Monaghan minors a work-in-progress says Malone


By Niall Gartland MONAGHAN manager Dermot Malone knows they have issues to iron out ahead of Saturday’s Ulster Championship quarter-final clash away to Armagh. Malone spearheaded Monaghan minor’s run to last year’s All-Ireland final, but the majority of that starting team have moved on and their current crop are something of a work-in-progress if their […]


Relegation not ‘the end of the world’


By Shaun Casey MONAGHAN’S decade-long existence of dining at the top table came to an end this season when they were relegated from Division One, winning just one of their seven outings, but former player Dermot Malone isn’t overly concerned. Malone, who won two Ulster titles with the Farney County in 2013 and 2015, points […]


Blayney braced for tough championship campaign


By Shaun Casey NO one has won the Monaghan Senior Football Championship more times than Castleblayney, who top the roll of honour with 37 titles, but this summer, they’re hoping for intermediate success. ‘Blayney were relegated from the top tier last season but with a league decider to look forward to and the upcoming Intermediate […]


The boys of 2008


By Niall Gartland EVEN if some would say it’s been diluted in recent times, the GAA still has a strong community ethos and things have a tendency to come full circle. Take the Monaghan minor team of 2008. One of their key players that year was a young Dermot Malone, a promising soccer talent who […]


Rome wasn’t built in a day


By Niall Gartland MONAGHAN minors have reached their first All-Ireland final in 84 years and yes, it didn’t just happen by chance. It’s a relatively small county population wise (28th in the country in fact) but they have their house in order when it comes to gaelic football at all levels. Their flagship team – […]


Malone praises the Farney Army ahead of All-Ireland showdown


SUNDAY’S All-Ireland Minor final is obviously of seismic significance for both teams, but for Dermot Malone’s Monaghan side it’s a very historic occasion indeed. It’s the second time in the county’s history that they’ve reached an All-Ireland Minor Championship final and the first in living memory (their only other appearance was a two-point defeat to […]


McEldowney expecting an electric atmosphere in minor final


By Michael McMullan EVERY young player wants to play in Croke Park and Fionn McEldowney is no different, but the Derry minor skipper feels it’s the right decision to take the All-Ireland minor final to Armagh. Sunday’s game (BOX-IT Athletic Grounds 1pm) will be the Oaks’ fourth meeting with Monaghan this year and McEldowney knows […]


Malone: Monaghan mindsets have to change


By Shaun Casey MONAGHAN are 60 minutes away from their first All-Ireland Minor final since 1939 and standing in their way are 16-time winners Kerry. While the Farney County don’t have much success in terms of All-Ireland glory, manager Dermot Malone believes his side are where they deserve to be. “I don’t want people thinking it’s […]


Monaghan revel in greater freedom


By Michael McMullan MONAGHAN minors revelled in the freedom granted by Mayo’s style of play in Saturday’s All-Ireland quarter-final suggests manager Dermot Malone. The Farney side recovered from an early Mayo goal to run out deserving winners, setting up a semi-final clash with Kerry as they aim to book a first final spot since in […]