pick him up. You are looking at the likes of Conor Boyle, or Drew Wylie or Niall Kearns who has been playing very well.”

The other targets from a Monaghan perspective are Ryan McHugh. Finlay reckons that Ryan McAnespie might be the man to keep tabs on him.

“Patrick McBrearty got a bit of game time. If he plays then you have Ryan Wylie or Colin Walshe there.

“But they will be looking at Monaghan’s players too, like Conor McManus and Conor McCarthy and trying to work out who to mark them.”

And all will be revealed in the hostile environment of Ballyshannon on Sunday.

r.scott@gaeliclife.com