Sunday March 27

Allianz Football League Division 1**

Monaghan v Kerry, Clones, 3pm (TG4, Deferred)

This is exactly the type of environment in which Monaghan and Kerry will be keen to examine themselves. “It’s all to play for,” is Monaghan manager Malachy O’Rourke’s assessment regarding what awaits in a highly competitive Division 1. 

Two Monaghan victories in the remaining matches would give them an outside chance of claiming a semi-final spot, while a couple of defeats may result in relegation. The margin for error is slim with Down, Mayo and Cork battling to retain top flight status also.

Standard bearers Dublin are the only team to have already nailed a place at the penultimate round; for everyone else it is particularly tight and tense.

O’Rourke feels that Monaghan will be more aware of their own ‘strengths and weaknesses’ by Sunday week following fixtures with Kerry and Donegal.

“They’re all championship-type fixtures,” O’Rourke acknowledges. “If we win the two, we’d be in the shake-up for the semi-finals. If we win one, we’d probably stay up. If we happen to lose both, we’d be in problems at the other end, so it’s all to play for.”

A couple of Monaghan’s defeats this year were unfortunate as the Farneymen produced a resilient and resourceful display before eventually being fended off by Dublin at Croke Park.

Ultimately it means Kerry are completely aware of the threat Monaghan carry, especially on home turf at Clones. Eamonn Fitzmaurice deemed that Monaghan ‘were unlucky’ not to take anything from their trip to GAA headquarters.

The Kerry boss also expects that ‘there will be a big kick in them at home’ as the visitors’ must plan without injured trio Bryan Sheehan, Anthony Maher, and James O’Donoghue. Killian Young and Paul Geaney are available again boosting Kerry’s options considerably for this awkward assignment.

Since losing to Dublin and Roscommon, Kerry's enthusiastic and efficient response has pleased Fitzmaurice. Under duress to deliver in Newry, Kerry cruised to a convincing win before Donegal and Mayo were defeated too. Those three triumphs mean Kerry enter the closing two rounds optimistic about securing a place in the semi-finals.

Earlier this week Fitzmaurice admitted that it would be a ‘disappointment’ if Mayo don’t finish in the top four having edged into a healthy position. Considering that Monaghan crave a positive result too Kerry know that they must attempt to restrict the influence of the prolific Conor McManus. The smashing Clontibret forward has been immense throughout the league for Monaghan contributing 2-32 in five matches.

Victories over Roscommon and Down gave Monaghan an encouraging start, but the losses to Dublin, Mayo, and Cork ensure the Ulster Champions are keen to arrest that slide. How Monaghan cope with an in-form Kerry side will be revealing with Sunday’s contest providing both teams with an opportunity to make a significant statement.

Kerry: Brian Kelly; Marc O Se, Mark Griffin, Shane Enright; Peter Crowley, Aidan O’Mahony, Fionn Fitzgerald; Kieran Donaghy, David Moran; Johnny Buckley, Paul Murphy, Donnchadh Walsh; Darran O’Sullivan, Colm Cooper, Stephen O’Brien.

Subs: Brendan Kealy, Killian Young, Alan Fitzgerald, Barry John Keane, Padraig O’Connor, Brendan O’Sullivan, Denis Daly, Pa Kilkenny, Jonathan Lyne, Paul Geaney, Aidan Walsh.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Colin Walshe, Drew Wylie, Ryan Wylie; Dessie Mone, Fintan Kelly, Karl O'Connell; Neil McAdam, Darren Hughes; Shane Carey, Dermot Malone, Thomas Kerr; Ryan McAnespie, Daniel McKenna, Conor McManus.

Subs: Mark Keogh, Conor Boyle, John McCarron, Kieran Duffy, Vinny Corey, Niall McKeown, Kieran Hughes, Owen Duffy, Conor McCarthy, Barry McGinn, Fergal McGeough.

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