Monaghan will be aiming to keep their NFL final aspirations on course when they go to Ballyshannon to take on Donegal on Sunday.

Seamus McEnaney’s men currently sit third in Division 1 and just a single point behind joint leaders Galway and Dublin.

Last time out they downed 13-man Mayo in Clones by 2-16 to 0-13 and come to Fr Tiernach’s Park in real scoring form.

In the past, Monaghan might have been accused of being a little too over reliant on Conor McManus for scores. However, in Conor McCarthy they now seem to have a serious foil to their established talisman.

McCarthy hit a sublime 1-3 from play last weekend. Indeed their over all haul of 2-16 was split between seven players and that again points to things heading in a more expansive direction under ‘Banty’.

On that broader scoring threat, he explained: “We have a duty to expand our panel. We needed to expand our scoring opportunities and our panel and that is progressing nicely.

“We have four under-20s back in. I did not have them last week because they played extra-time in their championship game (with Donegal). But that is going to bring a real competitive edge to training. We want to develop this squad and we want to bring new blood into it.”

Wily as ever though, he insists Monaghan are still looking over their shoulder and not ahead of them in a division where things remain so tight.

“This is a step closer to safety. But five points will not keep you in Division 1, I can tell you that.”