Stakes are high in Ulster semi-final replay, says Peter Canavan
Tuesday 28 June 2016 06:27, UK
We had a gripping game on Saturday night as the Ulster Championship roared into life.
The clash of Monaghan and Donegal was what football should be about. There was some real football played and both teams were up to championship intensity.
I think the replay will be the biggest game of the year so far. There is so much at stake and whoever loses will face a massive task to get back through the back door and into the All-Ireland qualifiers.
Intriguing match-ups
Gary Walsh and Paddy McBrearty was a fascinating battle. Michael Murphy and Vinny Corey are two warriors and always leave us with memories when they meet. Theirs was a really physical battle at the weekend.
A different match-up was Ryan McAnespie and Ryan McHugh. They are two runners and it was fascinating to see the two of them try to cancel each other out.
That was on the pitch - there were match-ups off the pitch too. Ryan Porter, the Fermanagh selector and Maxi Curran, the Donegal selector, had their own running battle, so we didn't know where to be looking.
Missed opportunities
Both managers will be delighted that their teams were very honest and full of character, especially when things were not going for them.
Monaghan will be disappointed that they didn't make hay on Donegal's kick-outs. And on that note Donegal struggled. They only won 50 per cent of their kick-outs against Fermanagh and at that they drove it straight up the middle. It was very straightforward stuff.
They were caught a little again on Saturday night and normally you would expect Donegal to have plans in place. I don't think Monaghan capitalised on that.
Still, in general both sides were very well set up and it was a really intriguing game. The replay is something to look forward to, but I think that Donegal will rue the 11 wides they kicked because some of those were very scoreable.
Dublin never even hit third gear
Again the Dubs never looked flustered against Meath. By their own standards, this was an average performance and there is so much more in Dublin but we have yet to see it in this year's championship.
The thing is Dublin will wait a while before they are tested. Meath did try hard and they showed endeavour. They couldn't be faulted for effort and after all it was a Division Two team playing Division One's best side.
The Royals might take a bit from that game and they contained Dublin well in the first half but let's be honest - the result was never in doubt. The game was predictable and the result too, and it's typical of the championship to date.
Westmeath are a championship team
They are back in a Leinster final despite three successive relegations and maybe it is just a sad reflection of Leinster football whereby that could happen - a Division four side reaching a provincial final.
That team will now have to come up with something special to play against Dublin in the final or they will take a heavy beating.
Kildare have to resort to youth now, the likes of Neil Flynn must lead the way and they have some promising players from U21 level that they must bring in.
Westmeath were decent in defence last year but they had no attacking prowess against Dublin. Again I have to say that standard is so disappointing and Leinster football is in a really bad place.
I am so disappointed with Kildare but it was no shock. They put in a poor performance against Wexford and the league final was poor as well.
Kildare will have to resort to youth now, the likes of Neil Flynn must lead the way and they have some promising players from U21 level that they must bring in. That's for the future and any progress will take a period of time.
No edge for either side in Saturday's replay
I don't think anyone has an edge after last weekend. The replay will be another huge game and should draw a massive crowd in Breffni Park. Both teams will take a lot out of it and Donegal will believe that had they taken their chances they would have been worthy winners.
But Monaghan missed chances too and neither side is any further forward. However, I do believe that last weekend's game will take more out of Donegal as they have the older legs. Players like Karl Lacey, Rory Kavanagh, Anthony Thompson have a lot of effort invested over the years.
Monaghan have more options on the bench but it's too hard to call. All I can say with confidence is that I expect more of the same.
