Dr McKenna Cup final

Monaghan v Tyrone

Saturday, Athletic Grounds, 7.30pm

New Monaghan boss Seamus McEnaney has paid tribute to Mickey Harte ahead of this weekend’s Dr McKenna Cup final.

And he said that he’s looking forward to clashing with the Red Hand boss again.

“Myself and Mickey have a long history. I’ve managed against him before and I’m looking forward to doing so again.

“Mickey is the king of the all the managers. He’s been there longer than anyone else.”

And McEnaney is expecting a competitive game, as the Red Hands tend to take this competition very seriously.

“One thing is for sure, if you were playing Tyrone in skittles at a cross roads it would be competitive.”

The McKenna Cup has come in for criticism recently. Last week, Donegal pulled out of the competition citing a lack of players as a reason for their inability to play against Monaghan in the semi-finals.

That move caused some to question the competition’s worth.

Indeed, in the media, Eamon McGee argued that it might be time to sideline the competition.

But McEnaney did not agree.

“It has been very competitive. With the National League approaching, the McKenna Cup is a brilliant competition to take part in. We will be doing our best to win it. It is a great competition.

“I have been pleased with how we have went in the competition. 29 players have got game time, and I hope to involve Drew Wylie and Michael P O’Dowd.”

McEnaney also made light of counties like Donegal dropping out because of a lack of numbers.

“Look, we have four players who are playing with Sigerson Cup, We have five players who are with the u-20s. So we are down players too.

“We may only be a county of 50,000 but we’ll still be able to field a team on Saturday night.”

That banter suggests that McEnaney is enjoying being back at the helm of the county for the first time since departing in 2010.

He’s prepared for his return to senior county football management with a spell managing the county minors for one year, and then the u-20s last year.

Two years ago he led the minors to Ulster glory.

The panel has seen some changes this season.

Six players will have made their debut during this year’s McKenna Cup. Three players, who played back in 2013 have returned to the panel.

“Everybody will have got game time. Even those players who are experienced need game time. We have 15 playes who have come in fresh to the panel.

“We are looking at everyone who is there. We want to see how they will adapt. We want to see what their attitude is like.

“When you have a mix of players at different stages then they need time to come together. That is the process that you have to go through.”

The McKenna Cup, as McEnaney said, has been about running his eye over his players. He wants to see who is playing well, who can stick to that level of football and who plays well together.

The preparations are entirely focused on being ready for the start of the National League which begins in a week’s time.

Monaghan are still in division one, where they believe they rightfully belong. But as Malachy O’Rourke led them to the top tier, McEnaney has the responsibility of keeping them at that level.

They open their campaign against Galway in Tuam. That’s followed by a home clash against Tyrone, then they are away to Dublin before the mid competition break.

“We are happy with our preparations and how it has went in the McKenna Cup,” McEnaney said.

“But as far as I am concerned the proof will be in the pudding, and how we get on in those first three games,” he said.

r.scott@gaeliclife.com