THE rift in Monaghan football between the county’s players and board officials widened further last night, with defender Damien Freeman calling on the board to coax Seamus McEnaney back into the frame for the county senior manager post, after McEnaney earlier yesterday revealed he will not be going forward for nomination for the 2011 season.

SEAMUS McENANEY’S decision to withdraw his name from the race to be appointed Monaghan senior boss could spark a raft of retirements amongst the long-serving members of the county squad and set the Monaghan panel on a collision course with board officials.

Long-serving Monaghan senior football manager Seamus McEnaney will not be reapplying for the position for 2011, he confirmed in a statement released today.

WINNING back-to-back Ulster titles was satisfying in its own right for Ryan ‘Ricey’ McMenamin and Tyrone last Sunday, but so too was the fact they have managed to avoid the back door.

All-Ireland SFC Ulster final: Monaghan 0-7 Tyrone 1-14

Monaghan 0-21 Fermanagh 2-8

MONAGHAN midfielder Dick Clerkin has hailed Seamus McEnaney’s unorthodox decision to use his full-back in goals against Armagh on Sunday, describing it as a “masterstroke”.

Monaghan 1-18 Armagh 0-9

A DECISION on whether the winners of Sunday week’s dead-rubber NHL Division One tie between Galway and Cork will be awarded home advantage for the league decider between the counties on May 1 is unlikely to be made until next week.

DEFENDER Conor Dervan makes his first appearance for Galway since the 2008 championship when he starts against Tipperary in the Allianz NHL at Semple Stadium on Sunday.

Damien Freeman and Gary McQuaid have opted out of the Monaghan Senior Football squad for this year.

Monaghan 0-20 Derry 3-16

Monaghan 0-13 Armagh 0-12 (aet)

Cork 1-14 Monaghan 0-12

Monaghan 4-16 Laois 0-8

Armagh 0-14 Monaghan 1-13

ALL STAR Eddie Brennan has been included on the Kilkenny team to play Galway in the NHL clash on Sunday following his successful appeal against his dismissal against Waterford last weekend.

IT DOESN’T tell the whole story, but All-Ireland football champions Kerry as good as claimed victory in Croke Park yesterday by taking full advantage of their goal chance late in the game.

Playmaker Paul Finlay is back in the Monaghan team for tomorrow's GAA Football All-Ireland senior championship qualifier against Donegal (Ballybofey, throw-in 5pm), after seeing out his eight-week ban for verbal abuse of a match official.

Fermanagh 2-8 Monaghan 0-10

Damien Freeman is to continue as captain of the Monaghan senior football team - it will be the fourth year that he has led the county side.

Back-to-back All-Ireland SFC champions Kerry have topped the list of nominations for the Vodafone GAA All Star awards for 2007 which were announced this evening.

The Monaghan County Committee has confirmed that Seamus McEnaney will remain in charge of the county's senior footballers for the 2008 season.

Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney has kept faith with the team that lost the Ulster final, naming an unchanged side for Saturday's All-Ireland SFC third round qualifier against Donegal at Healy Park (throw-in 7pm).

Damien Freeman is in his third season as Monaghan captain and is keen to put his leadership qualities to good use this Sunday when the Farney men contest their first Ulster SFC decider since 1988.

Monaghan maintained their 100% record in Division 2A this afternoon with a comprehensive 0-19 to 0-6 defeat of Clare at Cusack Park.

Monaghan's senior footballers had to survive a hectic finish to guarantee two league points in a 1-14 to 3-6 win over Longford in Clones this afternoon.

Tyrone stayed on course for a place in the Gaelic Life Dr. McKenna Cup semi-finals as they chalked up their second win of the 2007 competition by dominating Derry in Omagh.

Wicklow were hopelessly outclassed as three-goal Monaghan eased through to the second round of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers at Clones.

Hugh McElroy has been brought in to replace James McElroy in the Monaghan line-up for tomorrow evening's Ulster SFC quarter-final replay with Armagh (Clones, throw-in 5.30pm).

Monaghan 0-10 Armagh 0-10

Monaghan manager Seamus McEneaney has made three changes to his side for Sunday's Ulster SFC quarter-final tussle with Armagh (Clones, throw-in 3.30pm).

MEATH introduce two newcomers, goalkeeper Brendan Murphy and right half-forward Peter Curran, for Sunday’s Bank of Ireland Leinster SFC first round clash with neighbours Louth at Croke Park.

Monaghan 0-08 Cork 1-09

BRIAN LOHAN will miss Clare’s crunch Allianz NHL Division 1A clash with Cork at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday. The full-back is getting married on Friday.

Monaghan 0-13 Kerry 1-11

Tyrone 1-15 Monaghan 0-08

Damien Freeman is to remain on as captain of the Monaghan senior footballers after impressing as their leader last season.

Monaghan 1-07 Tyrone 2-14