Colm Shalvey reports
Last weekend marked the 16th anniversary of a famous win for Monaghan, when a combination of Paul Finlay’s trusted left boot and Meath sub Mark Ward’s right fist led to a euphoric pitch invasion by successstarved supporters at Croke Park. That Division Two League title, achieved in the most remarkable “pickpocket” fashion, marked a longawaited piece of silverware for Monaghan’s senior footballers. The upcoming Allianz Football League campaign could see Monaghan call on a handful of youngsters who will have little to no memory of that day at the start of May in 2005.
Monaghan’s back-to-back Ulster MFC winners of 2018 and 2019 are beginning to provide players on the lofty step-up to the inter-county senior scene. Latton forward Aaron Mulligan, a Minor All-Star in 2018, and Oram attacker Jason Irwin, who captained Monaghan to the second of those provincial titles in 2019, both made Dr. McKenna Cup…
